The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-07-13
MEAT PACKERS STRIKE;
PRICES OF BEEF TO SOAR
All THE GREAT PACKING CEN
TERS ARE AFFECTED.

If Prolonged the Trouble is Expected
to Cause Widesperead Inconvenience,
Possibly EquaDng the Anthracite
Coal Famine OF Two Years Ago-The
"Killers, start the WaIkout-GirIs
with the Hen ito the Last
Chicago, July 12.-As the result of a
stubborn disagreement chiefly over
wages for unskilled labor, one of the
most extensive strikes in the history Of
the meat packing industry of the Unit
ed States began to-day in Chicago,
Kansas City, Omaha, st. Joseph, Mo-,
and other cities where large packing
plants are located If prolonged the
strike is expected to cause widespread
inconvenience, possibly equally the an
thracite coal famine of two years ago.
The unanimity of the strike was COM
plete, More than As, 900 employees are di-
rectly involved In Chicago alone $4,000
men are on strike.
The effect of the strike upon the food
supply of the country and the prices Of
meats Is being earnestly discussed and
notwithstanding the announcement to-
night that the packing houses, contrary
to somewhat general expectations, will
continue operations without any close
down, employing whatever help may be
obtainable. Prices are expected to soar.
How much alleyiation in the furnishing
of supplies to the public this course
may afford is matter of wide varia-
tion of opinion. The packers declare that
hundreds of men who could not be pro-
vided with places have been applying
daily for work.
The walkout here was started by the
employees Of the killing departments at
the various packing houses. The kill
ers were followed by the workers in
other departments as fast as the cur
rent work left by the slaughterers could
be cleaned UP. Thus as the workers
in each department disposed of their
part OF the work they threw off their
aprons and departed. This considera-
tion was shown the packers, the labor
officials announced, because it was not
the desire Of the men to cause the ern-
ployers any financial loss as a result of
sneglecting meat that was on hand to be
dressed.
Watched by cordons Of police, the
strikers flied 5riskly out of the packing
houses, carrying overalls. rubber boots
and knives. cleavers and steels. The
strikers were greeted BY crowds of wo-
men and children, many Of whom join
ed hands with the worknen on the OUT
ward march. Whatever the future may
have in store in the way Of riots, there
wa tso-day absolutely no sign Of disor-
der. an
A picturesque scene was presented
when the sausage factories and caIl-
neries were left by their forces There
are 1000 girls employed in these two
departments of the meat industry. Clad
in their variegated garb Of factory girls,
this army of feminine strikers tripped
"blithely along the main tlloroughfare
of the streets and were roundly cheer
ed as they emerged through the gates
and distributed themselves In the
crowd of men who had awaited their
coming.
We're with you till the last" the
girls exclaimed. smiling as they stood
around and talked over the situation.
How long do you think 1t will last?"
inquired one OF them, looking quite se-
rious.
Il don't know he replied, except
that President Donnelly says that they
managed to hold out fifteen months in
Buffalo, and / guess we can do as
much"
President Michael Donnelly, of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butch
ers Workmen of North America, the
leader of the strikers. said in a conver-
sation this evening that he believed the
strikers would have little difficulty in
Notwithstanding a siege Of more than a
year with the strike funds the unions
have ON hand.
Arthur Meeker, Of Armour & Co.,
said tonight: We consider the de-
mand of the union for an advance in
wages of unskilled labor entirely un-
warranted by Industrial conditions