Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-22
POSITION IS DEFINED
Packers Issue Official State
ment of Controversy.
NO MORE CONFERENCES
DECLARE OFFER TO ARBITRATE
QUESTION WAS REFUSED.
Refer to Contract Bound Workmen,
Who Laid Down Tools in Sympa-
thetic Strike-New York Situation.

CHICAGO, Ill, August 22-The packers
have Issued an official statement defining
their position in the stock yards contro-
versy and declaring that they will not
enter into any agreement with the striking
butcher workmen. In reviewing the causes
leading up to the strike the packers point
out that they offered to submit the entire
matter to arbitration, and that their offer
was refused.
After the strike was called, they state,
they again took up negotiations with the
butcher workmen. and at the end of week
an agreement was reached which was con-
sidered fair to both parties. Before there
was a chance to put this agreement into
effect the cattle butchers held meeting
and decided to-. ignore the contract, and
the second strike was ordered. The state
ment concludes with the following:
I'm what light would the packers regard
a contract with the butcher workmen after
these events? What argument could the
union leaders adduce in favor OF such q
contract or in favor Of arbitration
THE packers had agreements with the
car workers and some other labor organi-
cations by which the men were morally
bound not to strike. Yet when the butcher
workmen were seen to be so much In the
wrong that they could not enforce their
demands these contract-bound workmen
laid down their tools in sympathetic strike.
Again the agreement now so stoutly con-
tended for was willfully torn UP.
NO one can truthfully say that the own
ers Of the plants have opposed trade
unions They never asked their employees
as to their affiliation with labor organiza-
tions or with any association. They knew
when the various unions were being formed
in their plants. and they did not In the
least attempt to prevent their formation.
I'm conclusion 1t cannot be stated too
strongly that the packers will not enter into
any agreements with the butchers Ex-
perience has proved that negotiations with
an organization that has absolutely no re-
gard for the inviolability or contract ls
foolish waste of time.
Every Striker Doing Picket Duty.
Practically every striker at the stock
yards went on duty as picket today, al!
working under thoroughly organized plans.
Each squad has a specified territory, and
each man has a specific portion OF divis-
ion. A largely increased number Of police
men were assigned to the packing house
district today by the chief of police.
The first person arrested by the police
today was Thomas Stroker, business agent
Of the Meat Cutters Union, endeavoring, as
a strike picket, to prevent non-union men
from entering the yards. He was charged
with disorderly conduct, Notwithstanding
his protests that he was acting entirely
within his constitutional rights. The rail-
way trains into the yards, usually crowded,
were only partly filled today. showing
great falling on In the number OF str1ko
breakers.
This is considered largely due TO the
shooting last Saturday night when one
man was killed and others badly wounded.
1t is estimated that fully LOCO strike break
ers who went out Saturday failed TO return
to work today, but there were few new
men employed
Charge Men Were Shot in Cold Blood.
Packing house teamsters have adopted
resolutions charging that the action OF the
packers and police in stopping IA train load
Of strike breakers at 10th street Saturday
night was done to cause Il riot, and that
union men were shot in cold blood, one
being killed and three wounded.
The resolution alleges that the train was
loaded with the worst element that free
fare, high wages and iawlessness can bring
together"
Police Inspector Nicholas Hunt is de-
nounced specifically.