The weekly examiner., 1891-08-01
THAT WORLDS FAIR JOB.
OPINIONS THAT DIFFER CONCERN
 ING LABoR's DEMANDS.

mum Scale Supported by Banker Gage.
 The Joint Labor. Committee Gets Out
 Some Important Circulars.
 Especial Correspondence.1
 The Worlds fair directors have re- fused to grant the important demands of the joint labor committee of Chicago. The minimum scale of wages, the rule considered the most important, is ut terly ignored. Arbitration and an eight hour workday are conceded, not because the labor committee asked them or with any idea of recognizing it, but as mat ter of expediency. The labor committee, greatly dissatisfied. has issued mani festo to the general public, petition to the president of the United States and a circular to the workingmen of the world, to which the signature of Mayor Washburne is attached. The manifesto sets forth the action of the Worlds fair directors in severe terms.
 It declares that as the fixed scale of wages has been refused, as all work up to the present time has been done at non- union prices, by nonunion men, working nonunion hours, and as further work is being let to contractors whose reputa- tion warrants the presumption that it will all be done under the same system, it is apparent the promoters of the great Columbian exhibition do not intend to recognize the rights of labor any further than they will be actually compelled to; and the manifesto calls on all unions for -L--.- n. q the bonds of fellowship and strength ening of organization in every trade. The rules concerning arbitration and short hour working days are very easily evaded, and, judging byathe spirit al- ready shown by those who will directly employ labor, no doubt will be if pos sible .ze
 The petition to the president asks his influence and interference in favor of labor during the progress of work which possesses national interest
 The circular asks laborers everywhere to refrain from swing up other positions to come to Chicago for employment, as, at the best, there will be but short term of plentiful work and good wages, and that a rush of workers to this city at a time when the unions are trying to se- cure better terms will jeopardize the general interests of labor everywhere.
 In the board of directors are men who are known to be students of industrial questions and friends to'labor, and it is a surprise to some that these men voted against the fixed scale of wages. Among them is Lyman D. Gage, the banker, who says in substance: Es9
 tsTt Hx1o1zId hn mn UiSai tn aSfa h1ic11 sa precedent for what would prove tyr when public body of any kind begins to determine what kind of arrangements shall be made between private individ- uals who mean to employ and other pri- vate individuals who want to be en- ployed, to decide just where their arbi- trary interference ought to stop. Such a rule might prove more injurious to the working class in the end than beneficial. The contracts between employers and employed are of a personal nature, and it is dangerous for public boards to en- deavor to regulate them.
 In answer to this sentiment the lead ing members of the joint committee say: tsThe board is using public money. It will have the disbursement of millions of dollars belonging to the people, col 1ected by compulsory taxation; those who labor have an interest in this money and some right to say to whom it shall be given and under what conditions; that the contracts under which work on the fair grounds is to be performed do not, therefore, ,spartake of a private busi ness nature, but have more of public character, and in them the claims of all concerned should be duly considered"
 Still the opinions expressed against the fixed scale, come from as many who favor the best interests of labor as from inter ested capitalists. A prominent man in industrial circles believes the members of the labor committee care little about the rule being adopted except in so far as it will establish precedent. When la Dor as an organized body goes to alegis- lature with demand for legal regula- tion of wages, hours and conditions, it could point to the decision of the Worlds fair board-a body of men who must of necessity be disinterested and wise, and thus claim strong authority for the jus tice of their demands. But should such laws ever be passed they would necessi- tate other regulations, and these more yet, until there would be so many sump- tuary laws as eventually to interfere with all the personal actions of the whole class of laborers, as was the case in Eng land years ago, when such legislation was attempted"
 Another criticism by a sincere labor reformer is that, from people who be- ieve all labor is useful and that the physical exertion of one man deserves as much return as the same exertion from. another, as do these prominent members on the labor committee, the de- mand for $1.5O per day for a common laborer and $4 and $5 a day for skilled la borers is inconsistent. Fixing the rate of a ditch digger at $1.5o day may not be of any advantage to him. As his work is as important and necessary as any, and is decidedly the hardest and most