The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30
Decision Generally Satisfactory to
More UncomprOmising Methods.
ATTITUDE OF THE COMPANY
OFFICIALS WILLING TO DISCUSS SIT
UATION WITH EMPLOYEES.
As to Conference with Committee
from the Union, No State
ment Is Made.

The result of the meeting of the local
butchers yesterday afternoon in the Cleve-
land Club rooms on West Washington
street was victory for the conservative
element of the union. After a heated dis
cussion Of the situation at Kingan & Co.'S.
lasting for over two hours, it was decided
that there should be no strike at the plant
and the differences be adjusted either by
compromise or arbitration. The decision
was generally satisfactory to the men, al
though there were several who were in
favor of taking more uncompromising
methods in the settlement of the dispute.
Vice President Sterling, Of Chicago, of
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butch
er Workers, was present. The situation
was laid before him, after which lengthy
discussion was entered into. Mr.. Sterling
was in favor Of a peaceful settlement of
the difficulty and advised the men to pur-
sue that course. He would not sanction
a strike. and had the men decided to walk
out they would not have had the support
of the national union.
BUSINESS AGENT TALKS.
James Sullivan, business agent of the
local union of the butchers, said last night:
There will be no strike: the matter will
be settled amicably. The meeting to-day
was victory for the conservative men,"
while there were some who did. not
favor the decision, / think the majority of
the men stood for a peaceful settlement.
Although 1t has taken a good deal of dis
cussion on our part to decide on what
course should be pursued, everything has
turned out I stated at the beginning,
that the differences would be adjusted
without resorting to strike. The decision,
1 think, is a relief to the men, as they have
been working under more or less of a
strain. don't think many of them looked
forward to strike with any degree of
pleasure. for 1t would have meant long
and hard fight and several hundred men
I would have been idle perhaps for several
| months. The point at issue was a slight
increase of wages and the change of GER
tain conditions about the work of the
butchers The decision was really left in
| the hands OF the international officers. and
would have been arrived at sooner, but
none of them could be with us until yes
| terday. We had confidence in Mr.. Ster-
] ling and he fulfilled our expectations. The
! exact manner in which we hope to come to
an understanding with the employers will
| be made known later"
KINGAN & CO.'S ATTITUDE.
One Of the officials of Kingan & Co. was
notified last night of the action of the
| butchers and expressed himself as much
| pleased with the confidence the men placed
| in their employers by deciding to confer
with them and settle the trouble by COM
! promise or arbitration. The officials of the
plant have hoped that the men would act
] conservatively. and the news that they de-
| sire to adjust matters by friendly con-
| ference has raised the men in their esteem.
| When asked if the company would confer
| with the butchers, the official said that IL
was willing to meet the men employed in
the plant to settle grievances. AS to con-
| ferences with committees of the union the
| official refused 10 make any statement OF
! the company's policy.
| On being asked what the company would
/ do should a committee call upon 1t, the of
| fetal stated that the policy of the company
| had always been to talk over grievances
| with it's men, and that ii would probably
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 10, COL. 2)