The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-23
MEAT FAMINE
THREATENS
NEW YORK
Wagon Drivers Strike and
Only Chicago Meat Is
Being Delivered.

NEW YORK. Aug. 23.-Deliveries of
meat from the local packing houses
We're completely halted today by the
400 wagon drivers who went on strike
last evening. Not a delivery wagon
of the wholesale butchers was moved
during the early morning hours. The
strikers said that only meat from the
Chicago refrigerator trains was being
delivered and hat the drivers who
handled that may be called out on
strike today.
With a stoppage of deliveries from
the meat trains the city would be
quickly affected by a meat famine.
Police reserves were stationed in the
packing house district on the west side
of the city, but no disorders were re-
ported.
Inside employees of the slaughter
houses were at work today. while the
heads of the affected plants were pre-
pairing to break the strike, which was
called without warning by the drivers.
The companies, 1t IS said, would import
strike breakers. If necessary. There has
been no little ill-feeling between team
sters and the companies for some time.
The agreement between the teamsters
and the companies expired August IA.
and since that time representatives Of
both sides have been in conference, en-
deavoring to adjust their differences.
The teamsters declined to accept a
clause in the contract calling for the
arbitration of all mooted questions.
There has been the greatest feeling OF
Ill will between the employees OF the
slaughter houses and the bosses since they
were beaten In the strike three years ago.
Their officers have welded their unions
into better shape and now declare that
they are completely organized in the vari-
Gus phases of the industry.
There was no sign of violence or dis
cord throughout the night or in the early
morning hours. To guard against any
possibly outbreaks Inspector Smiling
Dick Walsh, In charge of the police ar
r~angements. stationed about fifty men, I'M
der command of Sergeant Tanning, in the
district. There were also to be mounted
men on hand to guard the wagons when
the attempt would be made to start them
out.
1t was thought that the drivers for the
big ice houses on the west side which
handle only refrigerator meat shipped In
from the West might cult work later in
the day, and Ii WAS regarded as more
than n likelihood that the other branches
of the trade would go out in sympathy,
as there is a strong feeling of solidarity
among them. representative Of the
packers admitted tina some arrange-
ments had been made for supplying the
places of the strikers, but that they had
really been taken by surprise by the
rapid action in calling the strike.
The transfers have been working under
an agreement tina expired August IA, and
since that time they have been in confer
ence with representatives of the packers
at the Hotel Belmont. They ordered the
strike when they found that the employ
ers insisted on the. clause in the old con-
tract and in the new calling for arbitra-
ton. The men demand a week OF slxty-
five hours and extra pay for overtime.
Representatives of many Of the big pack
ing AMI distributing houses said that a
large number of non-union men were en-
ployed during the forenoon to take the
places of the striking drivers. At the
abattoir Of the New York Butchers
Dressed Meat Company 1t was said that
up to noon thirty of their trucks, manned
by %non7union men who had been brought
in from New England during the night,
had been sent out to make the regular
rounds.
Representatives of the Cudahy Packing
Company, Nelson Morris & Co, the
Armour Packing Company and Swift &
Co., said tbs their big refrigerating plants
On the West Side. where dressed beef Is
received from the West and distributed,
were not affected by the strike, rs GUS
toners sent their own wagons for the meat
as usual.
Half a dozen strikers held up a delivery
wagon of the New York Butchers Dressed
Beef Company. and attempted to drag SUI
perintendent Brown, of that company, and