South Dakota Governor Broke 1935 Morrell Strike with Troops

by Duke Doering

     The involvement of the National Guard began on March 8 when a state government official called Adjutant General Edwin C. Coffey, alerting him about a possible problem in Sioux Falls.  The following day, the Adjutant’s General Office was notified by Governor Berry that a strike was in process at the Morrell Packing Plant.  A group of strikers had taken possession of the plant and halted operations at one of the city’s major employers.

     On March 9 at 9 p.m., in response to the urgent request from the city and county law enforcement agencies, Gov. Berry directed the Adjutant General to mobilize such organizations, individuals and detachments of the South Dakota National Guard as were necessary to reestablish law and order.  The units were placed on duty in Sioux Falls.  Minnehaha County and adjacent jurisdictions were placed under martial law by proclamation of the Governor, acting as Commander and Chief of the National Guard.

     On the morning of March 10, upon agreement between the strikers and management, Gov. Berry proclaimed the halt of martial law at 6:30 a.m., and the Guardsmen were returned to their home stations and dismissed.

     Gov. Tom Berry had to respond again on March 12, 1935 with an 11:10 p.m. directive to the Adjutant General to mobilize the National Guard and place them on duty in Sioux Falls again.  City and county law enforcement officials needed help a second time to quell the labor union confrontation with managers at the meat packing facility.

     At 2:25 a.m. the following day, the Governor notified the Adjutant General that the strike had been settled and all troops were to return to their home stations.

     Adjutant General Coffey submitted the following after action review to Governor Berry: “Mobilization in each instance was accomplished with efficiency and officers and troops ordered for duty were ready to move to the scene of the disturbance in a very short time.  Transportation of the 147th units was accomplished by government vehicles assigned to the units.  Transportation of units of the 109th Engineers was by privately owned vehicles.

     The personnel placed on this duty conducted themselves with a great deal of credit; the discipline at all times was excellent and the morale high.  This mobilization indicated that the troops of the South Dakota National Guard were, and are ready to answer the call of their Commander and Chief on a moment’s notice and to accomplish whatever mission may be assigned them with the minimum of confusion and a maximum of efficiency.”

      Labor-management tensions lingered and on July 29, upon being notified that further disturbance had occurred in the strike area at the Morrell Packing Plant, Col. Wales and four officers of the SDNG were ordered to Sioux Falls to serve as observers. These officers served until Aug. 3, when they were returned to the home station.

      Gov. Berry, a two-term Democrat and rancher from Belvidere, issued five proclamations relating to the Morrell strike during that difficult year.