The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-07-16
THE CHICAGO STRIKE.

patches, netlef The employers ClLplOSe9 NOiiN
be blamed. Hence we may reasonably suppose that
one, or both, have sailed their side of the trouble
In presenting their case appeal is made to pub
lie sympathy by representatives of both parties.
Armour & Co. is represented by Arthur Mceker.
who says:
I'VE consider the demand of the union for an
advance in wages of unskillcd labor entirely IN
warranted by conditions. We could not concede it
and proposed to submit the question to arbitration
which the union declined to do and called a strike
today in all our plants. Every department Is kept
running, however. We have Had applications from
hundreds of unemployed men for positions at less
wages than we have been paying. and every day eX
pect to increase our output. We regret extremely
the hardships and suffering that will be imposed
the thousands OF men who are thrown out of work.
directly and indirectly, through the strike and the
temporary inconvenience caused the public at large
but we consider the fault rests entirely with the
union who not only asked what they were not en-
titled to- but declined to submit the question to i'm
partial arbitration
If the demand for an increase of wages was
warranted and meant pecuniary loss naturally
they-the packing companies could not concede to
the demand They are not in business to extend the
hand of charity to their employees. 1t is simply a
question of business, and as they can purchase la
Dor from hundreds of unemployed men at less
wages than they have been paying to agree to give
more would not, in commercial parlance, pay. An
other strong point made by Mr. Meeker and one
which will appeal to the public sympathy, is that
"the union declined to submit the question to impair
tial arbitration" There no law to settle the diff
cultes between the wage Garner and his employer
No law could be enacted compelling laborer to
work and sell his labor at certain fixed prices per
hour nor compelling capital to employ labor and
pay fixed price per hour. The law may regulate
the hours of labor and the age at which it is law
full Tor minors to engage in labor. Then the only
remaining solution for labor difficulties is in 'im-
partial arbitration" Mr.. Meekers view of the pres
ent difficulties, then, is not only plausible but rea-
sonable But Mr.. Donnelly presents the difficulties
in another light, entirely different. He says:
Il wish to make it clear that we are not fighting
for an increase of wages, but against decrease
Our original demand was a minimum of 20
cents per hour for laborers. This demand was
amended after our second conference with the pack
ers in June.
We then agreed to scale Of IS 1-2 cents an
hour, except in Omaha and Sioux City, where the
scale is 10 cents.
The packers, on the other hand, refused to pay
more than II ID cents an hour and declined to sign
any agreements at all, except with small portion
of the workmen.
The question of wages to skilled men was not
discussed. To unskilIed workmen the average wage
was IS - cents, but when we asked that this be
made the minimum wage, they cut it to Il 1-2 cents
and - cents. Men could not live OH Is cents if they
got steady work, but in plants men have been
able TO make only thirteen hours week at this wage
scale. They could not live on it. No one could"
Mr. Donnelly's brief fakes all the poetry out of
Mr. Meeker's extreme regret for the hardships and
suffering that will be imposed upon the thousands
of men who thrown out of emplovmento IF
the present fight is not for an increase but against
a decrease of wages it changes the whole aspect of
Mr. Meeker's brief In June conference was held
and demand of Is - cents an hour as the mini
mum wage for unskilIed labor was asked This
would equal $14S day for eight hours work. Sup
posing the laborer to be man of family. ,after
clothing the children paying the butcher and GRO
Gerry bills, settling with his landlord and the coal
company there could not be big balance TO his
credit at the bank BY working twenty-five DAYS
in the month he would receive check for $37
NCIJLeF WOULD single man, alter his bOard
lodging and washing, have much left to spend ON
Injuries, or deposit in the dimes savings bank
The demand does not seem to be exorbitant. The
packers refused to pay more than II II cents an
hour, or S1.40 day. which would mean 50 less every
month for the workman. This tax of 81 NAV seem
small item. but the mother who figures ON 1O-cent
articles at the bargain counter could secure MANY
useful little articles for herself and babies for 50
Yet even at Il ~ cents the employers declined TO
sign an agreement, except with small portion of
the workmen" The minimum wage was reduced
to 10 cents an hour, or $1.20 day. "Men con-
cludes Mr. Donnelly. could live on Is cents if tbe
got steady work. but III some plants men have been
able to make only thirteen hours week at this
wage scale. They could not live on it. No ono
could" This is true. No family could live on 81 on
a week. A single man may by taking his meals at
the free counter lunch and sleeping under the broad
canopy of heaven. The reduction of the bouys Of
labor is universal 1t is the complaint raised in al
the large cities. How settle the hours 70 which
there can be no reduction by impartial arbitration
When too many steers are already slaughtered and
too many dead hogs waiting to be consumed tho