The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-05
SWIFT SAYS
z MEN FOR
EVERY JOB
Unions r eport Several
Thousand Out, Mostly
Outside Chicago.

Chicago, Dec, 5.-Union packing
house workers in livestock centers
outside of Chicago were reported
by union strike leaders today TO be
practically all out, while company
officials declared their plants were
not seriously affected by the strike
and in Chicago announced that ali
plants except a few Independent
concerns, were working 80 to %
per cent regular force.
The union strike, voted by the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmea,s Union in pro
test over a reduction of wages, went
into effect this morning.
Reports Conflict.
Cornelius J. Hayes, president Of
the union, said advices from a half
dozen cities reported that the union
men walked out 100 per cent In
the Chicago plants of the Big
Five" packers, company officers an
nounced that from 80 to 50 per cent
of their forces reported for work to
day and that they were eXperienc-
ing no difficulty in operating
Chicago, Dec 5.-CBy the Asso-
Ciated Press. plans for the immc-
diate replacement of union packing
house employees who obey the strike
order today for which they voted,
were being carried out at the > 4
packing centers in the middle west
affected By the walkouL g
The big five' packers declared
the organized workers represented
less than five per cent of the total
number of employees, while union
leaders insisted they had gained
the support of more than half the
workers.
Voted Two Weeks Ago,
The strike was voted by the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen of North Amer
lea, two weeks ago. after a wage
reduction of approximately 10 per
cent in all lines had been ordered
by the packers. This cut, the
packers announced, was effected
through the shop representation
council. where a committee OF en-
ployes and Representatives of the
plants met to discuss wages and
working conditions and inspect the
books of the companies The re
duction went into effect last Mon
Gay morning.
Two hundred extra policemen
were assigned to the stockyard5
district here. this morning where a
large percentage of the 10000 pack
ing house employees had voted 10
go on strike. according to union
/ leaders.
5000 Out in F0nr Cities.
Reports from South St Paul.
Mimi. indicated that more than
1900 men there we're responding
to the strike call 1000 at Kansas
City. Kan. 1000 at Fort Worth.
Texas. and 500 each al Oklahoma
City, Okla, and Denver, Colo.
Cornelius Hayes, president Of the
Butcher Workmeu. said the men
walked out 100 per cent in East
( St. Louis. Ill. Wichita kan, St
/ Joseph, Mo. and other points"
! Mayor Harry 3. Burton of Kan
sas City. Kan, and Chief Of Police
+ Henry T. thinner warned the pack
/ ing house workers there yesterday
that Kansas law made picAetinE
! unlawful and that they stood ready
to enforce this and all other kan
sas laws which might he violated
as a result of the walkout The
men cheered his remarks.
Kansas Leaders Obey Court
Union leaders said they would
obey the summons of the Kansas
court Of industrial relations and
appear before it today.
The first report officially given
out by the packing plants after
working hours this morning came
from Morrss & Co. which reported
that their plant was killing 100
per cent. The Morris plant en-
ploys about $500 men and all gangs
were said to have reported for
work.
A statement issued by ". 2. Far
ris, general superintendent said
Morris "kiIIing 100 Fer Cent.
We are killing 100 per cent
(This does not necessarily mean
! capacity output, as the packers
supply of livestock varies from day
TO day and when the entire days
buy is concluded the plant would be
killing 100 per cent?
"As far as our plants are con
cerned. there appears TO be 10 in
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