The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-16
LABOR THREATENS.
Chicago Unions to Fight the
Conkey Concession.
OPINIONS OF THE FAIR MANAGERS.

quite "a NUMBER OF IhingS They DONG
Seem to Discern-A Union Leader Who
Evidently Knows "Where lie Is att
The Labor Federation Asked to Take
no Action on Sunday Ciosing-NIoney
Voted to Aid Homestead and Other
Acknowledgements Matters Quiet.
CHICAGO, Dec. l4-World's Fair Com
missioner Massey yesterday informed the
two committees representing the Trades
assembly and Typographical union No. l6
that the Worlds fair board of control
would in all probability give them a hear
ing at 1890 o'clock p. m. in reference to
the concession of the board to the Conkey
Printing company, but when that hour ar
rivred Secretary Dickinson said that the
board desired to attend to the wants of
the committee on awards of the national
commission, and set II o'clock this morn
ing as time for a conference with the
representatives of union labor. Many OF
the members of both committees freely
criticised the action of the board in not inn
mediately listening to their plant, but they
were assured by Commissioner Massey
that the board would take no action on the
Conkey matter until after the committees
had been heard.
Things That Palmer Cannot See.
When President Palmer was asked about
the probable action of the board on the
Conkey contract he said: ~ cannot predict
just what action may be taken, but can
not see what we have got to do with the
men that the Conkey company employs.
The contract has been let, and probably no
questions were asked as to whether the
company employed union or non-union
men. 1t was a business transaction and
the concession has been made. The differ
ences now, it seems to me. should be settled
between the printers and the Conkey COM
pany. If they have any objection to the
way he does business he is the man they
should deal with. cannot see why man
should be dictated to regarding the way he
runs his business, by the Worlds fair peo-
pie, simply because he has made contract
with them"
President Higinbotham Undiscerning.
President Higinbotham does not seem to
think there is much occasion for an obiec-
ton to the Conkey contract. 81 do not see
why the ways and means committee should
be expected to look up the details of the
Conkey house and find out what kind of
men it employs before they let contract"
he said. at has been deemed advantageous
to allow the Conkey company to print this
work, and does not seem to be the province
of the Worlds fair officials to question the
company as to the kind of men it employs,
so long as there is evidence that it can do
its work satisfactorily"
Same More of the Some Kind.
j. w. st. Clair, of the board of control
talked freely about the Conkey contract
81 understand" said he, that the con-
stitution of this country allows man or a
corporation to let contracts without in
curing into the details of the business of
man who may take contract. The con-
tract in question was let to the Conkey
company by the executive committee after
it had been thoroughly studied by
members of the ways and means commit
tee who are said to thoroughly understand
the work. In fact, some of these men are
the very ones we should go to if we were to
let a similar contract at any time. The
contract has not yet been executed, but
it has been let upon the Judgment of COM
petent men,"
Threat of n Labor Leader.
Said President Mitchell, of the Trades
assembly:
off we are not needed in this matter we
will see to it that the men are called off of
all the buildings at the park. We are
receiving kilograms from all over country
congratulating us on our efforts in the
matter and urging us to proceed with the
protest"