The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-07-16
CHICAGO MEAT-PACKERS BE-
GIN GREAT STRIKE TO
PREVENT A REDUC-
TION OF WAGES.
Both Sides Are Determined-G Great
Centers Have Only Few Days.
Supplies-Famine May
Come-Uni Has
Funds TO Back
Them for
Year.

Od4s ssfs--5r. II
Chicago, July 12.-As the result
of a stubborn disagreement, chiefly
over wages for unskilled labor, one
of the most extensive strikes in the
history in the meat. packing indus
try of the United States began to.
day in Chicago, Kansas City, Oma-
ha. st. Joseph apd other cities
where large packing plants are To-
Gated. If prolonged the strike is
expected to cause wide spread in
convenience, possibly equalling the
anthracite coal famine Of two years
ago. q
The unanimity Of the strike was
complete. More than $4,000 em-
ployes are directly involved. In
Chicago alone more than $4,000
men are on strike.
President Donnelly, for union
says, "We are fighting against a de.
crease in wages. The average pay
for unskilled workmen was 1Sa
cents an hour. We asked this be
made the minimum. The employ
ers cut it to 173 and Is cents.
With steady work man could live
on Is cents, but in some plants
men have been able to work only
13 hours week.
Armour & Co., for employers
1--WE consider the demand for an
advance in wages entirely unwar.
ranted by conditions We propose
to submit the question to arbitra-
ton, but the union declined. We
have had applications from hun
dreds of men for positions at less
wages"
The walk-out here was started
by the employees of the killing de-
partments at the various packing
houses. The killers were followed
by the workers in the other depart
ments as fast as the current work
left by the slaughterers could be
cleaned up. Thus as the workers
in each department disposed their
part of the work they threw off their
aprons and departed. This consid.
Grafton was shown to the packers,
the lBbor officials announced, be.
cause it was not the desire of the
men to cause the employers any Fl.
nancial loss as result of neglect
ing meat that was on hand TO be
tdressed. of=F,
Watched by cordons of police, thu
strikers filed briskly out of thu
packing houses, carrying overalls
rubber boots and knives, cleaverl
and steels. The strikers were greet
ed by crowds of women and chill
dren, many of whom joined hand
| with the workmen on the outwart
march, There was absolutely M
sign Of disorder. -
j A picturesque scene was present
| ed when the sausage canneries an,
factories were left by their forces
There are 1000 girls employed il
these two departments of the mea
industry. Clad In the variegate
garb of factory girls, this army c
feminine strikers tripped blithely q
long the main thoroughfare ef th
stockyards and were proudly cheer
ed as they emerged through th
gates and distributed them selves i
the crowd of men who awaited thei
coming.
, "We are with you to the last" a
the girls exclaimed, as they stoo
, around and talked over the situs
ton with their male companions i
f the movement.
How long do you think it vii
last?" inquired one of them, look
ing quite serious.
'Dnnno," he replied, "excer
!, that President Donnelly says th
!. men managed to hold out for Fl
{ teen months in Buffalo, and I que:
we can do as much
President Donnelly, of the ANA
gamated Meat cutters and Butche
: workmen of North America, leadt
ef the strikers, said in a convers'
ton tonight he believed the stril
ers would have little difficulty
withstanding siege Of more tha
t a year with the strike funds the III
ions have on hand. In Chicago 3
local unions are involved in IL
strike. President Donnelly an
), the presidents of the various loca
e assembled at the headquarters tn
Imnrninq. thinking thew might Z