Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-23

NHicdso, july 1.-THE Joint CONFER
ence between representatives Of tho
meat packers and the Meat Butchers,
Union failed to reach an agreement to-
night. in an effort to adjust the striko
and another conference has been ar
ranged for tomorrow morning, at 8
O'Clock.
Chicago. July 22.-The packing house
strike was. today, ordered renewed in
Chicago and all other cities. Violation
OF agreement by the packing house
proprietors Is assigned as the reason.
The following telegram was sent by
President Donnelly to all the EMPLOYEES
OF various packing houses in the diff
erent cities affected by the previous
strike:
Order out all the departments again.
Companies violated agreement.
(SigneO Michael DOnnelly,
President International Meat Cut
ters and Butcher Workmen."
Today, 5000 cattle butchers reported
at tie stock yards here for work ONLY
half of them were given places. There
upon all refused to work. They report
ed in body at their union headquar-
tiers. The general order for a renewal
of the strike was soon Forthcoming.
While the immediate provocation for
the renewal of the strike was appal entity
the failure of the packers to take back
larger proportion of the strikers who
reported for work, today, the real
cause of the rupture was inferred to be
Il circular issued. yesterday, by the
packers. The circular purported to ex-
plain to the publi, the agreement en-
tered into with the labor leaders Seem
ingly the circular could be taken as
implying that agreement did not bind
the packers to re-emrloy all Of the
men who walked out. The construction
the labor leaders had placed upon the
agreement was that all should be re-
employed within As days.
When the 5000 butchers and their
helpers went into the yards here. to-
day to take their old places. the gen.
eral greeting received was:
I'VE cannot take back more than half
the regular force
Immediately there was woeful dis
play OF chagrin and disappointment
The men held a conference of an i'm
promptu nature and reported an agree
ment to act as a unit or not at ALL
You must take us all back, or none"
came the reply Of the union men who
saw performing the tasks they had
done before numbers of non-union
wnrkmen. Tie packers refused to ac-
cede to this and committee was sent
to see President Donnelly. Within an
hour and half the decision was reach
ed to reopen the strike. President
Donnelly's telegram was accordingly
sent to all unions.
The breaking Of the agreement came
as a violent surprise to the public de-
snite the widespread knowledge that
the men were far from satisfied with
conditions consequent upon the sign
i'm of the terms If peace.
The summary action of the strike
leaders in ordering renewal of hostil-
tiles was followed by equally vigorous
efforts at restoration of peace. AS a
result the news of the strike order was
followed within an hour by an an
nouncment that Joint conference at
the Offices Of Armor & Co. had been ar
ranged to take place. this afternoon.
between the packing house proprietors
and the labor leaders. The purpose Of
the Joint conference was stated to be
to discuss the alleged unjust discrim-
nation on the part of the packers.
The portion Of the packers circular
objectionable to the union was as fol-
lows:
"Tn the agreement reached the pack
crs reserve the privilege of retaining
in their employ all employees that have
been hired while the strike has lasted.
thus guaranteeing to these men the
fair treatment they deserve and gain
ing for the packers one of the most i'm
portant points for which they contend
and for which they stood out so long.
The privilege OF arbitration with the
limit of As days covers the question of
discrimination only and is in no way
intended to guarantee to the places now
filled by non-union help
President Donnelly Of the Butchers
Worknen's Union. has requested lead
ers of all allied trades to order out their
men on sympathetic strike. =- -
President Donnelly, Immediately af-
ter calling the men out the second
time. gave out the following statement
relative to his action:
1.-THE packers agreed to replace the
men without discrimination. They
agreed that the men should report for
work and be taken back. Instead of be-
ing furnished with checks. this MORN
ing. when the men went back to work.
they were met by superintendent or a
who picked out certain men
and told them to go and get their
checks. They told others to go home;
that they did not know when they
would be needed or whether they would
ever. be needed.
This was plain violation OF the
agreement. 1 called up Mr. Connors. of
Armour & Co. and told him that the
n greenent was being fiagrantly violat-
ed: that the men would refuse to go
back to work.
1T did that as soon as the men had
reported from the yards what was be-