The Washington times., 1904-07-12
No Fresh Beef Till Trou-
BILE Is Settled or Nom
UnioniStS Employed.
$4,000 MORE TO BE IDLE
e-Reaching Effect of
Failure to Reach Labor
Agreement.

CHICAGO. July I2.-Nearly $1,000 work.
ers In all principal meat packing con
Germs in the United States went on
strike at noon today.
Aside from such cattle. sheep. and
hogs as can be slaughtered in small To-
cal establishments in the various cities.
no fresh meat can be marketed either
for domestic use or for export until the
trouble between the packers and their
union employees is settled or until nOn-
union workers are secured
The duration OF the struggle cannot be
foretold.
Numbers Involved.
The number OF men and women en-
ployed in the packing houses at the va
ricus cities was estimated by Michael
Donrelly. president Of the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen Of
America. is as follows:
Chicago, 10000; Kansas City, 1000; St
Joseph, 5,o00; East St Louis, 5000; Oma-
IA, 5000; Fort Worth, 1900; New York.
l.5O0; St Paul. ]. 800: Sioux City. 500
In addition TO this great total, another
5000 workers viii be made idle through
the strike Of the butchers. Br1nch
stores and agencies win be practically
closed while the struggle continues and
many affiliated branches Of trade Will
be affected.
In Chicago Shops.
In Chicago the total workers in the
yards is estimated at 35 900 men and
women. The workers in the mechanical
departments will be at once thrown out
of employment. Stationary frenen are
expected to join in the strike on a griev-
ance of their own.
The final dec ision to strike was reach
ed BY the union leaders last evening.
Orders for the walk-out, however. had
been given few days before. All prep
erat ons had been made for the begin
ming of the struggle
These plans were laid subject to re-
call at the last minute. on the receipt
of favorable proposition from the
packers.
The cause of the strike is the failure
of employees and owners Of packing
plants to reach an agreement for the
coming year. Union men demanded a
contract covering all classes of work
ers in plants. They put the wage rate
of the laborers at 1S1z cents an hour.
Owners Of plants declined TO enter into
agreements with any but a few Of the
more skilled workers, and declared the
demands of the labOrers excessive.
Last Conference Fails.
The last conference between the en-
ployers and the men was held on FRI
day, July l. The parties 10 it were Of
ficers of unions and owners of great
ablishments.
Early this morning the forces of men
wnt 10 wOr as usual. but prepared 10
cease operations Police authorities are
massing reserves in stock yard districts
as a precautionary measure against pos
sible disturbances, which, however. are
not looked for Immediately.
The international Packing Company,
Boyd. Lanham a Co, and Roberts &
Oakes are the only firms that viii not
be affected by the strike. They en-
ploy altogether about $500 men.
The rest of the firms have met the de-
mandS Of the meat workers and viii
continue TO operate, paying the mini
mum scale Of 1872 cents per hour for
labOrers.
Orders were given union men 10 COM
plete all work upon which they Were en-
gagged at noon. and in some cases the
men will remain as late as 5 o'clock to-
night putting things in shape.
From 800 TO 400 reserve police are now
on duty in the stock yard district 70
guard against any possible outbreak OF
disturbance.