New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-22
IABOR AND THE wORTD'a FAIR.
STATEMENT OF OFFICIALS OF THE KNIGHTS As
TO THEIR POTION.

TO THEIR POTION.
Washington, July o1.-Iohn W. Hayes general soc
rotary trea surcr and 4. W. Wright and John D"Vhn'
OF the General Executive Board OF the knights OF
Labor have been IN the city since yesterday IN the
interests Of organized labor In connection with the
Columbian Exhibition. In Interview with an
Associated Press reporter they made the following
statement:
"Our organization has been anxions only that the
interests and nights OF worldngmcn shoud he recog
nired md safeguarded. We have no hostility to the
Exhibition or It's management. We did hold, how
ever that before Congress granted or advanced any
pubc money. n guarantee ought To DE given that
ne rights and interests Of the workingmen employed
would DO respected and protected. Ever since tho
beginning Of the work there have been continual
complaints Of injustice 10 and improper treatment OF
the employees Of the Fair. These complaints have
been found on Investigation to be well founded, as
was also the further and most damaging statement
that the management employed foreigners t. the eN-
clusion Of citizen labor. and that the iniqnit"us
padrone system was In full operation among the
italian lnbOrers employed
"The Organized wortingmcn ~ Chicago both Knights
o. Labor and members OF trades unions, have time
and again vigorously protested against THIS state ~
affairs but without result. our Board was Appealed
TO, and for several months We have been in CORE
spondcnce with the management. Aboui month
nco two members OF our Boari went by invitation TO
dlnicultes An agreement was drawn MP IN The form
of a letter written by President Baker. II The chi
caeu DIRECTORY, and addNssd 10 VI. Hayes rs gen
era secretary II the knights Of Labor This
letter conceded all that had been cunienlns for
md would have been accepted perfectly sails
factory only thaf until Pr,> dent Bacr'. notion "ns
formally ratfcd By the executive of RE directory, II
could have no binding effect. General - 'nir,
through whom the negotiations werr icing conducted,
agreed TO prOcuV the passage % The necessary Vs.
mtiun by the executive committee. aud we now
understand that ths WAS done
Last night. IN the oOur-c ~ an Interview with
General St Clair and other members II the National
Commission We were Informed that the executive
committee Of the Chicag, Directory had passed the
resolution which was 10 give binding force
10 President Bakers letter. This morning We aIn'n
met the National Commit Lon aud. after full inter
change II op mons. arrived nj definite understand
Ing and agreement which believe will iusuFe full
Justice 10 the woriugmcn employed IN conncetlon
With the Fair This agreement is embraced IN the
letter o President Baker. already referred to- the
resolution Of the executive committee approving ".
and a further letter signed by Director Gen raj Davis
In which he guarantees the carrying ont Of The agree
mcnt. 1t provide, that the eight hour ,yNtem shall
be- carried out that none hut citizens and those
WHO have bone ndc declared their Intentions to b.
come such shAll be employed that all disputes are
tO be settled by arbitration, thai representatives. 0i
ORGANIZED labor bodies Interested are TO be allowed
free 10 the grounds. Ia ser that the agree
mcnt Is carried ont and that the labor laws %!
Illinois ard the REGULATIONS % Chicago shall lie c
sI,,cted 3y all contractors. The settlement IL
ircly satisfactory aud di-pJ'"s u our opposition to
the proposed grant