The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-07-15
BUTCHERS ON STRIKE.
Most Extensive One in Packing
Trades History.
Ii the Struggle is Prolonged 1t is Elk.
pected to Cause Widespread Incon-
venience Throughout the Coun-
try-GirIs Also Strike.

chicago, July 13.--AS the result of g
stubborn disagreement, chiefly over
wages for unskilled labor, one of the
most extensive strikes in the history
of the packing industry of the United
States, began Tuesday in Chicago,
Kansas City, Omaha, st. Joseph, Mo-,
and other cities where large packing
plants are located. If prolonged the
strike is expected to cause widespread
inconvenience, possibly equaling the
anthracite coal famine of two years
ago.
The unanimity of the strike was
complete. More than $4,000 employees
are directly involved In Chicago
alone $4,000 men are on strike.
The effect of the strike upon the
food supply of the country and the
price of meats is being earnestly dis
cussed, notwithstanding announce
ment was made Tuesday night that
the packing houses, contrary to some
what general expectation, will con-
tinue operations without any close
down, employing whatever help may
be obtainable. How much alienation
in the furnishing of supplies to the
public this course may afford. is a
matter of wide variation of opinion.
A picturesque scene was presented
when the sausage factories and can
neries were left by thir forces. There
are 1000 girls employed in these two
departments of the meat industry.
Clad in the varigated garb of factory
girls, this army of feminine strikers
tripped blythless along the main
thoroughfare of the stock yards, and
were roundly cheered as they emerged
through the gates and distributed
themselves in the crowd of men who
had mainly, awaited their coming. &
President Michael Donneliy, the
strike leader said:
Il wish to make it clear that we are
not fighting for an increase of wages,
but against a decrease.
''Our original demand was for.
minimum of 20 cents an hour for Ia
borers. This demand was amended
after our second conference with the
packers in June
I'VE agreed to scale of 1872 cents
an hour, except in Omaha and Sioux
City. where the scale is 10 cents.
l"The packers, on the other hand, re-
fused to pay more than 171a cents an
hour and declined to sign any agree
ments at all, except with a small pro-
portion of the workmen"
Chicago, July 14-Arbitration of the
grievances which precipitated the gen.
eral strike in the meat packing houses
in various parts of the country ap-
peared Wednesday night to be in sight
and conference between employers
and strikers will be held The initial
step toward a settlement of the con-
troversy by mediation was taken late
Wednesday evening by the state board
of arbitration. When the members of
the board reached Chicago they at
once went into conference with Mi
chael ]. Donnelly, the leader of the
strike, and listened to the story of his
side of the trouble. The members Of
the board then interview the represent
tatives of the packers and their side
Of the difficulty was heard.
AS a result of these two conferences
Mr.. Donnelly sent a communication
to the packers in which it was stated
that the unions were willing to accept
q settlement through a board of arbi-
tration. No reply is expected from the
employers before Thursday. but it is
confidently expected that their reply
will be conciliatory because they of
fered to arbitrate the matters in dis
pute before the strike was called. Mr..
Donnelly declared Wednesday night
that the offer of arbitration from the
packers had not reached him before
the strike was called and that if the
packers will again make the same
proposition it will be accepted by the
unions.
Shortly after IL o'clock at night aft
er assiduously using the telephones
between the headquarters of the I'M
ions and the, packers the state board
of arbitration, arranged a meeting be-
tween the officers of. the union and
representatives of the packers for 10
o'clock Thursday morning.
Providence, r. I.,-July 14.-Prices Of
beef, pork, lamb and mutton took an
upward turn, the advance ranging
from 1Hc a pound for beef and and
cents pound on the other meats.
About two days shipments from the
west are now en- route here.
La Crosse, Wis, July 14.-An indie
pendent packing plant in La Crosse
says it will refuse to advance meat
prices on account of the butcher strike
Western Wisconsin, it is thought. will
have sufficient meat at the usual
prices.
Des Moines, Ia, July 14.-Another
advance was made in the price of
meats by local dealers Wednesday,
pork advancing az cents a pound
Local dealers predict still higher
prices unless the strike ends shortly.
The Cruiser Chicago.