Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-22
STRIKE RENEWED
Alleged Violation Of
Packers Agreement
WORK FOR ONLY HALF
President Donnelly Orders
Out All Employees.
WHAT CAUSED RUPTURE
CIRCULAR ISSUED BY EMPLOY
ERS TO PUBLIC MISLEADING.
5000 Butchers Reported for Work
Informed Only Portion Of
Them Were Wanted.
CIRCULAR ISSUED BY EMPLOY
ERS TO PUBLIC MISLEADING.

>
fng house strike was today ordered
renewed in Chicago and all other
cities. Violation of agreement by
the packing house proprietors is as
signed as the reason.
The following telegram was sent
by President Donnelly to all the en-
ployes of various packing houses in
the different cities affected by the
previous strike:
Order out all the departments
again. Companies violated agree
ment
(Signed)
"MICHAEL DONNELLY,
president International Meat Gut
tiers and Butcher Workmen.
Today 5000 cattle butchers re-
ported at the stock yards here for
work. Only half of them were given
places. Thereupon all refused 70
work. They reported in a body at
their union headquarters. The gen
eral order for renewal of the strike
was soon forthcoming.
Real Cause of Rupture.
While the immediate provocation for tho
renewal of the strike was apparently the
failure of the packers TO take back a larger
proportion of the strikers who reported for
work today, the real cause of the rupture
was inferred to be circular issued yester-
day by the packers.
The circular purported to explain to the
public the agreement entered into with the
labor leaders. Seemingly the circular could
be taken as implying that agreement did
not bind the packers to re-employ all Of the
men who walked out. The construction the
labor leaders had placed upon the agree
ment that all should be re-employed
within forty-five days.
Only Half Of the Force Wanted.
When the 1900 butchers and their help
ers went into the yards here today to take
their old places the general greeting receiv-
ed was:
I'VE cannot take back more than half the
regular force
Immediately there there was a woeful
display of chagrin and disappointment. The
men held conference of an impromptu
nature and reached an agreement to act as
a unit or not at all.
You must take US all back or none"
came the reply of the union men who saw
performing the tasks they had done before
numbers of non-union workmen.
Packers Refused
The packers refused to accede to this,
and a committee was sent to see President
Donnelly. The latter was quickly in com
munication with his advisers. Within an
hour and half the decision reached
to reopen the strike. President Donnelly's
telegram was accordingly sent 10 all
unions.
The breaking of agreement as alleged
by President Donnelly on the part of the
packers and the ending of all peace plans
on the part OF the unions came vio-
lent surprise to the public, despite the
widespread knowledge that the men We're
far from satisfied with conditions conse-
qusnt upon the signing of terms OF peace.
Vigorous Effort for Peace.
The summary action of the strike lead
ers in ordering renewal OF hOstilities was
followed by equally vigorous efforts at a
restoration of peace.
AS a result, the news Of the strike order
was followed within an hour by an an
nouncement that joint conference at the
offices OF Armour 4 Co. had been arranged
60 take place this afternoon between the
packing house proprietors and the labor
leaders. The purpose of the joint con-
ference was stated to be to discuss the al
legged unjust discrimination on the part of
the packers.
The portion OF the packers circular OBJ
1ecionable to the unionists follows:
Objectionable Feature in Circular.
I'm the agreement reached the packers
reserve the privilege of retaining In their
employ all employees that have been hired
while the strike has lasted. thus guarantee
Ing - these men the fair treatment they
deserve and gaining for the packers one OF
the most important points for which they
contended. and for which they stood out so
long. The privilege OF arbitration within
the time limit of forty-five days covers the
question of discrimination only and Is In
no way intended to guarantee to the strik-
Ing employees that they will be taken back
and given the places now filed by non
union help"
Donnelly's Statement.
President Donnelly Immediately after call.
Ing the men out the second time. gave ont
the following statement relative to his ac-
tion:
The packers agreed to replace the men
without discrimination. They agreed that
the men should report for work and be
taken back. Instead of being furnished
with checks this morning when the men
went Dack TO work they were met by a
superintendent or a policeman who picked
out certain men anu told them to go and
get their checks They told Others to go
home: that they did not know when they
would be needed, or whether they would