The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-14
Trouble Probably Will Be o1
Short Duration.
MAY GET TOGETHER.
A Conference Has Been Arrang-
ed Between Opposing Forces.
Prices of Meats Continue to
Advance in Big Cities.

ing companies and their $4,000 strik-
ing employees was taken today, when
President Michael Donnelly of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butchers union of North America
held a conference with representa-
tives of the packing houses in which
the strike was called. There are in
dications that the conference will
open the way for a settlement of the
strike, a prolongation of which would
mean suffering to the strikers. heavy
losses to their employers and priva-
ton and general inconvenience to the
public
Both sides are in favor of a peace
able settlement upon an equitable
basis, and it is believed that an ar
rangement will be made for the men
to return to work pending an adjust
ment of the difficulties by arbitration.
That this manner of settlement will be
accepted by both sides appears prob
able.
]. Ogden Armour for the employers
and Michael Donnelly for the workers
have united in declaring they favor
arbitration. The head of the union,
in council with President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation
of Labor was advised to make terms
deemed fair consideration.
1t is understood that in the confer
ence today the union leaders will in
sist that all strikers be reinstated.
Another point on which the laboring
men VIII lay great stress will be that
a wage scale for each class of workers |
in the packing plants be agreed upon. |
This brings up one of the original
differences The packers have main
tained that any contract made would |
not include the unskilled workers.
From financial viewpoint prob |
ably no one outside interest is more
seriously affected by the stock Yards
strike than the railroads. particularly |
the lines operating east from Chica go |
FRESH meat is one of the heavy ar
ticles of shipment east from here, |
and II takes a higher rate than al
most any class of freight
1t was announced that representatives
or the packing houses had arranged TO |
hold conference previous to the Joint
arbitration meeting. At this conference
1t was said. ii would be determined lust /
what terms the packers would be will |
ing TO agree to. Those selected to rep |
resent the packing houses were Louis !
and Z. F. Swift Swift & Co. Edward 1
Morris. Nelson Morris & Co ]. Ogden
Armour, Arthur Meeker and Thomas |
Connors, Armour & Co, K. H Bell Ma |
t1onal Packing company, Mark Sulz- |
berger, Swarzschild & Sulzberger COM |
pany.
Employment of nonunion men is in
creasing, according to Arthur Meeker, |
manager for Armour & Co.
We are getting plenty of outside |
help, said Mr.. Meeker. Yesterdays |
output was 25 per cent of the normal |
To-Day we will produce more
The packers preliminary meeting was
held in Nelson Morris & Co.'S office /
The result was the formulation of A |
note to President Donnelly and Samuel
Gompers, inviting the two labor officials
to conference. While diplomatic ex-
changes of this nature We're in prog
ress a mob of about 300 strike sympa-
1hizerS suddenly set upon a dozen or
more nonunion men who tried to enter
the yards to take the places of strikers
No blows were struck but the nom
union men were led back to the gates
and given gentle admonition to "go
home" The nonunionists acted upon
the advice.
At Kansas City.
Kansas City, Mo. July 14.-Packing
eagerly awaited the result of today's
conference at Chicago. Many of the
men out had been loath to leave their
places, hoping up to the last moment |
ed and they quit, they said, more to
show loyalty to the union and for Pres
ident Donnelly's order than for any
other reason Since the strike began
not the slightest indication OF disorder
has been seen. a great majority of the
men remaining away from the vicinity
Killing on a slightly increased scale
was resumed today at the plants of Ar
mour * Co. Fowler and Swift & CO.
and at each of these places new men
were hired. At the Cudahy plant the
workmen are still busy cleaning up
and no attempt to resume business will
be made for a few days yet The
Schwarzschild and Sulzburger & Co
continued to ship today, but no killing
was attempted. No effort is being made
to operate the Ruddy Brothers plant
Retailers have advanced the prices of
pork 21z cents a pound. but the price
of fresh beef remains practically un-
However. as the packing
compa nies who are selling have moth
stock. the retailer who has been hand
ling an inferior grade, must now pur-
chase the best or none at all.
Thirty cooDers and box makers and
about 125 laborers. or unskilled en- {
ployes at the Armour. Fowler and
Cudahy plants, failed to report for ]
duty today. Many of these employees t
were non-union men. {
AT New York.
New York. July 14.-No new phase of
the meat strike in this city developed
over night and the meeting today of
the strikers organization was the only
feature expected to bring forth any
thing of interest
About the packing house districts it |
was quiet and no disorder was expect
I'd the strikers apparently acting upon I
the advice of the leaders to avoid trou-
nIe There was a sentiment about the
backing house district as well as about
he strike headquarters that the trou-
lie would be of short duration and /
hat a settlement will be reached today