The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-09-02
LAST STAGES OF STRIKE
II Looks as Though the Chicago Packers
Will Win.
STRIKE RELIEF FUNDS DEPLETED.
They Refuse to Deal With President DonneIly,
Of the Strikers Union, Who Asks for Con-
ference-The Reason Assigned Was That
No Good Could Come Of the Meeting
Crowds Of Men ScrambIlng for Food.

1
made to the packers by the stock
yards strikers for a conference. the
purpose being to bring about peace
in the industrial conflict waging in
Packingtown. The conference was
refused by the packers.
The application came in the form
| of communication from the Allied
Trades Council, and was signed by
President Matthew Carr, of the Al
lied Trades. The request was sent
Immediately after the close OF JOINT
meeting Of the National Executive
| Board of Butcher Workmen and the
Allied Trades Conference Board, and
| was addressed to ]. Ogden Armour
and his associates.
Mr. Armour, upon receipt of the
communication, at once called the
heads of the other big packing plants
into session. When the meeting OF
the packers ended communication
was addressed to President Donnelly
and his associates declining the con-
ference the strikers had asked for.
The reason given was that no good
could come from such a conference.
The Correspondence.
The following is the letter which
President Donnelly sent to the pack
ers:
Gentlemen: 1nasmuch as the exist
ing strike in the packing industry is
causing much inconvenience to the
general public, as we'll as creating
much illfeeling and criticism, and be-
ing desirious of doing our full duty
in the matter, we respectfully request
an early conference with you with
the view to effecting an honorable adj
justment of the controversy.
The packers reply was:
Your letter Of August 20 has been
received, and in reply thereto have
to say that, considering the present
condition of our plants and the re-
suits of past conferences, we can see
no possible benefit that can follow
any further conference. Therefore,
we respectfully decline your request.
The prompt refusal of the packers
to have any dealings with President
Donnelly leaves the men more dis
consulate than ever, and the looked
for break in the union ranks is now
believed to be close at hand.
Relief Fund Depleted.
With the strike relief funds de-
pleted, and crowds of hungry men
vainly scrambling for food at the COM
missary stores, it taxed the labor lead
ers to find way to prevent SIAM
pede from the union ranks Monday.
wait until tomorrow and we shall
nracao% tba nockerc neare OrO-
posal which they cannot decline to
is nothing left for the men but un-
conditional surrender" said a packer.
"The leaders should not hesitate in
calling the strike off, so that the men
who are anxious to do so could find
work. Many of them will be rehired
in Packington, but there are thor
sands who must look elsewhere for
employment, and they should be re-
leased, so they can begin their hunt
for work outside the stockyards. 1t
does not make any difference what
peace proposal the strikers have to
submit, we shall not deal with the
unions. The only terms of surren-
der we shall consider will be the re-
turn of the men as individuals"
Can Employees Strike.
A development of the day was the
walking out of 200 employees at
plant of the American Can Company,
they being ordered to quit because the
company was furnishing cans to the
packers. Investigations are making
at the other Chicago factories of the
company, and the leaders say if the
company is supplying cans to the
packers, in violation of their agree
ment not to do so during the con-
tinuance of the butchers strike, the
employees of the company all over
the country will be called out.
Only the employees of the meat de-
partment of the American Can Com
pany were called out. A great many
of them are girls who operate ma
chimes. The strikers say the COM
pany billed cans to Western points
and delivered them to packers, con-
trary to the agreement not to do so
while the strike of the butchers lasted
Millions Ia Japanese Gold.