Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-27
BIG STRIKE
MAY CEASE
End of Gigantic Packing
House Struggle in
Sight.
is LIKELY
Union Leaders Reported Ready
to Treat for
Peace.

Chicago. Aug. 27.-"Meet Monday
and take a vote on the conditions" is
the substance of telegram which Cor
nelius p. Shea, chief of the packing
house teamsters. today sent to his men
in Chicago. This is construed by some
to mean Shea is desirouS that his fol
lowers elect whether or not they shall
continue on the strike at the stock
yards. Today the teamsters aban-
dOned their picketing.
Chicago, Aug. 27.-The end of the
packing house strike. which has in
volved $4,000 men and women in a gi-
gantic struggle since July IL, seems
to be in sight. Members of the execu.
tive board of the Butcher Workmen's
union board have been summoned to
Chicago by President Donnelly. and
Monday an audience with the packers
will be asked. From statements made
yesterday by labor leaders it is be-
lieved that the unions are prepared
TO make ALMOST any concessions the
packers might demand If the pack
ers refuse to treat with the unions on
any terms desertiOns from the union
ranks are expected to follow in such
numbers that the strike will exist only
in name. There were many indica-
tions yesterday that the idle ones con-
slider their cause lost and prefer to
go back to work at once rather than
remain without earning capacity in the
face of an approaching winter.
President Donnelly summoned the
members of the executive board yes
terday after a committee of 40 cattle
butchers had waited upon him and told
him that decisive action was neces-
sary.
unless some move is made at once
We might as well call the strike off
and get back TO work as best we can"
the butchers are reported to have said.
"The packers have persistently re-
fused to make an agreement with us
and we can gain nothing by continuing
the strike at enormous expense"
President Donnelly Immediately
sent kilograms to the members of the
executive board. the message to Steph-
en- Vail. of Omaha. as made pub
lie in that city last night, being as fol
lows:
Negotiations may open here at any
time. Come at once. Inform packers
before leaving that settlement will
probably be made.
MICHAEL DONNELLY."
Ready to Make Terms.
Both President DOnnelly and John
J. Fitzpatrick. organizer of the Chica-
go Federation of Labor. said they were
confident that the entire controversy
could be settled speedily if a meeting
with the packers were to be held.
What inducement they would hold out
they declined to say.
Il have asked the members of the
executive board to come to Chicago in
order to see what can be done toward
securing another meeting with the
packers" said President Donnelly
THE strike will never be called off
unless such a conference is held.
feel sure that if we meet the packers
once more there will be a speedy set
tlement of the whole affair / expect
all members of the executive board
will be here Sunday when a meeting
will be held TO discuss plans"
|, Indications that the strike is about
to end were given color when 1t was
learned that all strike pickets have
been relieved from duty in Chicago.
Not one could be found in the stock
yards district yesterday.