The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-24
But Harding Gratified Over
Mediation of Packer Dispute.
Both Sides Yield to Secretary
Davis's Arguments.
WORKERS ACCEPT PAY CUT
Eight Hour Day and Overtime
Will Stand.
Employees Must Ratify New
Agreement Say Chiefs.

Washington, March 24.-President
Harding today expressed his apprecia-
ton of the settlement of the packer
wage controversy.
This administration has nearest to
its heart at all times any righteous
helpfulness that it can give in avoid
ing a suspension of Industrial activities
in this country" the president said in
congratulating Secretary of Labor
Davis and repres> natives of packers
and employees who called at the White
House today to inform him that a
strike had been averted and a settle
ment agreed to.
Qualification Is General.
Expressions of qualification were
general today in administration cir
cles over the successful settlement
brought about TIN mediation by Sec
retary Davis o. the dispute between
the five big packers and their union
employes-the first major labor con-
troversy to come up for adjustment
under the new administration.
Compromises by both the packers
and their employees made possible a
settlement of the dispute. Representa-
tives of the latter agreed to accept the
wage reduction of cents an hour and
121a per cent for piece work, while
the packers met the demand of the
workers for extension of the wartime
arbitration agreement for six months
or until next September Is. The other
major provision of the agreement was
the retention of the basic eight-hour
day and overtime rates as provided in
a previous arbitration ruling.
Altho he announced the employees
would be urged to accept the agree
ment at mass meetings to be held in
Chicago and other centers next Sun
day, Redmond S. Brennan, one of their
representatives at the conference. de-
clared in statement that agreement
was but truce for us to prepare for
war" and added il at the expiration
/ of the arbitration period the packers
maintain the attitude they have
shown in the past" there would be a
! serious industrial strike"
Representatives of the packers de-
Iiclared after signing the agreement
that its provision fixing a definite date
for termination of the wartime arbi-
tration agreement would enable the
packers to complete the plans already
Z announced to adjust between them
selves and their employees all matters
of mutual interest.
| AIschuler Won't Talk.
Chicago, March 24-Federal Judge
Samuel Alschuler today refused to say
| whether he would resume his former
! position of arbitrator of disputes be-
| tween the big five packers and their
employees. explaining. that he could
| make no statement unIll tne posllIOTi
had been rendered to him formally by
/, both sides to the agreement signed
| yesterday in Washington. Judge Ais
chuler intimated, however, that he
would be pleased IL some one else were
/ chosen.
.'It is a matter of public knowledge
] that / became arbitrator because of a
war emergency and that when the
armistice was signed I was anxious TO
relinguish the position" said Judge
Alschuler. An official of one of the
packing plants said Judge Alschuier
was the only man he could think OF
who would meet the approval of both
/ sides and that he undoubtedly would
be chosen. While the strike ballot
was being taken labor leaders also
said they wanted Judge Alschuler as
| arbitrator.
Fit. Worth Workers Uncertain.
Fort Worth. March 24.-Employes
at the packing plants here and their
! officials today declined to discuss the
agreement reached between packers
and their workmen. There has been
no discussion of the agreement here
pending official notification of the set
tlement of the questions. according to
NJ. II. Freeman. secretary of the local
butcher workmen's union.
He said a meeting to consider the
reported action wo be called as
soon as official notification is received
from the Chicago headquarters.
/ X. G. Unions Satisfied.
/ Kansas City. March 24.-Packing 9
house union officials here, while ret
icent in expressing opinions as to the
agreement reached in Washington yes
terday inclined to the belief that
workers here would accept the agree-
ment as executed.
While the settlement was not all the
workers had hoped for. union men
said, it contained au important con-
cession in establish the eight-hour
day, and leaders said they anticipated
no strike difficulties.
/ Farmers Demand