The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-09
Chicago Workingmen Want the
Worlds Fair Directory to
Declare Itself.
Strong Resolutions Adopted at
Meeting in That City
on Sunday.
They Want Only Uniop Men Employed on
the Building snA Eight
Hours : Dsy.

CHJcA0O, f0D. b,--OSgAn1Ze0 loo0D 0y
Chicago hotiy asserted itself to-day regard
ing the Worlds fair. II was at q regular
me citing Of the trade aud labor assembly, a
body said to represent 1900 workingmen,
| and one OF whose members was gwen seat
In the Worlds fair directory in recognition
OF the $500, 600 subscribed by workingmsn
to the guarantee fund Of the exposition.
Intense interest was manifested in the sub
ject, o. there has been much discussion be-
forehand in meetings Of individual unions.
The excitement began when James O'Con-
ncll, president OF the assembly, offered the
following:
Whereas, When it Was hrst proposed 70
hold the Worlds Columbian exposition in
Chicago organized labor was appealed 70
by the promoters Of that institution to A.
sist them in securing needed Iegis-
lation in favor OF this city;
that the members Of the various trade
unions and labor organizations OF Chicago
subscribed literally TO the stock; that the
implied inducement was held out by the
promoters tn the working people Of Chicago
that In all work done on the buildings union
labor should be recognized and have the
preference over scab labor; and shat the
present Worlds fair directory show dis
position to refuse TO recognize union labor,
but threaten to employ Unfortunately
non-union labor. thereby flooding the labor
market Of Chicago, with the ultimate de-
sign of destroying the trades unions.
Resolved, That We, as union men, protest
against this treacherons action Of tho Worlds
fair directors, and unless immediate action
is taken by that body to redeem their I'M
piled pledges given in regard to union labor
that we shall deem it our duty to oppose in
every way any further legislation, either
municipal, state or national, in favor of the
exposition; and We hereby recommend all
workinRmen who subscribed for the stock
to decline to pay any further assessments
until the proper assurances are given that
the implied pledges will be kept.
Resolved, That unless satisfactory aasus-
ances are given by the directors, that their
indicated action will be changed. We shalt
deem il our duty to ask the co-opeyation Of
organized labor throughout the country to
assist ns in making our protest enphatic.''
In an instant !. dozen men were on the
floor and peppery speeches containing some
ss vi" mass s ssotoy o1ns
regiment OF soldiers around the ground il
they employ scab labor. The day has
passed when organized labor can be ignored
in great public enterprises Of this kind.'
The resolution was carried without oppo-
sition. A committee was appointed to work
in conjunction with the committees ap-
pointed by the central labor union, and the
carpenters council. These committees, il
is understood will wait on the mayor and
ask him to issue manifesto showing the
number and condition of the laboring men
of Chicago. They will also go before the
Worlds fair directory with the above reso-
luton and ask. further, that eight hours
constitute days work in the construction
of the Worlds fairs buildings