The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-02
LABOR AND THE FAIR.
a hard FIGHT TO BE MADE FOR
MINIMUM WAGES.

The Five Central Bodies of Organized
Labor in Chicago Hold a Mass Meet
ing-The Opinions of Two Lawyers
Read on the Power of the EXPOSE
t,on's Directors.
CHICAGO, June AT general meeting
of the five central labor bodies of the city
yesterday. organized labor took radical
stand against any further move to give
public assistance to the worlds fair as long
as their demands for a minimum rate are
refused. Resolutions upon resolutions were
cast at the fair and directors and commit<
tee was appointed to continue the fight.
The bodies represented at the meets
ing were the trade and labor as@
sembly, central labor union, central council
of the Knights Of Labor and carpenters'
council. Legal opinions were read from c.
s. Darrow and Jesse Cox on the question as
10 whether the worlds fair directors had
the right to grant a minimum rate Of
wages. The directors claimed that it would
conflict with their by-laws, which required
them to let contracts to the lowest bidder.
A LEGAL OPINION.
The opinions of both these attorneys were
to the effect that the directors had the right
to grant minimum rate, and that 1t did
not conflict with the bylaw referred TO-.
The inference drawn by the labor peopls
from these opinions was that the directors
knew their rights all the time, and merely
gave this excuse as q subterfuge to esoapa
from a minimum rate. The worlds fair
joint labor committee submitted an ex-
haustiVe report covering all its conferences
with the worlds fair directors, together
all kbs.1 .Na a
IL reoited the action Of the city council in
its favor, the refusal Of the builders and
traders exchange TO act in conjunction
with 1t, and the rejection of minimum rate
Of wages by tho directors.
A WIDESPREAD RALLY.
The report further says that the ap-.
preparations under which the fair will bs
held make IL a public and not q private
business enterprise. THAT as all lawful
powers, local, state, national and inter-
national, have been invoked In aid Of the
fair, our action in struggling for recognition
or union hours, wages and labor should be-
equally extensive and the whole lawful
force Of union labor should be used ia secur-
ing these demands; that the reports of all
the conference be printed and sent to all
labor bodies in the world; that committee.
man from each trade represented in
the bodies present be elected to begin.
a crusade for minimum rate
Of wages; that mass meeting be called
soon TO start the ball rolling; that legis-
lative action be invoked, and that so long
as our rights are not recognized by tbs
directors we cannot conscientiously aid the
worlds fair.n
This-FePers was adopted with all its
Recommendations.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Resolutions were then adopted that:
As il has come to our knowledge that a con&
spiracy has been formed between the managers
OF the worlds fair and the Chicago papers to
prevent public knowledge of the discontent,
among the working classes Of this city caused
by the action OF the managers of the fair thaH
notice of this conspiracy Be sent to the principal
papers Of New York, Boston, Sc. Loma
and other great cities In the United
states and Europe; that notices be-
also sent to all labor organizations and that adj
vertisements 10 this effect be inserted In such
papers as may assert their Independence and
refuse to be a party 70 this conspiracy That
We respectfully but firmly protest against any
further increase In taxation for the worlds fair
purposes or anything connected Herewith, and
that this resolution be properly presented to the,
city council
That we protest against any portion of the
fire department or police force being furnished
the worlds fair corporation at the public ex-
pense, and that this resolution be brought to!
the attention OF the mayor. IL the worlds fair
needs special fire aud police service, let the
corporation furnish the same at its own, and
not the public expense
J. w. Mackin, secretary OF the joint labor
committee, was instructed to go to-day to
Springfield and attempt to have incorpo4
rated In the pending appropriation bill OF
81, ,000, 900 in aid Of the worlds fair clause
providing that a minimum rate of wages
shall be maintained in the expenditure Of
that money.