The Washington herald., 1921-03-13
Employers and Unions to
Send Representatives y
To Washington.
PLANS GO FORWARD
FOR STRIKE BALLOT
Armour Company's Mes
sage Accepts Sec. Davis
Arbitration Offer.

day to send two representatives eacn
to washington to confer with Secre-
tary of Labor James J. Davis. who
oered his services as arbiter In the
wage cut crisis Meanwhile union
executives in Chicago continued
their preparations for a nationwide
strike referendum
II the suggestion of Dennis Lane,
secretary and treasurer Of the IN
ternational Butchers Union. Is fol-
lowed. the arbitration council win
be called n Washington next Fri
fday. The proposed strike. Il II Is
called, will not come before MONDAY
March II.
Ballots for q strike referendum
were sent to all local unions Friday
night and this morning Some will
not reach their destination tomor-
row. and some not, until Wednesday
moning.
Sporadic walkeuts fkeiy.
Local stockyards workers will
participate in a big strike demon
stration ON the South and South
west Sides tomorrow. Monday morn
ing the announced wage cut and
change I'm working conditions VIII
take effect in the yards here and Is
certain other cities. according TO-
the packers By Monday night
few small, unauthorized. sporadic
walkouts may be expected.
On Wednesday there VIII be
conference of all trades unions em-
pioycd in the stockyards to consider
the question Of q sympathetic strike
and support Of the Amalsamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher workers
organizations.
THURSDAY night should see tele-
graphic returns from all local
-1ions involved In the strike refer
idum in the hands Of the interna-
{ tional oflcers in Chicago.
WIN Deteraine 0,tesne.
Friday, II the unions request to
Secretary Of Labor Davis Ia granted.
win see the opening Of the arbitra-
ton parley In washington On the
result OF that parley the strike viii
depend The reply Of the unions to
Secretary Davis offer Of mediation
was sent this morning By Secretary
Treasurer Lane II follows:
Tt has always been the policy of
our organization to cooperate with
all governmental agencies. We ac-
cept your tender of service to work
out q solution of the present situa-
tion brought on by the deliberate
and arbitrary violation and repudia-
tion by the Big Five" packers of
the agreement now in existence be-
tween your department. our and
other regular organizations and the
packsrs-
Asked to Fix Date.
'we note that you specify no date
for the conference and We have in
formation that the packers contem-
plate taking advantage of that fact
This and other organizations, who
are q party to the agreement be-
tween your department and the
packers, win arrange to select rep
resentaotives to attend the confer
enee when you set the date
I'VE respectfully suggest that
such conference be held in Wash
ington next Friday. March Is, as we
have a conference arranged here
for the 18th of all trades involved"
The American Unity Welfare La
Dor League. composed of negro
workers, announced today that It is
ready to accept the wage reduction
and the increase in hours.
Packers send Message.
Following an all-day conference
among the leading packers repre-
sent a message in reply to Davis
appeal that the difficulties be arbi-
trated, saying:
"wiil be glad to follow your sug-
gestion-"
Armour & Company were acting
for the other packers. Ii. was un-
officially announced. The packers,
In making public the. Armour teie- |
gram issued q statement outlining
their position In following the sug-
gestion" to arbitrate-
I'VE assume that the justice and |
necessity Of wage cuts will not be |
an issue In the arbitration proceed |
ings." the statement said. "The ma
tion,s fnsistence Of a return to nor
NAL and its refusal to pay war
prices in peace times has caused
the price Of our products to drop
to what are practically prevar
levels This has forced the price Of |
livestock down to a point which |
threatens the very existence of the
livestock industry" -.
Calls Reasctiens Es.e.ft.I. I
Wage reductions. the statement
continued, -are not a matter. of /
choice. therefore they are essential
not only from the employers stand-
point. but also from the. standpoint |
OF the livestock produeers"
Nor can there justly be an issue
on the matter Of hours" the pack
ers declared
/ The statement declares that live
stock receipts nuctuated from dayl
to day and sit Is obvious that al
work day of q certain number OIL
hours cannot meet such conditions. I
Any adjustment Of wages that REL
quires extra pay for less than forty
eight hours of work per week-un-
less that work 10 performed at un-
usual hours-is an unjust tax ont
the business which the public has
70 pay"
Might Close Pia,fs.
The packers declared that except
through the abo1ishment Of the
eight-hour day and cut in wares.
"the possibility Of Industrial dim
culties that might close our plants
would stare us In the face"
The cut In wages and the neyl
hourly working basis will 70 into
effect in practically an packing
piants Of the nation on lfondsxs