Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-14
Claim Life Of Stockyard
Workers Is Bitter Struggle

Chicago. Feb. 10 Witnesses testified
at the meat packers wage arbitration
hearing before Federal Judge Samue
.,lschuler today that the life of stock
Yards laborers who reside in the dis
trict known as back Of the yards is
= bitter struggle for existence.
Mrs Rosalie Bobek. a widow of 10
days and the mother of three children
said her husband worked for Wilson &
20. in the yards several years before
he died as the result of falling down
stairs at home. She carried her 3-yeor-
old boy to the witness stand with her
and gazed 1T The arbitrator through
tcar-dimmed eyes as she told her story
\ with the aid of an interpreter.
= From 81 to $40 a Week
Z lle woman said her husband earned
:. from s. TO $40 a week when he first
went to work in the killing department.
Of Wilson a. Co. Later he was promot-
Z eli To wheeling truck on the loaolhe
: platform and earned more. but never
lis
8 died. when he worked SO hours and
received SO.
: When her children had measles size
id not have money enough TO nave u
doctor and when her husband died
she had TO rely on friends to pay his
funeral expenses, she testified.
{ in answer to questions by Attorney
Z Irarl J.. Walsh. she said she had new
. sho.y. 4 picnic or other form of amuse-
mcnt; had lived back of the yaros.
She said size never even went for street
e car rides to public parks because she
conld not afford IT,
. "C,dn't you ever go to Lincoln park
: ,rd sec the statues OF Abraham Lin
q "c,n. George Washington and Hea'
. Hrnnt?' asked Attorney Walsh.
" "Nn" she answered. II always stay
{. o.. home because 1 haG no money to so
: out"
Never Saw Lake Michigan
Did sou ever see Lake Michigan
No
"f.ow long have you been in Chca-
v gc?'
:. Six years"
: she testified that her husband never
ea:ned enough money in the stock yards
70 clcthe and feed the family.
3 Mrs Annie g. Mc0uillan whose nus
. nand Is a: present an organizer for the
. American Federation of Labor but Tor
.r.rly worked IN the stockyards as lard
4. ;uspe etor Cor $40 q month. testified that
sae was never able TO live decently with
he, children on her husbands salary.
= Of the living
= .,crses os n family os Ave prepared by an
oIeIal OF one Of the stockyards labor
Unions. It total,ed N2ss.s4 for the year
ara after inspecting It carefully the wit
ness said no family Of five could live de-
gently on that sum at present. 1t allowed
so a month for rent, $50 for fuel and $50
10 c,othe the mother and children. She
s.aid the estimate made no allowance for
. .lcc.ors' bills, the education of the chill
dren or Cor the up-keep of the home.
:, Struggle 70 Provide Necessities
: All Tie time her husband worked for
tire Saeks:s. shs said. 1t was a struggle
TO prov1ds tho actual necessities Cor the
family.
attorney Walsh said tho average year
~ vase - y stockyards en,ploye at 70
Gems 10 hcus. worS.1. every day. would
be Sl9eiN
: New Lsuas ~. 0rids:nSxi. pastor pf st.
ssha's NssuAa Catholic church. ono OF the
uAsE4se ,Asshsa ''Saci Of 'hs yards
asyrassa u. oei.i!on thlt he members
"a: ~ church ssnp,eyel 81 the stockYards
WV undergrad and heir sa',srun usder.
.s.susssNsd tchs average fayniii,. ne said.
"A q. .
In eroas-examination the witness said
hs had insractsd the diEcrcnt packing
,..!arts in The stockyarda and had noteA
40 Welfare work bei:s done BY the