The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-21
All Strikers to be Taken Back at Plans Within Fortv-
 five Days
AGREEMENT REACHED AFTER
 THREE HOURS CONFERENCE
The Question of Wages Is to Be Settled By a Board of Arbitration Chosen By the Two
 Sides.

Chicago, July 20.-The strike of the packing house employees, begun nine days ago. and which has demoralized the packing industry throughout the country, was settled here tonight at a conference between representatives of the packers, the officials of the Meatcutters union and representatives of all the allied trades em- ployed at the StoclNyards.
 The whole controversy will be submitted to a board of arbitration, both sides agreeing to abide by whatever decision this board may reach. Pending the de- cision of the arbitration board, the men will be taken back to work as rapidly as possible by the packers, and it is agreed hy the packers that all the old employees are to be reinstatec within forty-fve days from the date work Is resumed. l. any of the former employees are still unem- ployed at the expiration of that time, such persons are to have the privilege of sub hitting their cases to the arbitration board for settlement.
 The strikers will return to work as soon as they can be notified of the peaceabe adjustment of the trouble, and 1t is ex- pected that by Friday morning everything will be in normal shape at all the plants in the different cities where the employees were on strike.
 Outside Cities Notified.
 Half an hour after the decision had been reached to arbitrate. M. J. Donneuy the strike leader, had got into communlca- tion by long distance telephone with the leaders of the strikers In outside cities, and had notified them that a satisfactory settlement had been reached and directed the strikers to return to work as soon pos sibe
 The settlement of the difficulty by arbi- tration was brought about by the allied craft at the stockyards who would have become involved in the controversy had it continued much longer. The represen- tives of these unions which represent about 14.000 men got together yesterday and sent a final appeal to the packers asking for a three-sided conference to- day between the packers, the strikers and themselves, in final effort to get both sides of the controversy together again. and arrange some sort of agreement which would prevent the strike spreading to the affiliated unions, This appeal of the allied trades unions received a favora- ble repsonse from the packers, and to- days conference was the result.
 Details of Agreement.
 The agreement entered into between the representatives of the packers and the strikers follows
 Wages and working conditions of all employees now on strike to be submitted to arbitration, each party to this agree ment having the privilege of bringing be- fore the arbtrators for any decision any question of wages or conditions, or any other grievance they may have. and both to abide by the decision of the arbtra- tors. The packing companies signing this agreement to retain all employees now at work who wish to remain and will re- employ all employees now out as fast as possible, without discrimination. Elm ployes to return to work at the wages received when going on strike, pending the decision of the arbitrators; arbi- trators to consist of three practical pack ing house men to be selected as follows: One representative of the packing com panies, one representative of the Amalga- mated Meat Cutters and Butcher Work men of North America: these two to se- lect third member. The two first named shall meet within forty-eight hours after resumption of work, proceed to elect the third member and shall meet daily for that purpose until this duty has been completed. When the third member has been selected, the three shall meet daily unless the adjournment be had by unani- nous consent, until the final conclusion has been reached, and the award made. Any former employe not re-employed within forty-fve days from date work Is resumed to have the privilege of sub hitting his or her case to arbitration on question of discrimination, decision of arbitrators to govern.
 THOMAS J. CORNERS.
 THOMAS r. WILSON.
 EDWARD T1LDEN, Committee on Behalf of Packing Com panies.
 Approved:
 M. J. DONNELLY,
 WILLIAM M. STERLING,
 JOHN FLOERScH.
 THOMAS l. KIDD, Committee on Behalf of Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher workmen of North America.
 Signed By the Packers.
 This agreement was also approved and signed by the following representatives of the packers;
 Armour & Co., by Arthur Meeker.
 Nelson. Morris & Co.,, by Edward Nor ris.
 Schwarzschild & Sulzberger company, by J. D. Maurer.
 Swift & Co.,, by l.. F. Swift
 National Packing company, by J. P. Ly- man.
 cudahy Packing company, by F. A Cudahy.
 Libby, McNell K llDby, by Edward I1l- den.
 The agreement reached at toniGht's con ference is practically the same as the proposition made last Saturday to the packers by MT. Donnely
 The only difference is that in Saturdays communic ation MT. Donnelly insisted that the strikers be all taken back to work within seven days.
 This the packers refused although they agreed to accept every other demand made by Mir Donnely.
 Under Same Conditions.
 When the men return 10 work it will be under exactly the same conditions as prevailed before the strike was declared with the exception that the question of 2 wage scale will be decided by arbitration. The old wage scale under which the union worked last year expired May 2. Since that time numerous conferences have been held between the packers and ehe union in an effort to settle on new schedule, but without avail.
 Nine days ago it was decided to call a strike in order to bring the employers to terms A number of conferannAs were