New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-13
$1,000 BUTCHERS STRIKE.
RITTER STRUGGLE ON.
Men Clean Up York and Walk Ont
of Big Westerm Packing Houses
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE.I


disagreement, chiefly over wages for unskilled
,.bor one Of the most extensive strikes in the
A.s+orv of the meat packing industry of the
7-nited states began to-day in Chicago. Kansas
civ. Omaha, St Joseph. Mo-. and other cities
,ybere large packing plants are situated liz
,rolonged, the strike is expected to cause wide
sprsad suffering. possibly equalling the anthra-
.jts coal famine Of two years ago.
The ,Inanimity OF the strike complete
,tore than forty-1ve thousand employees are di-
-sctlv involved. In Chicago alone eighteen thou
sand men are out
The effect on the food supply of the country
sna the price OF meat IS being earnestly dis
,,,ssad Notwithstanding the announcement to-
night that the packing houses. contrary TO some
that general expectations, will continue opera
.icns without any close down. employing what
eyer help may be obtainabe. How much AL
;avia+ion IN the furnishing OF supplies to the
,uhic this course may afford. is a 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 strike OF the twenty thousand employees
of the great meat packing plants at the Stock
Yards here was begun promptly at noon to-day.
l. hegan in the killing departments at the
,,arious packing houses. The killers were fol-
,o,.ed nv the workers in other departments as
,ae+ as the current work left by the saughterers
co,,ld ne cleaned up. Thus. as the workers In
.ach department disposed Of their part of the
.-o-k thew threw off their aprons and departed
This consideration shown the packers. the
,oho- ot7cials announced. because it was not the
5eeira of the men 10 cause the employers any
financial loss as a result OF neglecting meat that
rss m hand TO be dressed. By B o'clock the
waIkout was complete.
POLICE WATCH STRIKERS.
Watched By cordons of police the strikers flied
briskly out of the packing houses. carrying over
aus rubber boots and knives. cleavers and
srAeIs. They were greeted by crowds of women
ard children. many of whom Joined hands with
the vrorknoen on the outward march. Whatever
,be future NAV have in store in the way Of
r.o+s there was to-day absolutely no sign of dis
order
A nicturesdue scene was presented when the
sausage factories and canneries were left by
their forces. There are 1000 girls employed in
these two departments Of the meat industry
Clad in the variegated garb of factory girls this
army Of feminine strikers tripped blithely along
the main thoroughfare of the stock yards and
we're roundly cheered as they emerged through
the gates and distributed themselves in the
crowd of men who had awaited their coming
We're with you till the last" the girls ex-
claimed, smiling as they stood around and
talked over the situation with their male com
panions in the movement.
How long do you think It will last?' inquired
one of them. lnnking quite serious
IT don't know" the man replied, except that
President Donnelly says the men managed to
hold out fifteen months in Buffalo, and I guess
DO as much"
The struggle promises to be the most bitter Of
labor disturbances in recent years though the
union leaders are counselling the strikers TO re-
frain from all violence. Both sides are appar-
entity determined. Strike leaders addressed the
thousands OF workers to-day, and ordered ali
except few pickets TO remain away from the
stockyards. When the last Of the strikers had
qCit work for the day after the whistles had
sounded the big plants were silent except for
the present Of q few superintendents, foremen
and department clerks. Tonight all fires were
drawn and the departments in which the en-
pioyes struck were closed. to remain so for
fsW days. at least for it is not expected tina:
my steps looking toward a settlement by arbi-
tratlon or otherwise viii be taken at this time
President Donnelly OF the Amalgamated Meat
Cutters and Butchers workmen declares that
TIE men will agree only TO absolute concession
10 their demands
CHICAGOs MEAT SUPPLY.
Donnelly says that the stock of fresh meats
no" CT hand in The packers plants and meat
shops in The city VIII be exhausted before to-
morrow night. He also asserts that the supply
OF canned goods VIII not last over a week On
me other hand. the packers say that there is a
I'VE GAYS supply in the packing house coolers
ana stock OF timed goods sufficient to meet
all demands for a month. Notwithstanding this
assurance. the price OF meat has begun to ad-
hat II will
higher
Donnelly said this evening that he believed the
strikers would have little difficulty in withstand
ING q siege OF more than year with the strike
'uhos the unions have on hand In Chicago there
are tnirty-1ve local unions involved. Donnelly
ana The presidents of the various locals assem-
oied at the headquarters this morning thinking
hey might receive a notice of surrender from
me packers But word came. The packers
look the position that they had replied decisveIy
10 the workers demands and had nothing more
70 say except to emphasize refusal to pay the
wage scale asked.
Arthur Meeker of Armour a. Co said To-
night:
We consider the demand OF the union for an
auFance In wages Of unskilled labor entirely un-
Mefranted by Industrial conditions. We could
20. 80. ooncede II, and proposed TO submit the ques-
non 10 arbitration, which the union declined 10
10 and called strike to-day at all our plants
very department is kept running however
~ nave had applications from hundreds of un-
eL.ipioyeo men for places at less wages than
,se We nave been paying. and every Gay expect to
increase our output. We regret extremely the
na7ashlps and suffering that VIII be imposed
Upon the thousands OF men who thrown out
:. :. employment. directly and indirectly, throug.
u'e strike, and the temporary Inconvenience
esnsed the public at large, but we consider that
He fauit rests entirely With tho union. which
i.St only asked what Il was not entitled to- but
Necilned 30 submit the question TO impartial
arbitration
FIGHT