The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-05
CHICAGO MENACED
BY MEAT FAMINE
Strikers May Try to Cut Off Ice
Supply From Blacklisted
Retailers.
Transfers Will Refuse to Remove
Meat From Cold Storage
Warehouses.

Chicago, Aug. 5.-President Dom
nelly and Secretary Wilson of the Ice
Wagon Drivers union conferred today
on the subject of refusing to deliver
ice to retailers who buy of packers
whose plants are affected by the strike.
outcome of the conference an attempt
will be made to cut off the ice supply
of all blacklisted dealers.
The strikers were inclined to be-
lieve that this move would cause a
meat famine in Chicago and that an
Mayor Harrison intervene to bring
about a settlement of the strike.
Recording Secretary Shanahan Of
the Packinghousa Transfers union
announced today that orders would be
issued Immediately to transfers to
several cold-storage warehouses in the
city.
The allied trades executive commit
tee, he said, would act upon the team
sters' position and a report favoring
sympathetic action by teamsters who
have been distributing meat from
warehouses would mean the immedi-
ate issuance of a strike order to those
drivers.
In the face Of the persistent peace
rumors, strikers and packers alike
gave evidence today of grim detern1in-
alton to stand their ground and carry
the struggle over into next week.
There were indications that by that
time both sides would regard the Off
ces of interim diaries with favor UNI
less either side should develop weak
ness warranting the other in holding
out.
| Grid for Struggle.
To the strikers the approach Of
Sunday doomed up as a menace be-
cause Of difficulties in holding ranks
together over the opening Of the new
week.
The strike leaders had positive in
i formation that emissaries of the
packers were at work in all directions
quietly offering highly skilled men
tempting inducements to break away.
/ Pressure was also being brought upon
strikers wives, thru direct individual
appeal.
i To offset this the leaders figure on
the return of President Donnelly to
arouse enthusiasm and prepared a
monster demonstration for tomorrow
q with the same end in view. While
q feeling sure Of the men, 1T was ad-
q nitted that Is not easy to hold
hungry families in line. Efforts were
therefore especially directed toward
impressing the women with the vast
ness and solidity Of the strike and
with the necessity of remaining firm.
Bankers Complain.
Chicago bankers complain that the
packing-hOuse strike is having a mort
serious effect on the local money mar
ket. Millions of dollars that under
normal business conditions would be
used by the packers are now piling uI
: in Chicago banks and threaten to de-
press interest rates. The packers are
heavy borrowers under normal con-
ditions, not alone in Chicago but al
over the world. They carry loans
:. and notes amounting in the aggregate
t about $40,OOO,O00 is carried by Chi
cago banks and since the beginning
f Of the strike business has contracted
: so much that instead Of borrowing the,
are paying off loans and taking III
notes. A prominent banker estimates
that the packing companies had pai(
off 10,00O,OOO Of their loans in Chi
cago since the beginning Of thu
strike and that they were beginning tt
retire their obligations at the rate o
$4,0O0,O00 a week.
Efforts for Peace.
Efforts to bring about peace con
ference were today explained as be
ing due to the cattleshippers and tn
Union Stock Yards and Transit com
| pany-both neutrals-who have los
heavily thru the strike. At the In
stance of both, General Agent Skin
ner of the Stock Yards company Wis
tied the strike leaders yesterday
Finding them receptive, he gave at
tention to the packers. Little encour
agement was met with from tn
packers. Believing, however, that tn
situation was not without possibilitie.
he returned to the strike leaders, VIII
were awaiting him at the Trans
house.
In the meantime the strikers ha
attempted to bring pressure to bea
on the packers from other sources
and in so doing had acquired infor
nation from which the Inference wa
drawn that the strikers position wa
stronger than had been believed. /
consequence, when Mr.. Skinner re
turned, he found the strike leader
unwilling to make any marked cor
cessions. While Mr.. Skinner was cor
ferring with the strike leaders, repre-
sentatives of the packers casually az
& reared, giving color to an impressio
that important negotiations were &C
tually under Way-an impression ths
was not lessened thru the fact ths
confidential men from the packer
Swallowed every movement of tn
strikers from that moment on. It we
declared today, however, that moth
ing tangible had developed tending
point towards immediate peace.
Nearly 10000 strikers were toda
each paid from the strike treasury S
the so-called weekly benefit. This
the first benefit paid to the striker
BIiANIES THE POLICE