The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-16


The crisis of the meat cutters strike
is apparently at hand.
This morning Swift e Co. will try to
force an entrance for strike breakers
to the company's plant and the strik-
ers and their sympa thizers say that
they shall not do so.
In readiness for any contingency
both sides passed the night, and at an
early hour this morning an organized
picket body, 500 strong, was ordered
on duty to block the plans of the pack
ers.
There is every indication that there
will be trouble when Swift & Co. at.
tempt to force strike breakers through
the picket line of the union men, it be-
ing generally conceded that if the new
men are allowed to enter the building
the strike is lost.
The strikers claim that they will to-
day continue to run things with the
same firm hand that they displayed
yesterday, and the management of the
company is likewise determined that
the strikers must lift the blockade
from the plant of Swift & Co.
The force available to break through
the picket line will number about 100
men, ninety of this force will be dep
uty sheriffs, six policemen, and the re-
mainder officers and important en-
ployes of the company. Although the
union men do not know when the at
tack will be made they are thoroughly
aware of the plan to break through
their picket line, and it is expected
that beginning with o'clock this
morning there will be some 500 strik-
ers on guard.
Claiming that the company has
thrown down the gauntlet of defiance
President George Willis, of the union,
says that not even the high officials of
the company will be permitted to enter
the building today. All strikers We're
notified that they should be on hand
to resist the effort to take ii the strike
breakers, and the forty women strikers
have been summoned to the scene.
Women in the Picket Line
It is planned to have the women line
up across the street with interlocked
arms and compel the deputies to use
force to compel them to give way. The
union men figure that the deputies and
police will be slow to force their way
through the line of women. In front of
the women will be solid line of men,
and at their rear, the strongest and
most determined of the union men, to.
if possible, prevent the breaking of the
line of women if the officers should
reach that far.
In making these arrangements Pres
ident Willis claims that he will under
no circumstances tolerate the use of
force by the union men, but failed to
explain how it will be possible to stop
the march of the deputy sheriffs with
out the use of force.
On behalf of the company, Supt.
Burns says that no unnecessary force
will be used, but that the company is
determined to establish its right to
use its plant He believes that this
will be accomplished peacefully. He
declined to admit that strike breakers
will be forced into the plant, but the
men secured to act as deputy sheriffs
were informed of the nature of work
they will be compelled to undertake
and will be paid an amount commen-
surate with the risk that they take.
The securing of the additional depu-
ties was begun as soon as it was def
initely known that the governor will
refuse to call out the militia until
Sheriff III. Grisim and Mayor Lytle
exhaust their power to preserve the
peace. The new deputies were chosen
entirely by the company. and Sheriff
Grisim insisted that the company
should guarantee the pay of the men.
This was done, the company making
their own terms. A majority of the
men are in no way connected with the
packing business, and it is claimed
that a leader of the forces has been
chosen who will not tolerate interfer-
ence when the word is given to force
an opening through the picket line.
Strikers in Complete Control
The Amalgamated Butchers and
Meat Cutters pninn was in cnnnn1Ate