Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-15
BOTH SIDES WlLL|yG2
Conference Over Meat Cut
ters' Strike Continues.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTION
NEITHER PARTY DISPOSED TO
ACCEPT DICTATED CONDITIONS.
Gompers, Donnelly and Other Labor
officials Comforting at Chicago
Effect of the Strike.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTION

CHICAGO. July 15.-The striking meat
cutters and butcher ,worknen this after
noon returned an answer to the letter for
INFLATED at yesterdays joint conference.
setting forth the basis upon, which the
packers were willing to arbtrate. The
substance of the reply made public by
President Gompers or the american Fed
Grafton of Labor Is a refusal by the strikers
to submit to arbitration on the packers
terms. The reply renews a demand for re-
instatement of all striking members of the
unions involved and for wage scale equal
ing that In the agreement which expired
May ~.
The reply, il was said this afternoon
could hardly be acceptable to the packers,
and 1t was feared that until some new pro-
posal should be made there would be no
further joint peace conference. The pack
ers however, consented to again meet the
labor leaders this afternoon.
While the strike leaders were comforting
activity in the big packing houses increas-
ed The forces of men at work have been
increased until the output has assumed
proportions which the packers declare are
highly satisfactory to them.
CHICAGO July 15.-Both sides willing to
arbitrate. but neither disposed to allow the
other to dictate the conditions under which
arbitration should be agreed to-such was
the situation today, the fourth day of the
packing house strike. While the confer
ence between the packers and the strikers
adjourned last night without effecting a
settlement, efforts to this end were con-
tinued today
Material progress has been made some
of the chief points at issue having been
virtually disposed of. and the remaining
differences. although serious, are not re-
garded insurmountabe. There Is no
objection TO the provision In the offer of
the packers by which all new employees
may be retained. The strikers say that the
non-union men are not practical packing
house workers and that they soon would
be crowded out.
The principal objection made by the
union officials to the offer of the packers Is
the provision that they will give prefer
ence in order of application for work" The
strike leaders construe this to mean that
each man on strike will be obliged to ma Ike
an individual application.
Both sides holding themselves in
readiness for q prolonged conflict, but hope
for an amicable adjustment has not died
out.
Could Not Accept Proposal
Prior to leaving strike headquarters at
Gompers and other labor chieftains Presi-
dent Michael Donnelly declared the pro-
posals made yesterday by the packers at
the close of the Joint conference at Swift q
Companys offices, could not be accepted by
the unions involved. He added that he'and
his advisers would prepare another commu-
nication to be submitted at once to the
packers, but would not indicate what
changes might be made in the demands of
re-
jected. One thousand more non-union men
were imported into the yards this morning
making 1000 IN all now at work. Every
plant Killed cattle, sheep and hogs on an
extensive scale. The receipts were larger
than those of Friday last week consisting
of 5000 cattle, S,oOo sheep and 5000 hogs.
the strikers made no effort to interfere
with deliveries of fresh meat and the filling
of local orders was uninterrupted The po-
lice guards in various parts of the city were
doubled and pedestrians were ordered to
keep moving.
J. Ogden Armour and other packers de-
clined to discuss the strike situation.
Pickets Cause Disturbance.
Strike pickets along Halstead street in
the neighborhood of the stock yards caused
a disturbance today and were dispersed by
the police. Furniture drivers moving mat
tTesses and beds from a boarding house
We're ordered by the pickets to desist. the
pickets believing that the bedding was to
y taken into the packing houses. Police
We're called, but after the officers had de
parted the pickets returned and began
throwing the furniture into the street. The
police were again summoned and the load
ed vans were escorted out of the neighbor
hood
scarcity of fresh pork was the chief
feature of the meat situation here today
Dealers reported difficulty in securing the
pork at the yards. Even this scarcity
however. seems likely to be soon over
come, many wagons having left the yards
and loaded with fresh meat without inter
ference by the strike pickets
over hundred additional non-unon mer
are said to have been employed during the
day by one of the leading packing com
9anes.