Arizona republican., 1921-03-10
[aepublican A. P. Leased Wirel.

OMAHA, Neb., March 9.-President Harding was called upon tonight to settle his first big industrial problem since his inauguration when represen- tatives of packing house employees asked him to prevent proposed wage reductions and readjustments of work ing hours, which have announced to become effective March A.
 Delegates to conference called by the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America voted unanimously late today to appeal to the president in an attempt to fore stall abrogation of the war time agree ment between the packers and their employees. The delegates represented workers in every large packing center of the country and their action, &C., cording to union officials. affects 100000 employees.
 l The telegram to the president asked him to request the packers to hold in abeyance" the wage and hour changes announced as effective next Monday until the secretary of labor can inves- tigate charges contained in the mes sage. The conference also adopted a resolution requesting the president to use his good offices to compel the packers to a compliance with the agreement entered into by the govern ment and. unless the packers con- sent. that he exercise his power to place all the packing house industry under government control and opera l ton and publicly brand the present owners and managers of the industry as menace to the government and so- ciety in general"
 Strike Warning
 A strike warning appeared in the same resolution which instructed the union officers Ito take such action as lxxrfll iy, mi nd tive resistance to a return to a 10-houl day. wage reductions and other bar barrie conditions. that existed prior tt 1917" ,"f unless President Harding sendi assurance of action according witf the conference request. This resolu tion. according to Dennis Lane. secre. tary treasurer for the union, mean. authorization for a strike affecting al packing house employees of the United States and Canada.
 Samuel Gompers, president of thu American Federation of Labor, wa. asked in another telegram sent tonigh to go to the White House as the direc representative of the meat cutters union and urge immediate action or the packing house workers request
 He was also asked to call meeting next Monday in Chicago of all the al . Ilied union workmen for the packers tt , outline concerted action in event of strike.
 . The decision to appeal to the chic executive was made in lengthy ses sion of the executive board this after Inoon The recommendations were i'm
 nediately placed before the delegate in general conference. A heated dig icussion followed in which the proposed
 action Of the packers in reducing
 wages by approximately Is per cen
 and extending the possible workinl
 day to 10 hours, was unanimously de
 nounced.
 The delegates present were unani
 mously in favor of striking if tn
 changes announced by the packers ar put into effect, according to MT. Lane II A referendum vote will be necessary | however, before the strike order ca be issued, MT. Lane said.
 Fight To Finish
 f Denouncing the packers action f 2 terminating the Alschuler arbitration e agreement as "a glaring contempt an
 disregard for established governmen tai agencies the resolution adopte e by the conference declared such actio ''calIs for an unanimous. unflinchin E fight to a finish by not only our mem e bership but that of all organized Ia : bor.' The resolution states that tn . packers believe the time opportune "t g destroy our organization and brin t about a return of the 10 and 12 hou