Willmar tribune., 1904-07-20
PR0P0S|HONOl|' (.
packers REJECTED
STRIKE LEADERS, AFTER CON-
FERENCE, REFUSE SCHEME
FOR ARBITRATION.
STOCKYARDS FIREMEN
TO JOIN STRIKERS
Fierce Riot Occurs at CHICAGO in
Which One Man Is Shot and Three
Policemen Are Wounded-Activ-
ity of Packing Firms.

|
Which One Man Is Shot and Three
Policemen Are Wounded-Activ-
ity of Packing Firms.
Chicago, July 16.-Rejection by
strike leaders of proposition laid be-
fore them by the packers at Thurs
days joint conference was the result
of meeting Of President Donnelly
OF the union and his chief lieutenants
Friday. The packers were waiting for
an answer, and on it depended wheth-
er peace meeting will be held at pres
ent. There was activity at the stock
yards, and the air of hustle indicated
that the packers intended to proceed
with their side of the contest with
vigor.
The union leaders were, besides
President Donnelly, John Sterling and
John Floersch, of the Packing Trades
Council, and President Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor. After
a discussion they adjourned to the Of
flce of Thomas I. Kidd and talked with
him. Later Joseph Morton, of the
t1remen's union, and G. L. Champ. in
ternatlonal secretary and treasurer of
the same union, talked with Donnelly.
1t was virtually agreed that, as soon
as final proposition is made by the
packers and rejected by the union the
stationary firemen at the stockvards
will strike.
Irving to Arrance Terms
At the conference Thursday AFTER
noon between union leaders and rem
resentatives of the packers the union
men presented list of conditions un-
DER which they would be willing to
arbltrate. Later the packers fatty re-
fused to agree to the unions terms
and submitted a counter proposition,
which in turn was rejected by the
union leaders,.
The union demanded the reinstate-
ment of all the strikers within three
days, and insisted that the men be
paid at the rate provided in the old
agreement, the expiration of which led
to the strike being called.
Offer of the Packers.
The employers offered to arbitrate
the whole controversy, covering wages
and working conditions of employees
on strike, both sides to present what
ever grievances they saw fit and to
abide by the decision of the arbitrat-
ors. They also agreed to reemploy as
fast as possible all men now out, CIV
ing preference in order of application
for work, the employees to be paid the
wages they were being paid when they
struck. The principal objection made
by the union officials to the offer of
the packers is the provision that they
"will give preference in order of ap-
plication for work." The strike lead
ers construe this to mean that each
man on strike will be obliged to make
an individual application.
Riot Companies Strike.
Rioting and bloodshed signalized
the progress of the packing house
strike on Thursday night. While
the packers and the strike lead
ers were ending downtown ses-
sion in which they had failed to
reach a basis of settlement, hum
dreds of workingmen and their SYM
pathizers gathered in Paulina and
Forty-fifth streets, near the New City
police station. When the police at
sailed them with stones and sticks. An
answering volley of bullets was fired
by the patrolmen and one of the
strikers was shot. Three policemen
also were wounded, while several
other rioters were injured.
Packers Show More Activity.
With their working forces increased
to about 1000 men, one-fourth OF
whom were brought into the yards
Thursday night and Friday morning,
the packing firms began operations on
a more extensive scale than at any
other time since the strike began.
Killing of cattle, sheep and hogs in
creased 20 per cent over Thursday
and the shipments were larger, the re-
ceipts being 5000 cattle, 5000 sheep
and 5000 hogs.
May Call Out Troops.
St. Paul, Mimi, July ia force of
several hundred strikers lined up in
front of the main entrance to the Swift
Packing company's plant at South St.
Paul Friday and refused to let the Of
flee force and other employees into the
building. The strikers had learned of
the operation Of the plant Thursday
and concluded that the Office men
must have been employed on the kill
ing floor and therefore determined to
allow no one to enter the grounds.
Sheriff Crissim, of Dakota county, was
appealed to and personally took about
Is men into the plant, including the
engineers, on the plea that the ma
chinery must be looked after. He then
refused to escort any more through the
gate.
The strikers said they would allow
the office men to enter the yards if the
officials would give their word of
honor that the men would not be en-
ployed except upon their regular du-
ties. The officers declared they did
not feel called upon to give any such
pledge to anybody and things were at
q standstill. 1t is expected that the
governor will be asked to send troops
to the stock yards. Adjt. Gen. Libbey
stated Friday morning that no call
had been made. but one was expected.
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