Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-08-12
THE CHICAGO STRIKE.
BOTH SIDES CLAIM TO HAVE THE
ADVANTAGE.
Packers Say Plants Have Plenty or
Men, While Strikers State that Every
thing Is Completely Tied UD-Polico
Break Ups Mob.

The Stock Yards strike in Chicago
has become almost paper warfare
between the meat packers and the
butcher workmen. Statements have
been given out by each side.
The packers declared they were
making excellent progress in all plants
and rep6rted the total number of men
employed. No figures were quoted for
the Chicago establishments.
In the union statement an appeal
was made for higher wages for socio-
logical reasons. The child labor law
was defended, and it was said a feduc-
ton in wages would have the effect OF
compelling a large part of the packing
house workers to ask charity.
Desertions Outnumber Recruits.
In the Chicago plants the assertions
outnumbered the recruits. The packers
explained this by saying they were
wedding out the inefficient men, of
whom they received an oyersupply
from the employment agents. The loss
in numbers, they said, was more than
counterbalanced by the increased skill
of the workers who remained, and tho
output showed slight gain. An I'M
proyement was noted in the operation
Of many departments.
President Donnelly Of the Butchers
Union has returned from his Western
trip and talks hopefully of the out
come Of the strike.
I'm South OMAHA" he said, Il adj
dressed two large open mass meetings
Sunday and Monday. Wednesday at
Kansas City there was a parade, and
at Shawnee Park 1900 strikers and
sympathizers, many of them commits
sion men friendly to the union, gather
ed and I talked to them. There was
great enthusiasm, and all through the
West the strikers appeared satisfied
and confident of winning. 1t was en-
couraging to me.
"At the Kansas City meeting many
Of the non-union Workmen were in
vited to quit work and joined us. No
picketing is being done there and the
non-union men go back and forth I'M
molested.
"The Western towns are as COM
pletely tied up as Chicago. Practically
no work is being DONE" Donnelly said
the "meat trust" was surely being un-
dermined by the independent dealers.
He cited the case of one big firm In
Kansas City, which he said was re-
modelling an old plant, abandoned
when the "meat trust was formed.
Packers Deny Plan for Peace.
In a statement given out by the
packers official denial of any plans for
an immediate settlement of the strike
was made. The statement, asserting
progress was being made daily in the
packing houses, follows:
published reports of more confer
ences between the packers and labor
leaders are unfounded and untrue. 1t
is not difficult to guess their source
and their motive.
1.-THE progress being made at all
plants is satisfactory to the packers
More men are being employed daily.
All contracts and current orders are
being filed and there is normal sup
ply Of beef, mutton and provisions at
all points in the United States, and
sales are being made at lower prices
than before the strike commenced
"a careful and correct record Of ears
shipped by the packers in one day
from all points shows a total of 831
cars. This volume can be better ap-
preciated when it is stated that the
shipments to market by the packers
on this one day would make a solid
train of refrigerator cars six and one
third miles long, which hardly bears
out the extravagant claims Of the
strikers Of a great reduction in out
put"
The strike leaders have additional
information that emissaries of the
packers are at work in all directions
offering skilled men inducements to
break away. Pressure is still being
brought upon their wives.
Mob and Police Clash.
A mob Of 5000 persons clashed with
the police one evening. The mob
filled 47th street for five blocks, as we'll
as a number of intersecting streets.
The disorder resulted when an attempt
was made to escort five non-union ma
chinists out of the Stock Yards.
Bricks and other missiles were
thrown by the rioters, shots were fired
by the police, scores of rioters were
dubbed, and one policeman was Sc
verely injured. Repeated charges were
made by the police before the rioters
were dispersed. Trolley car crews were
held responsible for the outbreak, and
Inspector Hunt asked the Chicago
City Railway Company to discharge
five conductors and four motormen Of