Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-01
WALLACE ON THE STRIKE.
Tells Of the Conditions and Causes
Labor Trouble in Chicago.

Des Moines, Aug. HI. C. Wallace
and DR.. Henry Wallace returned yes
terday from Chicago, where they have
been assisting A. l.. Ames, OF Buck
ingham. president of the Corn Belt
Meat Producers Association of Iowa.
10 bring about an arbitration and set
clement OF the packing house strike.
Their trip was futile, so far as direct
accomplishments are concerned, but
will probably bear fruit in the future.
Messrs Wallace acted upon a request
rom President Ames, who recognized
hat prolonged strike meant great
lamage to the livestock producers Of
iowa. The trio held conferences with
the representatives of the striking en-
ployes and the packing houses and
urged them, not alone for their own
sakes. but for the public and the live
stock men, to adjust their differences.
THE strike is one of the worst the
country has had to contend with in
many years." said Mr.. Wallace, in dis
sussng it yesterday. Both sides are
n a measure to blame. but the recent
lttitude Of the packers is unwarranted.
md will mean several months of
rouble that may, before II Is ended.
involve many other classes of labor.
The entire country will suffer from the
rouble just on account of personal
1ride.
The strikers point out the many
ribulations they have suffered at the
lands of the unions for the past sever
II years. They allege that the recent
alleged breaking of the agreement for
arbitration is but one Of the many
rails they have been subjected to.
THE men, on the other hand, have
their version of the case. They point
out that the packers only pay 1915
cents per hour for common labor. This
only for the time actually employed.
That Is according to figures shown,
the average employment of the COM
mon laborer is but thirty-five hours
per week, or weekly wage of about
$3.50. This is pretty small, even for
Il foreigner to live on.
"One of the striking sights for an
outsider is to see President Donnelly
Of the allied meat trades, manage the
mass Of employees under him. He is an
Irishman, reared in Belfast. and yet
only a small portion Of the men under
him, and the ones for whose benefit
the strike is for, are Italians. Poles,
Danes Scandinavians, etc. Donnelly is
surprise. He is unquestionably one
of the ablest men l have met.
Cause Of Strike.
"'The prime cause of the strike was
dispute as to wages, which should be
paid unskilled labor during the coming
year. Last year contract between the
packers and the laborers provided that
unskilled labor should be paid 1S12c
an hour for the time actually at work.
This agreement expired in May, and
the laborers desired to renew 1t. The
packers finding labor more plentiful
this year than last, and being able to
hire it at less price than 1870 an
hour refused to renew the agreement.
The open shop question was not an
issue. After conferences between the
labor leaders and packers extending
over many weeks it was found that no
agreement could be reached and the
labor leaders notified the packers that
they would cali a strike. When the
strike was called President Donneily
instructed all the workmen to clean
up the work upon which they were en-
gagged, leave the machinery and every
thing in good shape In order that the
packers might not suffer any unneces-
sary loss He instructed them to dis
continue work as far as possible at
certain hour, but gave them permits
sion to stay as long after that hour as
might be necessary to leave their de-
partments in good condition. While
the strike was caused by a dispute
over the wages of the unsk'lled labor
ers. many of whom did not belong to
the union at all. it was participated In
by practically all the skilled labor
ers.
Races at Mason City.