The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-07-17
Unskilled Labor. and Foreigners
of Organizations Who Have
Deserted, Take Places
in Factories.
BAD FEELING IS GROWING.
Police Are Forced to Use Their
Clubs to Quell a Riot, Which
Is Stared bly, Union Men
in Packing District.
REPCRLIC

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chicago. H., July 16-All negotiations
for a settlement of the packers strike are
off, and the factories are further apart
than ever.
At a conference held this evening to
agree on a basis of arbitration. the pack
ers rejected President Donnelly's basis and
the meeting. broke up. Donnelly for the
men waived all their claims, except that
he wanted the packers to set a date when
all the old men would be taken back.
This was rejected.
The packers claim to have employed to
date 1,50 new men. 1t is known that they
have $50. Some of these are the same
unskilled laborers for whom the strike
was declared. They belong to the unions.
but they are Poles. Bohemians. Lithuani-
ans and other nationalities, who have but
ideas of organization and are ready
TO break away from the strikers if they
see a chance to get back at work.
SOME MAY DESERT.
1t is thought that many skilled men will
return when they see that the men for
whose interests they struck nave lone so.
Then, the police say. the trouble will be-
GIN.
1t is when the strikers see assertions in
their ranks that they Will resort to vio-
lence. This will be particularly true when
the strikers find that their places are per-
manently gon
They have already lost faith in the I'M
skilled men for whom they struck. and
1t is expected hi the progress of the
strike next week will be marked by
scenes of violence. The police were in
structed by their officers tonight, and
the guard at the yards was almost
doubled.
The position of President Donnelly is
unique as a strike leader. He possesses, in
equal degree, the confidence of the unions
and the packers, and his demands at the
conferences are given great consideration
by the packers. The latter at the end of
each conference say to reporters:
See Mr.. Donnelly. He will give out
the statement"
They have absolute faith in his honesty.
His orders to the strikers counsel only
peaceable acts. and he has all along de-
clined to call out the other unions at the
yards.
STRIKERS IN RIOT.
While the packers were preparing to act
Upon the latest message from the strike
leaders, a riot was precipitated at West
Forty-third street and Ashland avenue, by
the arrival of omnibuses which carried
stenographers to the offices of Swift &
Co., Nelson Morris & Co. and the Armour
Packing Company.
Three men were injured by the blows of
pol. ,emen's clubs. When the first vehicle
was drawn up to the sidewalk, where the
young women were waiting for it, a strike
sympathizer rushed from a saloon and
stood directly in the path of the horses.
The police commanded the man to move
or. A crowd gathered and several police
men detailed at posts nearby FASTENED to
the scene. drew their clubs and charged
the crowd, which gave way before them.
The leaders retreated into a saloon and
escaped through a rear door.
PACKERS ISSUE STATEMENT.
The packers issued a statement after the
conference. which. after announcing that
a conference was held, concludes as fol-
iows:
After discussion, the packers letter of
July IA was accepted by Mr.. Donnelly, ex-
cepting the provisions contained therein
that the men now out or strike should be
taken back as fast as possible. Mr.. Don
nelly insisted that ell of the men should
be taken back within seven days; to this
the packers objected, as it would involve
the discharge of all men who have been
employed to fill the strikers places, which
they could not and woul not consider;
with the result that all negotiations were
declared ended
Working conditions at the local yards