Gilpin observer., 1904-08-11
UNIONS PROMISE AID
CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR
ENDORSES BUTCHERS STRIKE.
Packers Admit Only GEO Former EN-.
\ ployes Have Returned to Work.
Strikers Say They Are c Better
ehapc Now Than a. start Of Fight.

ot''kerS Say They Are IL Better
ehapc Now Than at start Of Flight
Chicago. Aug. S.-Ail the labor
unions in Chicago have indo.sed the
STOCK yards strike. After listening to
the strikers side OF the controversy,
which was presented to them by NJ. j.
Donnelly, president of the striking
butchers union, the Chicago Fedora
tion of Labor, which is composed Of
every labor union in Chicago and has
membership OF nearly 300, 900, adopt
ed resolutions pledging the moral and
financial support of the federated body
as long as the strike continues. Each
member OF the central body will lie
assessed q small sum per week and
tho whole amount will be turned over
to the striking unions to help in the
support of the strikers and their fam
HES during the struggle with the
packers. The total sum will be we'll
up in the thousands each week.
p, Fifth Week of the Strike.
:" After fight which has lasted FOR
four weeks settlement of the strike
seems to be as remote as at any time
since the struggle for supremacy be-
gan. Neither SIDE to the conflict. dur
ing all this time, has shown any sign
or weakening. The packers, whilc
I. Claiming they have been successful in
&ecuring nonunion men. still admit
tAat so far they have been able 10 get
but $50 Of their old employees back
and that the majority CT their men
are unskilled workers. In the last
statement given out by the packers
it was said that not half as many men
were at work now as before the strike
began. These men have been brought
to Chicago from all parts OF tho coun-
try. the majority of them having never
seen meat packing plant before com
ing here. With these men the pack
ers have succeeded in accomplishing
@ great deal of work, but according to
the strikers. every animal that has
been slaughtered since the strike was
called has been at a financial loss 10
the packers, as in the majority of
cases a lack of skilled workmen has
made It impossible to operate the by
products departments and this source
of revenue. which under normal con-
D,
has been allowed to waste.
Statement by DonnciIy.
According to President DoInelly,
the strikers are in better position
today than they we're on July 12. the
day they original strike was called.
During the four weeks that the
strike has been in force" said Mr.
Donnelly. There has been less than
200 desertions from the various
unions whose members have Joined
fhe struggle for living wages and not
one of these workmen who have gone
back to the hackers Is a skilled work
er. To Offset these desertions our
men have secured at least twice that
number Of new recruits from the men
the packers have brought to Chicago
l%o take the strikers places. From
dispute between the packers and
butcher workmen. the strike has
spread into struggle betgeen organ.
ICED capital and labor. but there arc
not enough men and women on this
continent to break this strike. despite
the assertions of the packers that
they have nearly all the workmen
they require. and their business is
about back to its normal basis.
have received assurances from the
most powerful labor organizations
throughout the United States that
they are with us in this fight and are
only waiting to have representatives
from our union sent before them and
make the request when contributions
TO our financial support will be free
" made. Under these circumstances
there is nothing for us to fear. as the
victory will be with US in the end.
no matter how long that may be-"
Strikers Not Wanted.
The determination of the packers
TO re-establish their business on a
Normal footing without overtures to
or recognition of the union was given
emphasis by placards which were
posted in the Nelson Morris & Co
work rooms and along the new loading
docks. The placards read as follows:
"Foremen and old employees engaged
in all departments of this plant will
Awatch new employees and instruct
them as much as possible in the de.
tails of their duties. This order is is
sued to aid in the rapid organization
Of our forces. as few. If any, of ouI
former employees will be reinstated"
Representatives of the packers will
seek rooruits in the Michigan and
Wisconsin lumber camps. The search
in new territory for strike breakers
arises from the fact that fewer men
are being enlisted in southern states
It having been found that the planta
ton negroes do not take kindly to the
hard labor of the packing houses.
Race Riot In Louisiana.
Shreveport La, Aug. S.-Informa