Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-12
LABORERS HEARD FROM.
They Denounce the Directors of the
Worlds Fair

CHICAGO, Feb. 9.-The directors Of the
worlds fair were denounced in unmeas-
| ured terms at the meeting of the Trades
| and Labor assembly last evening They
| were charged with VIC ating their assur-
ances that union labor would be given the
| preference in world fair work. Resolu-
| lions were adopted that unless action was
at once taken by the directors toward
carrying out the assurances made organ
lied labor throughout the country would
| be pitted against the worlds far.
| At the meeting of the assembly Presi-
| dent James O'COnnen offered the follow
| ing, which was adopted:
! Whereas, When it was first proposed
| to hold a Worlds Columbian Exposition
in Chicago organized labor was appealed
| TO by tie promoters of that Institution to
assist in securing legislation and other in
fuence in favor of Chicago, and
''Wha.eas, The members OF the various
| trades-uni0Ds and labor organizations of
| Chicago have subscribed literally to the
| stock of said Exposition, and
wv hereas, The present directory of said
| Exposition indicates an intention of re-
| fusing to re c0gniZe union labor, but
| threatens to employ Unfortunately ION
union labor. thereby flooding the labor
market OF Chicago with the ultimate
design of destroying the trades unions.
| Therefor be it
| Resolved That we. as union men. pro-
! test az inst this treagherous action of the
directors of the World Columbian Expo
| sItiOn, aDi unless immediate action is taken
| ly that body to redeem its implied pledges
| given in regard to union labor that we
| shall deem it our duty to oppose in every
a.
| cipal, State or National, in favor of said
| Words Columbian Exposition; and we
| hereby recommend all workingmen who
haze subs ribbed for said stock to decline
| to pay any further ass essments until proper
assurances are given by the directors that
said implied pledges viii be kept. And be
it further
Resolved, That unless satisfactory as
surances are given by the directors that
their indicated action will be changed, we
shall deem it our duty to ask the cooper
alton of every body of organized labor
| throughout the country to assist us in
making our protest emphatic.
What the Directors Say.
| In speaking of the labor situation Presi-
dent Gage said: II would not like to make
any promises before the directory has a
meeting and takes some official action in
the matter. There is every disposition on
| the rart of the world S fair officials to rec
ognze the workingmen, and there viii be
no Intentional in iESlice done them. We
recognize the power Of the laboling class
to contribute greatly to the success Of the
fair, but will not pledge ourselves
to employ only certain men because
| they happen to belong to this or
that order or union. The worlds fair
| has rights that must be respected by every
one and We cannot permit any set of men
outside Of Congress to positively dictate
our policy or to ia rules for the govern
| ing of our work l have no doubt but
| the workinc men will be fair in the matter,
and when the time comes an amicable adj
| justnent will be TeGched.'
A committee from the Knights of Labor
/ visited District-General Davis this morn
| ing, but that ficial was not at his Office
and the committee postponed its interview
! until later.