New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-13
MEAT FAMINE EXPECTED.
STRIKE IN CITY TO-DAY.
Prices of Beef Raised by Small
Dealers IN alarm.

The strike of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butchers Workmen of America Will be
tended TO New-York to-day. and a meat famine
in this city is looked for within the next three
days. The joint executive committee of the New
York locals convened in a hurry last night
at No o21 Ffrst-ave.. and dispatch read
from the headquarters of the union. in Chicago.
calling on the New-York members to quit work
to-day. A general strike involving $500 men,
was then ordered TO go into effect to-day in
all the New-York depots.
The New-York strike will affect the local shops
OF the Armour Packing Company SChwarzchiId
& Sulzberger. Nelson Morris & Co. the Cudahy
Packing Company and the United Dressed Beef
Company. While the drivers in the meat depots
in Chicago belong to the International Brother
hood of Teamsters. in this city they belong TO
the Amalgamated Beef Cutters and Butchers
Workmen of America and are bound by the
strike order. The other branches affected are
the cutters. carvers. slaughterers and helpers
A number of the small retail butchers began
to raise the prices from two to three cents a
pound yesterday. They never keep a large sup
ply OF meat in their stores and will be affected
first by the meat famine. Their action was taken
in anticipation of the strike.
Those of the local representatives Of the COM
panies who could be seen yesterday expected a
meat famine, but said it could not last long. as
the companies would begin to fill the places OF
The strikers. According to the union there is
a certain stock of meat in the larger depots. but
II cannot be delivered or even prepared for
delivery. 4 strike of several days would hit the
big hotels and restaurants as the strike al
though 1t had been talked of for some time was
ordered suddenly.
H. L. Echelberger general organizer of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Work
men of America, has arrived in this city. and Is
keeping in touch with the local leaders lie will
take more less Of share in the direction Of
the strike
Within three days EicheIberger said last
evening, there viii not be a pound of meat for
sale in this city. All the branches of the trad.
are thoroughly organized. The companies can
not fill our places. We had an agreement with
the companies for every branch but the labor
ers who were receiving liz cents an hour and
demanded 1917 cents. The packing companies
proposed to cut the wages down to 16IA cents
instead of giving the advance. showing that
they We're trying TO provoke a strike. Now that
the strike is on they will get all they want. 1t
will be conceded that 1872 cents an hour would
not be too much. The strike of the other
branches is in sympathy with the laborers. and
we are bound to win. We did our best to avoid
a strike and the responsibility for it now rests
with the employers"
The strike expected by most Of the mem
bers Of the union here, and they were prepared
for the strike notification. Those who could not
be reached last night, and who did not know oc
the strike order will be called out strike from
the shops by special committee this morning.
The following statement behalf of the
Cudahy company made last evening: There
is no doubt that meat will rise in price in the
local market beginning This is the natural
sequence OF a shortage IN the supply. In all
proba bility meat will be high very soon, and it.
VIII go still higher the longer the strike lasts.
Meat prices will rise" said Joseph T. Sulz-
! berger, president OF the SchwarZschild & SulZ-
| berger company. The strike will undoubtedly
greatly affect the price of beef here and all over
/ the country. If the men hold out for any
! length of time can foresee big beef famine.
4 The strike has been brewing for some time and
| IS not surprise to us. II almost impossible
| for us, however. to prepare for emergency Of
/ this kind. and while there is no immediate
shortage in the beef supply cannot tell what
: tile conditions will be here The fact that the
greater number Of the beef handlers who have
gone strike in the West butchers will
! affect the price OF meats everywhere in any case.
! No demands were made on us but sometimes
there strikes without demands and
times we have warning. The situation in Chi
! ha ndlers remain obdurate in their demands
/ the packers and the latter refuse to listen to
! tho overtures of their striking employees. there
! IS going to be great trouble"