Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-09
STRIKE AN
EDUCATOR
PRESIDENT MICHAEL DoNNELlY
GAYS soclALlsTic MOVE.
MENT WILL RESULT.
UNIONIsTs GIVE AID
Chicago Federation Encourages strlk.
Ing Butchers - Twenty-Five Car
loads Of Strike Breakers Who Left
Stock Yards Saturday Return.

Chicago, Aug. S.-President Michael
Donnelly said today:
"The packing bouse strike is the
greatest educator in socialism the
west has ever experienced. From the
harsh treatment meted out to 1the
strikers by the packers and the fhhu-
man conditions under which they are
willing to have their employees live
and work in the slaughter houses will
arise a great, socialist third party to
achieve reforms by the ballot instead
OF by the strike"
Strike Breakers Not Molested.
Twenty-Five railroad carloads of
white and colored strike breakers who
left the stock yards Saturday AMI yes
terday returned to work today with
out contact with the strikers.
Strikers Get Encouragement.
Developments in the stockyards
strike yesterday all tended toward
making the struggle protracted and
determined.
Financial aid was promised to the
strikers through the action OF the fed
GRAFTON OF labor and other organiza-
tions.
On the side of the packers It was
reported that they had instructed the
heads Of branch houses to get back
the city trade at any cost.
Some disturbances marked the day.
but all were of minor character and
soon were suppressed by the police.
Expect to Receive $4,000 Weekly.
Every labor organization in Chicago
will be asked to assist the striking
butcher workmen as the result of the
action OF the Chicago Federation Of
Labor Sunday afternoon. This assist
ance will be both t.moral and finan-
cial," according to the resolution
adopted. The federation expects to
receive $4,000 a week.
Two unions-those Of the street car
men and Of the painters-alreadyh have
voted money contributions to the
butchers. The street car men will
give 81 week for each member and
the painters each will contribute one
days pay. The painters fund is ex.
pected to be at least $4,000, and the
live stock handlers have offered $1,000
weekly If 1t is needed. Another source
of relief came from the strikers pic.
mic at Oswald's grove on Saturday.
proceeds being $500.
DonnelIy Pleads for Strikers,
President Donnelly of the butchers,
addressing the federation. defended
the strike of the union. He dwelt on
the responsibility Of tho skilled men to
the unskilled workers and declared
there should be no ''aristocracy Of la
Dor" He was received with great ap-
plause by the delegates.
II want to tell you," said Donnelly.
"how this strike was forced upon us.
1t was not sought by the union and 1t
was not expected. 1t was caused by the
refusal of the packers, in the preIimi.
nary conferences, to consider an agree
m ent for the unskilled men, as they
termed them. More than rs per cent
of the members Of our organization are
In this class.
when was working received the
highest rate Of wages paid in the plant.
was skilled man. But cannot for
get that the workers who cleaned UP
after the butchers and did the tasks
called unskilled were as good as l..
They were human beings and citizens
sideration.
Wants No Labor ArIstocracy."
IT do not want to separate myself
from these laborers. There must be
no aristocracy in the labor movement.
Many trades represented here have
held themselves aloof from their fel-
low workers in the lower grades. They
have done 1t, honestly believing 1t was
their first and only duty to protect
their own interests. They have con-
tented themselves with the one par
ticular branch Of industry in which
they we're employed.
"a broader spirit should prevail, All
are equal and all should be considered
as Of the same quality. We are all
laborers together, and In the final
analysis there are no skilled and un.
skilled. but only workers.
Must Include Men Of All Kinds.
This was the conclusion we reach.
ed in the days when trade unionism
was at low ebb after the defeat of the
knights Of Labor. Locals and small
isolated labor organizations were
beaten as often as they went on strike
to enforce their demands. BY expe.
rience we learned that our union must
cover all centers and must include all
workers, not leaving out the laborers
THE, injury of the laborer must be
made the concern of the skilled man
or none Of them will be benefited bv
the organization.
For this reason we demanded an
agreement for every clasa of worI,o.o