Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-02
CHARGES or BAD FAITH.
Packers Issue a Statement Defining
Attitude Toward the Unions.

Chicago, Aug. 25.-For the first time
since the beginning OF the strike the pack
ers gave out a statement defining their
position. The union Is charged with bad
faith throughout the negotiations. The
employers declare they will not make any
agreement with the butcher workmen. The
statement follows:
"A review OF the negotiations between
the packers and their striking employees
during the last two months absolutely
~disproves the claims made by certain OF
the spokesman for the striking workers.
This review brings out some facts OF first
Importance, which the union leaders have
sought to conceal or have avoided.
lit shows that the employers, from the
first, and as long as there was any prom
Use OF results, stood for arbitration and a
peaceful settlement OF the differences at
issue.
1T shows that the union leaders. also
from the first, opposed such methods.
,'It shows hat the packers entered into
an agreement In good faith terminating
the first strike, and that the hotheaded
union leaders precipitately broke the
agreement. Arbitration was not appealed
to by the workers, although they had
given their pledge that II should be en-
ployed to adjust future differences.
.as.> :=.=s >>..SS ... s5T= TIE
labor organization twice had spurned ar
bitration and wantonly had thrown their
agreement to the winds. What was left
for the packers? BY these acts the EN-
ployers nave been told that arbitration Is
not wanted and that trade agreements are
held to be of no account.
LET the public Judge from a sober re-
cital or the facts.
"The butcher workmen went out on the
first strike at noon. Tuesday, July ~
Only twenty-four hours before the walk
out the packers were told that the strike
was im~minent-in fact had been called.
ter received or the afternoon Of Monday,
July III.
Employers Offer Arbitration,
"a reply was given to this letter at
once. 1t was In the hands OF the officers
OF the union three hours after they had
sent their statement. In III the employers
offered to submit all differences. Including
wages, hours and conditions. to arbitra-
ton.
president DonnelIy replied offhand to
this proposition with the declaration that
II had come too late. The strike had al
ready been ordered In all packing centers.
1t must be concluded that war. not peace,
was desired. Arbitration, so much lauded
since then, was uncomprornisingly re-
Jected.
Notwithstanding this rebun. the pack |
ers entered into conferences with the 1
union men In a few days. They were sfill
TO let the adjustment OF troubIes
go to arbitration, agreeing to take back as
many OF the strikers as possible in the or |
in which they sought for their former
positions.
"A demand arose all over the country. |
from the press, the pulpit and from promi. |
nent citizens that the strike be settled |
Donnelly was forced TO yield to the pres. |
sure and to consent to arbitration.
AN agreement was made after a week. |
IT was considered fair to both sides. i
was nearly as favorable to the mon az the
proposition OF the packers before the
strike. Former employees were to be taken
back as rapidly as possible. and the points
dispute were to be arbitrated.
while the first strike was In progress |
however, the cattle butchers met and de-
cided ON a plan Of action independent or
that adopted by the general officers OF the
organization. They voted tina Il all al
their members were not immediately rein
stated rome would return. The agreement
provided otherwise, but the butchers re-
solved to disregard it and 10 be bound only
By the arbitrary course they had decided
ION the FRIDAY mornins when fhe Nor
mar employees were 10 return under tht
agreement the b6tchere cerr3ed or< khet.
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