Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-14
STEP TOWARD PEACE
Big Packing Companies and
Union Officers Confer.
CONFERENCE ON TODAY
BOTH SIDES IN FAVOR OF A
PEACEABLE SETTLEMENT.
Strike Leaders Insist That All Strikera
Be Reinstated-Men Were Loath
to Quit Work.
CONFERENCE ON TODAY

was taken today. when President Michael
Donnelly of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butchers Union of North America held
conference with representatives OF the
packing houses in which the strike was
called. There are indications that the COM
ference will open the way for a settlement
of the strike, a prolongation of which would
mean suffering to the strikers, heavy losses
to their employers and privatlon and gem
eral inconvenience to the public.
Both sides are in favor of a peaceable
settlement upon an equitable basis, and ie
is believed that an arrangement will be
made for the men to return to work pend
ing an adjustment of the differences by ar
bitration.
That this manner of settlement will he
accepted by both sides appears probable,
J. Ogden Armour for the employers and
Michael Donnelly for the workers have
united in declaring they favor arbitration.
The head of the union, in council with
President Samuel GOmpers of the American
Federation of Labor, was advised to make
terms at once If he could secure what he
deemed fair consideration.
1t is understood that in the conference TO.
day the union leaders will insist that all
strikers be reinstated. Another point on
which the labor men will lay great stress
will be that wage scale for each class OF
workers in the packing plants will be
agreed on. This brings up one of the origi.
nal differences. The packers have MAIN
tanned that any contract made should noe
include the unSkiled workers.
Clash of Strike Sympathizers.
The packers preliminary meeting was
held in Nelson Morris & Co.'S Office. The
result was the formulation of a note to
President Donnelly and Samuel GomperA
inviting the two labor officials to a com
ference. While diplomatic exchanges Of
this nature were in progress, mob OF
| about 300 strike sympathizers suddenly set
upon dozen or more non-union men who
tried to enter the yards to take the plaCS6
of strikers. No blows We're struck but the
non-union men were led back to the gates
and given gentle admonition to 'go home"
The non unionists acted upon the advice.
To Determine the Terms.
1t was announced that representatives 81
the packing houses had arranged to hold q
conference previous to the joint arbitration
meeting. At this conference, It said,
would be determined just what terms pack
ers would be willing to agree to. Those
selected to represent packing houses were:
Louis F. Swift of Swift & Company. Ed
ward Morris OF Nelson Morris & Co. j.
Ogden Armour. Arthur Meeker and Thomas
CCnnors of Armour & Co. X. ii. Bell OF
National Packing Company Max Sulz-
berger of Swarzchild & SulZberger Conn
pany.
Employment OF non-union men is increas-
ing, according TO Arthur Meeker, manager
for Armour & Company.
I'VE are getting plenty of outside help
said Mr.. Meeker. Yesterdays output was
% per cent of the normal. Today we VIII
produce more"
No New Phase in New York.
NEW YORK, July 14.-No new phase OF
the meat strike in this city developed over
night and the meeting today OF the STRIKE
-ers organization was the only feature exc
pected to bring forth anything of interest.
About the packing house district II was
quiet. and disorder was expected. tho
strikers apparently acting upon the advice
of the leaders to avoid trouble. There was
a sentiment about the packing house dis
trct well about the strike headquar-
ters that the trouble would be of short
duration, and that a settlement would be
reached today or tomorrow. Should a set
tlement be reached at once, however, IL
was said the effect on meat prices would
be felt for two weeks at least The price
of beef advanced again today, and it
is expected will be advanced each day until
the strike is over.
The increased demand for poultry. eggs
and vegetables, caused by the lack OF
meat has raised the prices of these neces-
stiles.
Hotels and restaurants have begun to
feel the effect of the strike and prices are
being advanced in all eating places.
In the poorer sections of the city on east
side many of the butcher shops, unable to
procure a stock have been forced to close
their doors In the tenement house dis
trict many families are going without meat
altogether.
Beef Handlers Join Strikers.
About two hundred beef handlers em-
ployed in Jersey City by the dressed beef
concerns Joined the strike movement to-
day. A few men were still at work this
afternoon. but very little meat was being
handled.
The boss retail butchers of Jersey City
TODD tI,.
closing their shops at once and suspending
operations until the strike should be ended.
After much argument il was decided to
keep open the shops al long as any beef
could be obtained to supply patrons.
Settlement Eagerly Awaited.
KANSAS CITY. Mo, July IA. Packing
house employees from the six plants hero
eagerly awaited the result of today's peace
conference at Chicago. Many of the men
out had been loath to leave their places.
hoping up to the last moment that their
difficulties would be adjusted, and they
quit, they said, more to show loyalty to the
union and for President Donnelly's order
than any other reason. Since the strike be-
gan not the slightest indication of disorder
has been seen, great majority of the men
remaining away from the vicinity of the
plants.
Killing on a slightly increased scale was
resumed today at the plants of Armour q
Co, Fowler and Swift & Co, and at each
or theSe placeS new men were AT
the Cudahy plant the W0rkmen are still
busy cleaning up and no attempt TO resume
business will be made for few days yet.
The Schwarzchild & SulZberger company
continued to ship today, but no killing was
attempted. No effort is being made to op-
crate the Ruddy Brothers plant
Retailers have advanced the price of pork
2lh cents a pound, but the price of fresh
beef remains practically unchanged.
Thirty coopers and box makers and about
125 unskiled employees at the Armour, Fow-
Ter and Cudahy plants failed to report for
duty today. Many of these employees were
men,
Teamsters Cause Trouble.
ST LOUIS. July 1.-THE strike of the
union butchers and meat cutters employed
at the packing houses in ST. Louis and East
st. Louis was somewhat intensified today