Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-01
LAST STAGES OF STRIKE
It Looks as Though the Chicago Packers
Will Win.
STRIKE RELIEF FUNDS DEPLETED.
They Refuse to Deal With President DOnnelly,
Of The Strikers Union, Who Asks for Con-
ference Reason Assigned Was That
No Good Could Come of The Meeting
Crowds of Men Scramblng for Food.

Chicago (SpcciaD Application was
made to the packers by the stock
yards strikers for conference. the
purpose being to bring about peace
in the industrial conflict waging in
Packingtown. The conference was
refused by the packers.
The application came in the form
of communication from the Allied
Trades Council, and was signed by
President Matthew Carr, of the AL
lied Trades The request was sent
Immediately after the close of JOINT
meeting of the National Executive
Board Of Butcher Workmcn and the
Allied Trades Conference Board, ana
was addressed to J. Ogden Armour
and his associates.
Mr.. Armour, upon receipt OF the
communication, at once called the
heads of the other big packing plants
into session. When the meeting or
the packers ended a communication
was addressed to President Donnelly
and his associates declining the CON
ference the strikers had asked Tor.
The reason given was that no good
could come from such conference.
The Correspondence
The following is the letter which
President Donnclly sent to the pack
erS:
Gentlemen: Inasmuch as the exist
ing strike in the packing industry IS
causing much Inconvenience to the
general public, as we'll as creating
much illircing and criticism, and be
ing dcsirous of doing our tull duty
in the matter, we respectfully request
an early conference with you with
the view to cttcCting an honorable ad-
justmcnt of the controversy.
The packers reply was:
Your letter OF August go has been
received, and in reply thereto have
to say that, considering the present
condition of our plants and the re-
suits Of past conferences. we can see
no possible benefit that can fol low
any further conference. Therefore,
we respectfully decline your request
The prompt refusal of the packers
to have any dealings with President
Donnclly leaves the men more dis
consolatc than ever and the looked
for break in the union ranks is now
believed to be close at hand.
Relief Fund Depleted.
With the strike relief funds de-
plctcd, and crowds of hungry men
vainly scrambling for food at the COM
missary stores, it taxed the labor lead
crs to find a way to prevent a stanl-
pcdc from the union ranks Monday
Wait until tomorrow and we shall
present to the packers peace pro-
posal which they cannot decline to
accept" they told the men. There
is nothing left for the men but uil-
conditional surrender said packer.
"Thc leaders should not hesitate i'll
calling the strike off, so that the men
who are anxious to do SO could ma
work. Many of them will be rehired
in Packington but there are thou
sands who must look elsewhere tor
employment, and they should be re-
leased, so they can begin their hunt
for work outside the stockyards. 1t
does not make any difference what
peace proposal the strikers have to
submit, We shall not deal with the
unions The only terms OF snrren-
der we shall consider will be the re-
turn of the men as individuals.
Can Employees Strike.
A development of the day was the
walking ont of POO employees at
plant Of the American Can Company,
they being ordered to quit because the
company was furnishing cans to the
packers, Investigations are making
at the other Chicago factories of the
company, and the leaders say If the
company is supplying cans to the
packers, in violation Of their agree
mcnt not to do so during the con-
tinuance of the butchers strike. the
employees of the company all over
the country will be called out
Only the employees of the meat de-
partmcnt of the American Can Com
pany were called out, A great many
OF them are girls who operate ma
chimes. The strikers say the COM
pany billed cans to Western points
and delivered them to packers, con
trarv to the agreement not to do so
while the strike of the butchers lasted.