The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13
EFFECT ON BUSINESS.
Packing House Strike Is Far-Reach-
ing in Its Results.

Chicago, July 13.-As the result of
a stubborn disagreement, chiefly over
wages for unskilled labor, one OF the
most extensive strikes in the history
of the meat packing industry of the
United States is on in Chicago, Kan
sas City, Omaha, ST. Joe and other
cities where large packing plants are
located. If prolonged the strike is ex-
pected to cause widespread inconve-
nience, possibly sequaling the anthra-
cite famine -ofStTo years ago Inc
More than $4,000 employers are di-
rectly involved. In Chicago alone 49,
900 men are on strike.
The effect of the strike on the food
supply of the country and the price
of meats is being earnestly discussed,
notwithstanding announcement that
the packing houses, contrary to some
what general expectations, will con-
tinue operation without any close
down, employing whatever help may
be obtainable. How much alienation
in the furnishing of supplies to the
public this course may afford is
matter of wide variation of opinion.
The packers declare that hundreds of
men who could not be provided with
places have been applying daily for
work.
The waIkout here was started by
the employees of the killing depart
ments at the various packing houses.
The killers were followed by the
workers in other departments as fast
as the current work left by the
slaughterers could be cleaned up.
Thus the workers in each depart
ment disposed of their part of the
work they threw off their aprons and
departed. This consideration was
shown to the packers, the labor Off
Gals announced, because it was not
the desire of the men to cause en-
ployers any financial loss as result
of neglecting meat that was On hand
to be dressed.
Watched by cordons of police, the
strikers filed briskly out of the pack
ing houses, carrying Overalls, rubber
boots knives, cleavers and steelS. The
strikers were greeted by crowds of
women and children, many of whom
joined hands with the workmen on
the outward march. There was abso-
lutely no sign of disorder.
A picturesque scene was presented
when the sausage factories and can
are 1000 girls employed in these two
departments of the meat industry.
Clad in the variegated garb of fac
tory girls. this army of feminine
strikers tripped blithely along the
main thoroughfare of the stock
yards and were roundly cheered as
they emerged through the gates and
distributed themselves in the crowd
of men who had awaited their COM
ing:
girls exclaimed, smiling prettily as
they stood around and talked over the
in the movement.
How long do you think it will
last?" inquired one of them, looking
quite serious.
Dunno" was the reply, Except
that President Donnelly says the men
managed to hold out fifteen months in
Buffalo. and I guess we can do as
much"
President Donnelly of the Amalga-
mated Meat Cutters and Butcher
Workmen of North America, leader
of the strikers, said in a conversation
that he believed the strikers would
have little difficulty in withstanding a
siege of more than a year with the
strike funds the unions have on hand. !
In Chicago 35 local unions are in
volved in the strike. Presidents and
the vicepreSidents of various lodges
assembled at the headquarters, think
ing they might receive notice of sur
render from the packers, but no word
came. The packers took the position
that they had replied to the workers
demand and had nothing more to say
except to emphasize a refusal to pay
the wage scale asked.
Arthur Meeker, of Armour & Co., |
said: I'VE consider the demand of the
union for an advance of wages of I'M
skilled labor entirly unwarranted by
the conditions.
I'VE could not concede it, and pro-
posed to submit the question to arbi- |
tration which the union declined to
do and called a strike at all our
plants. Every department is kept
running, however. We have had ap- |
pIications from hundreds Of unem-