Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-02-21
THE WORLDS FAIR.
UNION LABOR DEMANDS ITS
RIGHTS.
An Emphatic Protest against the En-
plOyment of Scabs-ThOuSands of
Hungry Men Getting Desperate
Italian Lab0rers Driven away by
an Angry Mob.

Italian Laborers Driven away by
an Angry Mob.
The Directors of the Worlds Fair were
denounced in unmeasured terms at the
last meeting of the Trades and Labor
Assembly for violating their assurances
that union labor would be given the pre-
ference in Worlds Fair work. Presi
dent James O'Connel offered the follow
ing:
WHEREAS, When it was first proposed
to hold Worlds Columbian Exposition
in Chicago organized labor was appealed
to by the promoters of that institution to
assist in securing legislation and other
influence in favor of Chicago, and
WHEREAS, The members Of the various
trades unions and labor organizations of
Chicago have subscribed literally to the
stock of said Exposition, and
WHEREAS, Implied Inducements were
held out by the promoters of said Expo
stion to the working people of Chicago
that in all work done on the buildings of
said Exposition union labor should be
recognized and have a preference over
scab labor, and
WHEREAS, The present directory of
said Exposition indicates an intention of
refusing to recognize union labor, but
threatens to employ indiscriminately
non'union labor, thereby flooding the
labor mark It of Chicago with the ulti-
mate design of destroying the trades
unions. Therefore be it
ReSolUed, That we, as union men, pro-
test against this treacherous action of the
directors of the Worlds Columbian Ex-
position. ard unls n immediate pntion Is
taken by that body to redeem its implied
pledges given in regard to union labor
that we shall deem it our duty to oppose
iii every way any further legislation,
either municipal, State or National, in
favor of said Worlds Columbian Exposi.
tion and we hereby recommend all
workingmen who have subscribed for
said stock to decline to pay any further
assessments until proper assurances are
given by the directors that said implied
pledges will be kept. And be it further
Res0lUed, 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 cooperation of every body of
organized labor throughout the country
to assist us in making our protest EN-
phatic.
In an instant dozen men were on the
floor, but Mr., Morgan, being recognized
by the Chairman, spoke at some length
in favor of the resolution. He accused
Robert Nelson of not doing his duty to
Organized Labor, whose vote it was
that elected him a member of the Board
of Directors, in not taking determined
stand against the employment of scabs.
But not only had Mr.. Nelson failed to do
what he had promised but when the
first meeting was held and preliminary
steps taken to secure the Words Fair in
Chicago the promoters of the enterprise
had asked for the assistance of the trades
unions and had pledged themselves then
to recognize Organized Labor.
Mr. O'Connel said that committees had
been appointed by the Central Union,
Carpenters Council, and Builders, to
take steps in this matter and he moved
that committee of three be appointed
to act in conjunction with the other
committees. P. j. Minniter, T. j. Nor
gan, and James Mankin were appointed.
AT the regular meeting of the Knights
of Labor held on the same day, John
Wolful, Harry Canevin, and Charles
Hank were appointed committee of
three to act in conjunction with COM
mittees of other labor organizations to
wait upon the Mayor and Director
General of the Worlds Fair, and reque, t
them to issue a proclamation to the
public as follows :
WHEREAS, The labor market of Chi.
| cago is overCrOwded and people are
actually starving in the streets and
WHEREAS, The impression has gotten
abroad that work has begun on the
Worlds Fair buildings and grounds and
that work Is plenty and help scarce; VT
therefore desire TO correct the impress
sion and to state most positively that
there are more men here now in all de
partments of trade than can possibly
find employment. We feel that know
ledge of this state of affairs will prevent
many from leaving their homes to fine
work in this city, only to increase tn,
army of destitute ones whose presenc,
on our streets We deplore.
ACTION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEES.
On the 18th inst. all the joint com
mittees met together. The organization
represented were the Trade and Labo