Hellraisers Journal: Chicago Meat Cutters and Butchers Renew Strike and Stand Ready to Fight to the “Bitter End”

TO FIGHT BIG CHICAGO STRIKE
TO BITTER END
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Executive Officers Decide to Wage War
Against Packers With Vigor.
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Meeting Which Promised to Call Off Strike
Renews Activities.
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Chicago, Ill., Sept. 1-Hostilities have been vigorously renewed in the stock yards strike, both sides threaten a determined fight to the finish and the police have taken extreme measures in anticipation of trouble.

Following the action of the strike leaders in unanimously voting to continue the strike and fight to the bitter end, now that the packers have rejected final overtures for peace, an army of more that 2,000 strike pickets again have taken up watch about the yards. At a late hour the Board of business agents of the twenty-seven branches of the Butcher Workmen’s Union, were convened and given instructions. It was asserted that the question of calling a general strike of the 220,000 union workmen in Chicago in all trades was discussed.

“There will be startling developments within a few hours,” said President Michael Donnelly of the Butcher Workmen’s Union. “We are preparing our fences and laying our lines and we are going to win this strike. Chicago will be amazed when the developments become public. We will say nothing until the proper time.”

The fact that T. P. Quinn of the Chicago Federation of Labor, who advocated a general walk-out of every trade in Chicago held a long conference with the strike leaders led to a wide report that a general tie-up of all Chicago’s industries for three days or a week by a monster strike of all organized labor was under discussion.

On their side the packers took steps which threatened trouble. They demanded a heavily increased police guard and last night began preparations to attempt to move to their Fulton and South Water street branch markets, which have been practically closed since the big strike began.

Pickets are Ordered Back.With the packers thus throwing down the gage, the strike leaders ordered the army of pickets back to vigorous duty. More that 1,500 pickets took up watch about the yards and at the various points where supplies may be hauled to the various branch markets.

Vice President Raff of the Teamsters Union, which declared last night to stay in the strike to the end, asserted that his men would aid in the work of picketing.

“Contrary to reports in some quarters,” said he, “we have never withdrawn our pickets. We are increasing their number and they will do duty as before, stopping ice deliveries to those dealers who persist in handling ‘unfair’ meat.”

International Secretary Call of the Butcher Workmen’s Union, said:

“Everything is most satisfactory. We stand as a unit. We are convinced that this strike can be won.”

“It will be a strike now that will strike some surprise to this city.” said President Donnelly of the Butcher Workmen’s union. “We have made every possible effort for peace. Now the blame for the results must rest on the packers. Our men stand firm to a a man. They will fight to win if we have to stay out until Christmas.”

The Conference Board indorsed the action of the Butcher Workmen’s executive board by unanimous vote.

President Donnelly and Secretary Homer D. Call of the Butcher Workmen’s Union, as a special committee, carried to the conference board the report of the action of their body.

They were greeted with a terrific outburst of cheering.

“We’ll stay out until Christmas,” shouted the members of the conference board. “We intend to win.”

The executive board of the Butcher Workmen voted unanimously to keep up the strike to the end.

International officers of the Butcher Workmen’s Union from all sections of the country voted unanimously to keep up the strike. Among the number were International secretary Homer D. Call of Syracuse and Vice President Stephen Vall of Omaha, George McMeachin of St. Joseph, Cass E. Schmidt of San Francisco, Louis Reinhart of Kansas City and John Floersch and William J. Sterling of Chicago.

Statement by Donnelly.Immediately after the executive board determined for a fight to the end the following statement was issued by President Michael Donnelly, who presided at the meeting.

As many conflicting statements have appeared in the press from the inception of the strike, the executive board of the Butcher Workmen desire to submit the following to the public:

As has been previously stated, the conditions under which the packing house employes work were intolerable. After repeated efforts to adjust the same, and being refused by the packers, this strike was forced upon us.

The admission of the packers that they now intend changing working conditions to practically what we sought is positive proof that our cause is a just one.

Hence, why refuse an interview in order to adjust the differences if the end sought by them is not destruction of our organization, which has improved the moral condition of the butcher workmen one hundred fold?

After careful investigation of all points we find that our members are standing as firmly for the maintenance of the principle involved as they were at the inception of the strike. Hence we continue the strike until we are accorded such honorable adjustment we are voicing the sentiments of our constituents.

M. DONNELLY.
President of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
and Butcher Workmen of North America.

“That states our position absolutely,” President Donnelly said later. “We stand together for a fight to the end.”

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

SOURCE

The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Sept 3, 1904
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000395/1904-09-03/ed-1/seq-5/