Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-03-17
]. s. MAY PREVENT
BIG MEAT STRIKE
Government Steps Into Breach
Between Packers and Men.
SECRETARY OF LABOR BUSY
Davis in Long Conference With Pres
ident Harding-TeIegrams Sent
to the Packers and Heads
of Labor Unions.

Washington, March 12.-The govern
ment stepped into the breach between
the "big five" packers and their en-
ployees to prevent a strike in that in
dustry as result of wholesale wage
reductions announced by the packing
companies.
Following a long conference with
President Harding, Secretary of Labor
Davis sent kilograms to the heads of
the "big five" and to Dennis Lane,
secretary of the Amalgamated Meat
Cutters and Butchers Workmen of
North America, requesting" them to
send two representatives of each side
of the controversy to Washington ito
make possible such an inquiry into
the situation as may be helpful in
leading to just and satisfactory
solution"
+ Secretary Davis kilograms declared
the federal government is deeply
concerned about the maintenance OF
industrial activities" and that ''rhe
whole problem of industrial readjust-
m0nt is OF widespread PUBIC cOHceFu
Text Of Telegram.
The text of Mr.. Davis telegram fol-
lows:
1.-THE federal government is deeply
concerned about the maintenance OF
industrial activities in fullest under
standing and hopes there will be no
interruption of the continuity of en-
ployment in the great packing INDUS
try. If the Department of Labor can
be helpful in promoting understanding
and can aid in any way to avoid the
cessation of operations, such services
by this department. will De given nacst
gladly.
"The whole problem of industrial
read iustment is of such widespread
public concern that the Department of
Labor, with the knowledge of the De
partments of Agriculture and Com
merce, requests that two representa-
tives of the employing packers will
report to this department to make
possible such inquiry into the situa-
ton as may prove helpful in leading
to a just and satisfactory solution.
II am sending a like request to the
employers and am acquainting them
with this request to you. Surely there
must be a just solution, and the good
Offices of this department are tenn
dered in the hope Of finding that sofu-
ton so essential to the promotion or
the common good.
JAMES J. DAVIS"
The telegram to the employees was
addressed to Dennis Lane secretary OF
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters ana
Butchers Workers of North America.
IT was Identical with the message to
the hackers, except that it requested
that .'two representatives OF labor en-
gagged in the packing industry" be
sent to Washington.
Declaration of Policy.
This action by the government ana
Secretary Davis comment on the sit
nation in the packing industry marks
the first declaration. of policy by the
Harding administration in handling
industrial questions during the recon
struction period. From the Language
Of the kilograms, it is indicated that
the government will exercise the. full
force of it's power to prevent a gen.
eral cessation Of work in any Of the
urinary industries of the country
while conditions continue disturbed.
The packing house employees had
notified the White House that strike
vote was being taken and that gen.
eral walkout depended upon what the
President could do to prevent the IN
nounced wage decreases being carried
into effect. The workers charged that
to make wage cuts at this time would
violate an agreement between the
hackers and their employees which
was made with the sanction of the
Department of Labor.
While there has been no indication
of the attitude the administration may
take in the present railroad wage con-
troversy, the action in the packers
case generally is interpreted here as
indicating that the government again
will take a hand to prevent tieup
in the event that the railroad situa-
tion becomes critical as a result OF
wage reductions.