The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-22

Chicago, July 20.-The strike OF pack
ing house employees. begun nine days
ago. and which has demoralized the
packing industry through the country.
was settled here tonight at a confer
ence between representatives OF the
packers. The whole controversy win
be submitted TO a board OF arbitration
both sides agreeing to abide by what
ever decision this board may reach
Pending the decision of the arbitration
board, the men will be taken back TO
work as rapidly as possible by the pack
ers and it is agreed by the packers that
all the old employees are to be rein
stated within forty-five days from the
date work is resumed. II any OF the
former employees are still unemployed
at the expiration of that time. such per-
sons are to have the privilege of SUBJ
mitting their cases TO the arbitration
board for settlement. The strikers will
return to work as soon as they can be
notified OF the peaceable adjustment OF
the trouble and it is expected that by
Friday morning, everything will be in
normal shape at all the plants in diff
ferent cities in which the employees
were on strike.
Half an hour before the decision had
been reached tonight to arbitrate, NJ.
]. Donnelly, leader, had secured COM
munication by long distance telephones
with the leaders of the strikers in out
side cities and had notified them that
satisfactory settlement has been made
and ordered the strikers to return to
| work as soon as possible.
The settlement of the difficulty by ar
! bitration was brought about by the al
lied craft at the stock yards who would
have become involved in the controver-
| sy had 1t continued much longer. The
| representatives of these unions which
| represent 1900 members, got together
yesterday and sent final appeal TO the
packers for three sided conference to-
| day between the packers. the strikers
| and themselves, in a final effort TO get
both sides OF the controversy together
again and arrange some sort OF agree
ment which would prevent the strike
i spreading to the affiliated unions. This
! appeal OF the allied trade unions re-
| ceived a favorable response from the
packers and today's conference was the
result. =.
The agreement reached at tonight's
conference is practically the same as
| the proposition made last Saturday to
| the packers by Mr.. Donnelly.
| When the men return TO work II will
be under the exact conditions that pre-
| vailed before the strike was declared.
| with the exception that the wage basis
| will be arbitrated.
AS many of the old employees as can
be reached tonight by the union will
| be notified TO return TO work tomorrow.
An exciting demonstration took place
| today at Root and Butler streets near
the stock yards. Thomas Johnston. a
non-unionist. employed by Libby, Nc
1 Neill and Libby was captured by a
crowd Of strike sympathizers and near
| ly iynched. The mob seized johnson
and gave him a severe beating. Some
body cried:
| Get a rope and let him dangie.'
| The rope was quickly procured. but
Johnston, struggling desperately. man
aged TO jump upon the coupling bar OF
last car OF a passing freight train. The
| crowd followed and boarded the cars
| Johnson lost no time in reaching the
| top and after him went the mob The
| fugitive ran TO the front Of the train.
| hesitated for a moment and then leap
| ed from the top OF the freight car He
is a good rnnner and escaped.