The Washington herald., 1918-01-19
WANT WILSON
'TOTAKEOVER
'STOCKYARDS
Workers Say They Have
Been Treated Unfairly
by Employers.

Chicago stockyard employees last
night asked President Wilson to
take over the great packing plants
OF the country.
A delegation Of labor leaders told
the President that conditions in
the plants are intolerable, wages
low and treatment brutal. The
workers even offered to allow the
President to. regulate their wages,
hours and general conditions.
Samuel Gompers who accompanied
the Chicago labor leaders said
afterwards that the request for
government control was made as
"a last resort" and that the Presi-
dent would consider other methods
of relieving the tense situation.
Lew Mayer, James q. Condor and
Carl Mayer. attorneys for the packers,
said last night that II was almost i'm
possible" to believe that the workers
told the. President the employers had
repudiated the agreement made with
the mediation commission.
"The statement Is untrue" they said.
''The packers here complied in every
particular. and this will be ascertained
upon investigation" \.
But the labor representatives., in a
sensational statement, urged to the ut
most the government operation OF the
plants. They said 1t was ridiculous
TO allow the industry to be controlled
by few men.
The workers even offered to enlist
for the period of the war and to guar
antee to the government twenty-four
hour shifts of eight hours each. They
said 90 per cent OF the packing house
employees are alien. but that the labor
unions would furnish entirely loyal
Americana
President Wilson listened "sympa-
l,Shetically" to the presentation Il was
said by Mr.. Gompers. The President
win at once ask the Presidents Me-
diation Commission" headed by Sec
retary Of Labor Wilson to take up
the Chicago situation with all parties
concerned.
The request from the working men
came as a result Of recent differences
between employer and employe In Chi
csgo. The Presidents mediation board
has had q representative there. But
Mr.. Gompers said last night the pack
ers had assumed an "eutireiy unfair
attitude. toward this representative.
Besides the President. Secretary Of
Labor wilson ana Seeretary sof War
Baker were I'm the White House con-
suitatfon. The labor men were repre-
sented by James Fitzpatrick, presi-
dent of the Chicago Federation of
Labor, Edward N. Nockels. secretary,
and chiefs of locals and interna-
tionals. Frank p. Walsh, former
chairman of the Federal Commission
on Industrial Relations. accompanied
the party as counsel.
Mr.. Gompers said after the confer
ence:
I'VE asked the President to take
some steps at once to relieve the
situation, and as a last resort to take
over the plants. We are convinced
| that he will see that justice Is done
to the employees.
Situation seriouA
The situation is strained to the
utmost. The packers are discharging
groups Of men every day and trying
to provoke labor trouble"
THE President said he would un-
| doubtedly consider what should be
done in regard to taking over the
plants" said Mr.. Gompers. But il
| some better method of settling the
difficulty was suggested. he would
employ that. He will Immediately ask
his Mediation Commission to investi-
gate the situation from all stand
points"
The laboring mems statement, which
was written by Mr.. Fitzpatrick. says
in one portion:
IF the nations extremity should
be reached and it should become nec-
essary for our industrial army to
work naked In the packing-houses of
CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE.