Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-07-28
Gigantic War Between Packers and
Employees Given New Impetus.
OTHER UNIONS LEND SYMPATHY.


Chicago July 25.-Determined on
fight to a finish to enforce the demand
of the striking butchers, sympatheti
strike of all the union workmen EN-
ployed in the meat-packing industr!
throughout the country. with the ex
ception of the teamsters. was inaugu
rated Monday morning at sever
o'clock. The Indications are that thu
teamsters will Join the other unioni
on Tuesday in order to bring the pack
ers to terms. The teamsters employed
in the Chicago plants Sunday declared
in favor of the sympathetic strike, but
their decision has not been ratified as
yet by the joint council Of the team
sters' unions. The general belief is
that the decision Of the teamsters to
Join in the strike will be indorsed
by the council
No conferences were held Sunday
either by the packers or the labor lead
ers, or Jointly, in an effort to reach an
adjustment of the controversy.
Whether or not the packers will make
any concessions to the demands OF
the labor leaders in order to prevent
a general walkout of the trades at the
stock yards will not be discussed by
any Of the packing house representa-
tives, but from the preparations going
on at the different plants 1t is plainly
evident that the packers intend to
fight for their independence. All the
labor leaders declared that the pack
ers would have to make the request
for a resumption of peace negotiations.
Chief of Police O'Neil, who spent the
day making plans, said: "No one
knows what will happen. The oppor-
tunity is here for one Of the greatest
labor contests in the country and ap-
parently there is no hope for averting
1t. The police will be able to handle
the situation, however. without out
side assistance, no matter what hap
pens"
Settlement Of the strike may be in
sisted upon by Mayor Carter Fl. Har-
rison II developments show that the
public interest absolutely demands 1t.
In the meantime arbitration through
the good Office of the mayor is a rem
.edy open to the opposing sides on re-
quest from either Such was the posi-
ton outlined by the mayor, who was
called back to Chicago from Marquette,
Mich, on account of the renewal Of the
strike. Mr.. Harrison deplored the con-
tinuation Of the strike, but said that
Just at present he did not see his way
clear toward doing anything Of his
own volition towards the adjustment
of the trouble.
A report was current that Cudahy |
& Co. and the Schwarzschild & Sulz-
berger company would not make any !
effort to resume business, Instead,
according to this rumor. these two
firms would make q settlement with
the unions and when they opened for
business 1t would be with full force
of union men. None Of the officials Of
either Of these companies would con-
firm or deny the report,
Temporarily the packers will at
tempt only to handle dressed beef,
pork and mutton, allowing the by
products to go to waste They say,
however, that as fast as the necessary
workmen can be obtained these de-
partments where the by-products are
taken care Of will be opened up for
business.
Another handicap the packers wifi
meet with Is q scarcity Of live stock.
men for the past week
have flooded the country with mes
sages advising shippers not to send
my stock to market. II also developed
hat commission men during last week
bought all the live stock they could
md shipped II out TO the country In
he vicinity Of Chicago to be fed until
lfter the strike is settled. As soon
IS the strike is over the intention is
o rush this stock back to Chicago.
when It Is believed exorbitant prices
an be obtained. An estimate Of the
lmount Of live stock in the pens Of
he packers is 5000 cattle.