Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-25
SYMPATHETIC STRIKE
Thousands of Employees Quit
Work in Chicago Today.
SPECTACULAR EXODUS
CONFERENCE BETWEEN STRIKE
LEADERS AND PACKERS.
Donnelly Urges Walk-Out and Meet
ings for Settlement Afterward-
Discussion in Trade Walks.

known. began at 10 o'clock today, when
thousands of teansters, cattle handlers
and members of the mechanical trades QUIT
work and made grand rush for the gates
leading from the busiest square mile of
buildings yards and pens in the world
The first big detection came when 700
men. including the scalers and pen clean
employed by the Union Stock Yards
and Transit Company, refused to work
further. First to go were the handlers,
and this eliminated the usefulness of the
teamsters. and they followed AS they
passed out of the big gates at Exchange
avenue they were greeted with cheers by
the thousands of strikers gathered in the
vicinity.
Prior to this spectacular exodus came
small strikes in the various plants includ-
ing carpenters. fremen, elevator men, ma
chinsts, ETC. but these did not have the
effect of tieing up the plants, since such
action had been anticipated, and as often
as union man stepped out non-union
man, or union man who had deserted
his organization, was there to take his
place. The teamsters and cattle handlers
as whole employed by the various indi-
vldual firms refused to join in the precon-
ference movement much desired and ar
IDENTIFY urged by President DonnelIy Of the
butchers Union, but at that a large num-
Der OF them quit and quietly left the yards
TO attend big mass meeting called for
the benefit of all who had refused to await
results of further conferences
Conference During Walk Outs.
While these walk-outs were taking place a
conference between strike representa-
yves and the packers was being held at the
Office of Nelson Morris d Co. at the wards
ana the delegates representing the allied
trades were in session at Emerald avenue
and fist street
Earlier III the day the allied trades and
the committee of eight teamsters chosen
last night to seek peace anew before per-
mltting the steimsters to strike had been
urged by President Donnelly of the meat
cutters to declare the general strike, and
then seek further conference with the
packers.
There was lively debate President
Golden. for the steamsters' governing body
declaring his belief that a common sense
campaign would end in peace. He pointed
out the danger of shutting up the Union
Stock Yards and Transit Company, which, he
said, would be detrimental to the strikers
friends, the independent packers, who were
doing the big packers almost much
damage as anybody else. He urged that the
stock yards company be permitted to con-
tinue under some kind of agreement but
his argument had no weight with President
Donnelly who said:
Time to Strike.
The time to strike is right now Let
talk about the independent concerns
and about settlements later" Then it was
arranged that President Schardt, represent
ing the Chicago Federation of Labor, and
Barney CoAen, representing the butchers
union, should join the teamsters' union
committee to which had been added John
Sheridan. business agent of the ice wagon
1 nf loo
drivers employed by the packers, and with
their striking, 1t is admitted. the packers
would have much difficulty getting ice to
their refrigerator cars
Before going to meet the packers the
committee of teamsters had u joint confer
ence with the allied trades representatives
and then. with Messrs Schardt and Cohen
went to meet the packers at the offices of
Nelson Morris Il Co. While this latter
conference wds in progress the allied trades
meeting was continued the delegates being
anxious TO learn the result of the latest
erort To bring about a settlement.
Under instructions the representatives of
labor told the packers that they could not
waive their demand for reinstatement with
In forty-eight hours of the cattle butchers
and meat cutters and within ten days for
all others and for individual arbitration in
all cases of alleged discrimination The
packers were represented by Thomas Will
son for Nelson Morris & Co. Edward Til
den for Libby McNeill x Libby, j. e.
Maurer for Schwarzschild 4 SulZbereer II
j: Connors for Armour & Co, and j. p
Lyman for the National Packing Company
Inc conference was secret. and after it
had lasted several hours a representative
OF the packers said no progress had been
made and that settlement seemed as far
of ever
Struck During Peace Conference.
While the peace conference was in ses-
sion news came of the strike of all the live
stock handlers, which was called at 10
O'Clock. Most of the men quit promptly at
that hour, but many We're allowed until
O'Clock In the afternoon to finish deliver
ing cattle outside the yards. Independent
packers took advantage of this and droves
of cattle and sheep We're driven out of the
yards long after 10 o'clock
When II became known that the walk -out
or the i've stock handlers affected the in
dependent packers well as those against
whom the strike had been called represent
atives OF the independents called on the
strike officials at the headquarters of the
packing house teamsters to ask for a spe-
cia provision allowing them to secure cat
tie from the yards in the regular wav
Representatives OF the allied packing
house trades promised to take the ques-
tion up at Il formal meeting.
Meanwhile the sympathetic general strike
had spread rapidly. When the scale men
got word to quit they coolly locked their
scales and left. many of them having un-
weighed cattle on the scales. Fortunately.
however, for shippers, commission men and
packers. nearly all the weighing had been
done and little inconvenience resulted. Not
all the machinists went out. In fact, 1t is
claimed small majority responded to the
call OF their leaders. The electricians and
dynamo men, however made large deser-
tons. Their places were asserted to have
been quickly filed by men who have been
In ,the employ of the packers for many
days.
Involved Every Craft.
The strike movement soon involved every
craft at the stock yards. excepting the
teamsters. Steamfitters plumbers box
makers etc. walked out SUCCESSFULLY these
departments being totally tied up in some
instances and but partially In others. Thou
sands OF workmen, with their lunch pals
began moving out of the yards in an or
derby manner. There was a marked absence