The Saint Paul globe., 1904-07-29
STRIKERS DECIDE TO
ABANDON BLOCKADE
Chicago Must Win for the
Butchers Out at South
ST. Paul

butchers at South ST. Paul have de-
cided TO abandon all attempts to es-
tablish q blockade at Swift & Co. s
plant, and, although number of men
profess to feel confident of their ul-
innate success it is generally conceded
by the conservative that the result of
the local strike will depend upon the
outcome of the strike in Chicago.
All was quiet at South st. Paul yes
terday.
The night before the strikers prom
ised that the blockade of the Swift
plant would be re- esta blished, and that
the morning would find one of the
strongest picket lines. of the strike. In
stead, less than a hundred men stood
in line when the non union men re-
ported for duty yesterday morning.
With 400 non-unionists, twenty deputy
, sheriffs and fifteen special policemen
marching to the gates, the strikers
looked mere handful, and, helpless,
stood aside and made practically no
attempt to interfere with the men
going to work
Picket Line Too Weak
Overawed by the large number of
deputies, special policemen and nom
effort to establish a blockade of the
Swift plant, and admitted afterwards
that so far as the union is concerned
there will not likely be any further
effort to prevent non-union men en-
tering.
A majority of the union men failed to
report for picket duty, there being
less than hundred in line when the
non-union men reported for work. But
few of the pickets showed a disposition
to interfere with the 400 workmen en-
tering the plant, and but one encounter
occurred.
George Hauer, non-union man,
claimed that he was struck by John
Seymour, a picket, and Seymour was
arrested by deputy sheriff, being lat
er taken to Hastings, where he will be
tried. Otherwise the union pickets con-
tented themselves with hooting and
calling names. But few if any of the
nom -unionists were induced to stop
and talk with the pickets.
AT the union meeting following it
was conceded that the blockade effort
was failure, it being declared by the
pickets that while great majority of
the strikers were willing to cheer
speakers favoring the blockade they
did not care to assist The men who
duty announced that they were tired
of the work, and the result is that
there will be little or no picketing done
hereafter.
Watching Chicago
1t was admitted that the result in
South ST. Paul will now depend upon
the outcome in Chicago. An encour-
aging letter was read from Michael
Donnelly, the national president, in
II; I, T.
sure to be success, basing the predic-
tion upon the production of meat dur
ing the more than two weeks. Presi-
dent Donnelly insists that not more
than 5000 cattle have been slaughtered
during the time, whereas the normal
killing would have amounted to 200,-
600. The letter advised the officers of
the South ST. Paul union to supply
needy men with necessaries and pay
their house rent in preference to giving
them money.
1t was expected that when the nom
union men arrived to go to work there
would be clash with the pickets. The
union men were lined up across the
street, but instead of the 400 to 500 men
who barred the way during the early
days of the blockade there were but
about hundred. Fully three times as
many non-union men were on hand,
and they marched through the line
without difficulty. Numerous deputy
sheriffs and special police were on
hand to preserve the peace.
When the workmen had all passed in
the strikers claimed that they had
made about thirty converts, while the
officials of Swift & Co. insisted that
the number did not exceed twelve, and
that these men had been replaced from
the ranks of the strikers.
1t is claimed by Swift & Co. that a
are ready to again go to work, but de-
sire to wait until the agitation had
died out. They predict that in a week
all the workmen needed TO operate the
plant at its full capacity will have been
secured.
Men Are Discouraged
After the failure to form success
full blockade the union headquarters
was comparatively deserted, majority
Of the men going to their homes dis
couraged. A number announced their
intention of seeking work elsewhere
in preference to either leaving the
union and returning to work or await
ing the outcome of the strike. There
was considerable complaint that the
regular weekly strike allowance had
not been received from Chicago. About
the only hopeful man to be found was
Business Agent Steep, who said:
backed by facts. The butchers are
faithful to the union to a man, and but
one union laborer returned to work to-
day. Their claim that twelve of oul
men reported for work is not true
The union is still master of the sftua-
tion and We are certain to win 1t is
costing Swift & Co. twice as much tc
do the killing as they would have paid
If our demands had all been granted
This will continue to be the case until
the strike is settled. Although the
union has not a great amount OF
money, there is enough on hand to sec
that none of the strikers or their fami-
lies suffer- ).
Arthur Elliott, arrested in the earl,
days of the strike and accused of hav-
ing struck Arabella johnson. one of the
women pickets, was yesterday called
for trial before Judge Doss. Miss John,
son did not appear to prosecute the
case and Elliott was discharged. Fill
OFT. made an effort to buck his Way
through the picket line and claimed
that if he struck the girl it was by ae-
cident. - -
RAlf QAAnC ADr nnAx.,.,