Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-18


Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen,
said today that an appeal will be made
through President Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor to ev-
cry workingman and woman in the
country, numbering about 100000.
They will be asked to aid the strikers
by contributing funds to support the
idle men and their families.
A Test of Endurance.
The stockyards strike settled down
last night into test of endurance.
The employers rested on the asser.
tions previously made that they had
made such progress in their efforts to
operate their plants that they could
not afford to entertain any PROPOSE
ton from the union-that in other cit
les the strike was absolutely broken
and here virtually So
President Donnelly for the strikers
said that sufficient funds were in
sight to keep the butcher workmen
and other trades until the snow
MES"
The packers think the strikers or.
ganization soon will disintegrate, and,
on the other hand, the men directing
the struggle for the labor organiza-
tions said they would leave no stone
unturned in their fight.
Meeting With the Mayor.
The meeting Of representatives of
the packers and Of the union men
with Mayor Harrison resulted only in
defining the issue more sharply. The
employers told the mayor that they
had won and there was nothing to ar
bitrate and no occasion to make any
concession. On hearing this, the la
Dor men became Independent and
said they, too, were quite satisfied
with the outlook. They declared their
readiness, however, to go into con.
ference with the packers to consider a
settlement.
Il think that if the two parties to
the controversy could be brought into
adjoining rooms" Mr.. Harrison said
"the strike could be settled in ten
minutes. But have no authority un.
der the law to force them together
AS far as | can see, shall be able tc
sent
Sums Up Situation.
| The whole situation, as it appears
to me, is that the strikers are willing
to confer. but still are defiant, while
the packers are of no mind to NEE
with their former employees, asserting
that if they should accede to the de
mands of the strikers in Chicago, thu
gains they have made in other center!
would be Of no avail.
"The packers did not fatty refuse
to hold conference with the strik
ers, but regarder their attitude as
firm declination. The strikers learn
| ing of this, showed defiance and as
serted that it will develop that tn,
strike is far from settled at any point
with these facts before me cal
see no prospects of further develop
ments at present"
Will Fight, Says DonneIIy.
President Donnelly gave his position
as follows:
from now on" he said, "it is figh
all along the line. We have enougl
cash on hand top rovide for the want
of our members for two weeks and w
have pledges of sufficient money t
keep us until snow flies. All the me-
got when they were working was thre
meals day and place to sleep. The
are receiving this much from the unio
and have no more to ask.
''It must be understood, howeve,
that we are always ready to meet tn
packers in conference. And this i
the only way the strike can be sci
| tied"
will you insist that the packer
make the first overture?' Donnell
was asked
"By no MEANS / shall not stand O
my dignity. will rather humiliat
myself than ask one of the employer
to humiliate himself. The unions wi
welcome any opportunity to brin
about a settlement"
Position of the Packers.
1 Attempts to get from the packer
an expression as to what basis of Sc
tlement would be acceptable to tfe1
met with no success. AS matter {
) fact, they stand on the propositfo
that they have won the strike an
that the union, which, according /
their view, broke one settlement
! month ago, is entitled to no furthe
conferences.