Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-09
STRIKE DECLARED OFF.


which has demoralized the meat packing
industry throughout the country for the
last two months, was officially declared
off in Chicago last night by President
Michael J. Donnelly, OF the Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters and Butchers
Workmen of America. Yesterday morn
ing Mr.. Donuelly telegraphed the men,
beers of the national executive committee
asking their consent to an announcement
of the end of the struggle and last night,
having received favorable answers from
all. he declared that the strike Of the
members of his organization would end
at midnight.
The strike OF the members Of the al
fliated unions at the stockyards who quit
work in sympathy with the butchers
will officially be called off this morning
at a meeting of the conference board OF
the allied trades. This was decided
upon at a meeting Of the central body
of the allied trades held last night.
The general body was at first in favor
of continuing the strike, but Mr.. Don
nelly, who was present, announced that
the men were defeated and that in order
TO save his union from being entirely
disrupted he would order his men to re-
turn to work in the mOrling no matter
what course might be taken by other
unions. As the other unions had no
grievance of their own, but had gone on
strike to aid the butchers, there was
nothing left for them but to follow the
lead of Mr.. Donnelly, and they, too, de-
cided to call off the strike rs far as they
were concerned.
When the packers were notified last
night that it had been decided to end
the strike they announced that they
would give places as far as possible to
the skilled men, but it was stated at the
same time that many OF the men would
he unable to secure their old places, a.
in many cases the work was being per-
formed in a satisfactory manner by men
who had been secured since the COM
mencement of the strike. 1t is expected
that the majority of the unskilled men
will be unable to secure their places
again. 1t was the question Of a wage
scale for this class of men that brought
about the strike, the packers refusing to
sign an agreement with any class other
than skilled workmen.
Some rocks landed inside the Russian
lines. There was one appalling moment,
during which the garrison itself was
stunned; then a death-like silence. The
searchlight plainly lighted up the road
and hillsides strewn with death. The
following day the Russians buried the
dead, but owing to their dismembered
and mutilated condition the Russians
were unable to accurately estimate the
number of killed. A few japanese es-
capped, however.
The foregoing information is contain
ed in a small sheet issued September
by the Port Arthur Noyakri, d break
in the press having made it impossible to
issue full edition.
A Chinese arriving at ChefoO confirms
tue above to the extent of saving that he
heard report that many japanese had
been killed by a mine, bnt he did not
learn the details. On the nights Of Au-
gust 26 and 81 similar disaster beiell
the japanese near redoubt No. 2, il is
but no details have been ascer-
tanned.
During the strike approximately 55, 600
persons have been involved in the strug-
gle, which is estimated to have cost the
men about IS, 1000 in wages, as
against an estimated loss of 81, 500, 600 |
% the packers in loss of business and in |
increased expenses. The greatest num-
,er of men idle in Chicago during the
,trike was $500, and the total in the
country outside of the city is estimated |
10 be about the same,
The original cause of the strike was a
iemand by the butchers union that the
packers pay to the unskiled workmen
ISL cents an hour. The packers refused !
% sign an agreement, but offered to |
lrbi,rate the question. This was accept
ID, the strikers agreeing to return to
work pending the decision of the arbitra- ,
ors. The men, however, were dissatis-
led with the manner in which they were
,eing put to work, and declared that
hey would not return unless all of the
men were given their old places in one
lay. The packers declaring that this
vas impossible, the men went on strike
or the second time.
The men now return to work under
he conditions that existed before the
trike