Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-07-27


with President Donnelly, who said
1.-THE time to strike is right now. Let
US talk about the independent concerns
and about settlements later
Icemen to Go Out.
Then it was arranged that President
Schardt, representing the Chicago Fed
Grafton Of Labor, and Barney Cohen,
representing the butchers union. should
Joint the teamsters' union committee, to
which had been added John Sheridan,
business agent of the Ice Wagon Driv-
ers' union. There are 1900 of the ice
wagon drivers employed by the packers
the packers would have much difficulty
getting ice to their refrigerator cars.
Before going to meet the packers the
committee Of teamsters had joint con-
ference with the allied trades representa-
tives and then, with Messrs. Schardt and
Cohen. went to meet the packers at the
offices of Nelson Morris & Co. While
this latter conference was in progress
the allied trades meeting was continued,
the delegates being anxious to learn the
result Of the latest effort to bring about
q settlement.
Settlement Far Off,
Under instructions the representatives
of labor told the packers that they could
not waive their demand for reinstate
ment within forty-eight hours of the
cattle butchers and meat cutters and
within ten days for all others, and for
individual arbitration in all cases of al
legged discrimination. The packers were
represented by Thomas Wilson for Mel
son. Morris & Co.. Edward Tilden for
Libby, Mcneil & Libby; ]. e. Maurer
Tor Schwartzschild q Sulsberger; T. j.
Connors for Armour & Co., and j. T.
Lyman for the National Packing com
pany The conference was secret and
after it had lasted several hours a rep
progress had been made ard that set
Element seemed as far off as ever.
'While the peace conference was in
session news came of the strike of all the
livestock handlers. which was called at
10 o'clock. Most of the men quit prompt
~ ut that hour, but many were allowed
until o'clock in the afternoon to finish
delivering cattle outside the yards. indie
pendent packers took advantage Of this
and droves of cattle and sheep were
driven out of the yards long after 10
O'Clock.
When it became known that the walk
out of the livestock handlers affected the
independent packer as well as those
against whom the strike had been called
representatives of the independents called
on the strike officials at the headquarters
Of the packing house teamsters to ask for
q special provision allowing them to Sc
cure cattle from the yards in the regular
way. Representatives Of the allied pack
ing house trades promised to take the
question up at formal meeting.
Strike Spreads Rapidly.
Meanwhile the sympathetic general
strike had spread rapidly. When the
scale men got word to quit they locked
their scales and left, many of them hav-
ing unweighed cattle on the scales. For
tunately, however, for shippers, commits
sion men ano packers. nearly all the
weighing had been done and little incon-
venience resulted.
Not all the machinists went out. In
fact it is claimed a small majority re-
sponded to the call of their leaders. The
electricians and dynamo men. however,
asserted to have been filled by men who
have been in the employ of the packers
for many days.
No Suggestion Of Violence.
The strike movement soon involved ev-
cry craft at thu stockyards, excepting the
teamsters. Steam filters, plumbers, box
makers, etc. walked out successfully
these departments being totally tied up in
some instances and but partially in 9TH
ers. Thousands of workmen with their
lunch pals began moving out of the
q marked absence of any suggestion of
violence during the WalkOutS.
The strike. although general, was COLI
Quoted without the official authorization
by the heads of the various unions, but
solely upon the order of business agents,
who refused to await the action of the
peace conference which was still in ses-
sion.
The joint peace conference of the team
sters and packers at Morris & Co.'S Of
fees ended about noon without making
much, if any, progress. The packers de-
manded that the union men come to
them with definite proposition. The
union committee returned to headquar-
tiers to confer with the butchers and al
lied trades, in the hope, it is said, that
something definite in the way of a new
proposal could be decided upon.
Small Ray of Hope.
One of the labor representatives. Bar
ney Cohen, president of the State FEEDER
alton of labor, contended that the pros
poets for the settlement of the strike
were not hopeless. He declared that
concessions would yet be made by both
sides. In this connection it was pointed
out that the representatives. of the pack
ers remained at the offices of Morris &
Co.
Notwithstanding President Cohen
optimism adjournment of the conference
between the packers and the transfers
representatives gave little hope for a set
tlement of the trouble.
The unions emissaries left the packers
with the avowed intention of securing
further instructions from President Don
nelly, after which, they said, they would
again cali upon the employers. The pack
ers were in an uncommunicative mood
and merely declared that nothing definite
had been accomplished and that no time
for a further conference had been APP
pointed.
Backed BY All Unions.
st. Louis, Mo-, July 2o.-The strike of
packing house employees has received the
unanimous endorsement Of the Central
Trades and Labor union, which means,
in case a sympathetic strike should be
called, the strikers would have the sup
port Of the allied trades and labor or
CARNATIONS.
No Change at st. Paul.
st. Paul, Mimi, July 25.-The situa-
ton at the South st. Paul stock yards
shows little change. The plant Of Swift
& Co. is being operated on about the
same scale as during the latter part of
last week, and there has been no VIC
lence ATTEMPTED on the part of the StrjI>-