The New York herald., 1921-03-11
HOPE FROM HARDING
Referendum on Acceptance
or Rejection Of Wage Cut
Is Next Step.
FIVE PLANTS AFFECTED
Whole Industry Is Threatened
if Demands Of Unions Are
Ignored.

| OMAHA, March io-The appeal by
the conference OF the Meat Cutters and
Butchers Workmen's Association 10
President Harding TO try TO prevent
wage reductions and changes in work
| ing hours from going into effect March
\ IA has been taken up with the De-
partment Of Justice and the Department
or Labor, according to information re-
ceivcd to-day from Fran: Morrison.
secretary or the American Federation
OF Labor at washington.
The conference authorized the unions
executive committee here to arrange I'M
mediately for strike vote.
Later yice-President f. Z. Calvin
announced that no definite conclusions
lGd been reached at the conference.
hich. he said. would be continued at
q later date.
NJ. Morrison said call had been is-
o-jeG 20 all allied unions in the packing
pfustry FOR a conference in Chicago
..aAt Wednesday. The conference will
.;ttilne n programme for concerted ac-
en ic . strike is called against the
sgc cut, approxin,ating te@ per cent.
The strike ballots will be mailed i'm
,ediataiv from Chca so. and the dnol
esllit, is expected r. 80 known b. ncXt
Wednesday The executive board IS
.jvca authority to call ana conduct
et~ll;e II a referendum vote authorizes 1t.
ond TO arrange all details OF any settle
went. All locals are warned to refrain
fron striking or taking other action
pending issuance OF general order.
The resolution adopted by the confer
nnca Of butchers workers delegates to-
1ay ictt the matter or a strike in the
hands Of the unions executive commit
tee. The conference went on record in
favor Of a strike. however. If President
Harding does not succeed in inducing
the packers 70 comply with the war time
agreement.
"1t has been clearly developed the
resolution said. that it is the sense OF
this conference that, in the event presf'
dent Harding does not induce the pack
ere to maintain the eight hour work day
and return 10 q compliance With the
agreement entered into with the United
states Department OF Labor. we should
unanimously and effectively resist re-
turn TO the ten hour day. wage reduc-
lions and other barharic conditions they
saek 10 impose upon US"
The referendum ballot, Secretary Lone
said. would read as follows:
do YOU favor and authorize . strike
in the event that the Government OF
our organization is unable to induce the
pc cSer9 TO maintain the eight hour
Wort. day fnd compliance with tie
sarecment entered into with the United
States Department of Labor
The vote viii be taken hy all unip1
members in Tho five large packing
plants and ~. independent plants which
have adhered to the larger plants poi
cies. Mr.. Lane said
ff ;be referendum vote authorizes
'i'il;e. the date and MI other details viii
ta determined by tho executive boar1.
No more delay than - sensible ham
ding OF the situation reduirea was
asked III taking the referendum qad
putting the result into effect.
CHICAGO. March l0.--Assurance that
the nations meat supply will not be
interrupted. regardless of any action
that may be taken by the unions on
the recently announced reduction OF
wages and teadiustmeut Of working
hours was given to-day by the pacllers
Despite the strike threats being made
by the agents of the union we do not
expect any trouble that will Interfere
with the nations meat supply" said a
statement issued by Armour e. Co "A
survey of the packing plants indicate,
that the individual employees under
stand the situation and do not want TO
be forced to idlenesa or to be asked 10
80 on strike The union leaders who
are talking strike do not represent g5