The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-16
|l.LO''TING' ]
|(OR STRIKE
|OIN PACKERS
81 + a. a a Il ! I'D s.
kuiDn Men Cast Votes On
wv 70 Work To-day
Some Plants Close.

nicsso. March 16.-Representa-
~ Of 10 national packing plants
,uss today pledged their support
: IL Amalgamated Order Of Meat
c.,,xs Ind Butcher Workmen of
YetA America in case the man.
~ Il ths organization strike.
xfAetadications were that no or
sarirsHcn would strike until after
4 fhe coaference on Monday at
VshIngton between representa-
f ~ Of labor, employers and Sec
jhsy Davis. Union oflcials said
~ wished to 60 before Secretary
mis- Monday with clean hands, !"
a for this reason probably
vpald not order an immediate
eite.
Chicago, March 16. UNITED
hus.) 1.-THE controversy between
pekers and their employees rapid
y drew toward a climax today. Dc
,lopments were:
I. Taking Of a strike vote among
)ttchers and meat cutters.
I Meeting of representatives Of
F Il union employees Of packing COM
. mics to consider a walkout Of all
n,dss employed by packers in
vupathy with the butchers and
| ilat cutters if they strike. .
/ Closing down of independent
peking companies in stockyards
6strct In view Of the unsettled
naditions."
l Arrangements continued for
1odiation conference in Washing
III With government officials.
Taking Of the strike vote pro-
ssdsd without any disturbance.
hWhs were erected at the main
ulss leading to the packing plants
Ne yards district and the men
~ their ballots IS they went 10
1slt The early vote. union lead.
q said. overwhelmingly favored
strike.
About 1000 men were thrown out
I work by the closing down Of the
snill Independent companies. The
lNp6, officials said, was due tc
u strike talk" unsettled markel
mditions and especially declining
Jrcss for meat products and lact
d demand.
Officers Gather. n
Chicago, March 16.-While inter.
uthhAl officers of the unions in
nlved in The packers wage contro'
Wfq we're assembling here fol
uajSfence today it was Learned
~ eight independent packing
uupanies, in or near the mair
Hpckyards here, have closed Of
psatly reduced their forces, throw
\ nearly 1000 men out Of work
We want to see how the labol
aatroversy is going to come out.
~ Patrick Brennan, president q
nAlndependent Packing company
" largest of the eight compan,
We would be affected BY {
asile. When conditions Warrant
Nv will open again.
hesds Of some of the other com
.aies declared the present prics
I'VE hogs and the low price o
- slaughtered product have mad
1 efahons Improbable just now
N other companies are: Brennan
nekng company; Boyd. Lunhan
Co.; William Daviess company
eofporated; Peerless Packing
empsny; Strasser Packing com
my; City Abbatoirs. incorporated
"a Siegel-Heckinger Packing an,
revision con- pany.
Two men are to be chosen q
fesent the employees at Q con
ence In Washington on Marcl
!, with two representatives Of tn
essfs and Secretary Of Labo
@ Two representatives wer'
enated BY Samuel Gompers
ne0dent Of the American Fedora
~ q Labor, to represent him .
ae oonference.
Mlsgates from the allied union
ssoivsd in the packers wage con
usy. also planned to attent
~ conferences, to discuss thei
sde In case a strike Is vpte'