The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-11

Uncle Sans Repres entatives End the Trouble
at the Worlds Fair.

SHORT LIVED STRIKE.
Uncie Sans Representatives End the Trouble
the Worlds Fair.
CHICAGO. April 10.-The great strike at
the worlds fair is q thing of the past. and
the men who walked out this morning will
walk back again tomorrow morning. and
ninety nine out of every hundred Will work
for the same hours and the same pay he re-
oeived before be struck.
For the first time since it's inception or
gsnized labor came squarely in contact
with the United States government. and
while all questions OF wages were satisfsc-
torily settled, the right of the employer to
hire nonunion or union men, the right of
men to be in the ranks of organized labor
or without them. was insisted upon by the
national representatives and acknowledged
by the union men themselves.
For twelve hours to-day the results of
the painstaking expenditure Of more than
$40, ,000. GOO, the good name of q mighty ma
tion and its pledges to the nations of the
earth were imperiled and endangered,
while men who reaped the benefits of the
expenditure of that money argued with the
men who controlled over q question of 8
cents an hour and the rights of men to
think and act as they please within the
law. It took cool heads and temperate
blood to guide the dispute to q peaceful
issue. but the heads were there. the blood
was not wanting. and as q result the great
white city will be ready for it's guests at
the time and In the manner which were
promised at its birth.
1t was 10 o'clock tonight when the
meeting between the council of ad-
ministratiOn and the representatives
OF the Building Trades Council came
to an agreement which is to continue
throughout the entire period of the exposi-
tion, and. under W hich further trouble was
impossible. The men have received the
formal concession of minimum rate of
wages. and have yielded TO the demand of
the ex position officials that they nay en-
ploy any man. whether he be- or be not q
member of any labor organization. The
first step looking toward peace was made
strikers was appointed TO submit to the
worlds fair council of administration the
following proposition:
That IL the worlds fair council will agree to
submit the differences between the men aud the
exposition 10 arbitration at =. III. April II, the
Building Trades Council will order the men
back to work at once pending the resuit OF ar, r,
binds itself to abide bv tbe decisions Of the ar.
bitrators-one arbitrator TO be selected by the
Building and Trades Council, one by the worlds
fair management and a third by these two.
This proposition was submitted to the
council of administration as the labor
mems ultimstum. The council of admins
tration was in session and promptly re-
turned On answer that it was prepared to
meet the men at once. The matter must be
settled soon-it could be settled then as
we'll as at any other time. To this the com.
mittee agreed, and the result was a meet
ing which for hours went over all the as.
poets of the case. with but two short ad-
tation.
THE AGREEMENT.
At 10 O'Clock tonight the council of
administration presented to the executive
committee of the strikers the following
resolutions. which were preceded by short
preamble, setting forth the existence of the
strike:
Resolved. In the employment OF workmen or
artisans in the several trades represented by
said executive committee for the performance OF
work under the direct charge and supervision OF
the Worlds Columbian Exposition, representa-
tives OF union organized labor shall be enti-
tied to equal consideration with those OF nom
union. and that the wOrkaen heretofore en-
ployed by said exposition company, who have
this day gone out on strike shall not be refused
employment hereafter OH that account, II being
the express purpose Of the council that organ
ized labor, as such, shall not be Disseminated
against.
Resolved That there shall be paid to every
artisan so employed by the exposition company
ut least the minimum rate of wages prescribed
for the trade in which be Is employed.
Resolved, That an authorized representative
or delegate OF each OF said trades shall be fur
Dished with pass emitting him to free adms-
confer with the worknuen OF his trade at all
times. provided such conference shall not ma
terially interfere with or retard the work.
Resolved. That the concessions made In and
fOreQOlQp GO m "a WI
the distinct understanding that they shall be
accepted BY said executive committee full
versy; that the men who have gone on strike
shall return TO work at once. and that the pro-
visions and stipulations of said resolutions shall
continue In force and be operative during the
whole period OF the exposition.
These resolutions were at once signed by
oil members OF the strikers executive com.
mittee. representing the 5000 or {. 1000 labor
ing men. and the trouble was over. 1t was
o close call for the exposition. not only for
its opening. but for it's success The work
of the men who struck to-day is nearly
over. and while they could not have ruined
ths fair. they might. by stopping tia work,
so have delayed matters that the exposi-
ton could not have been in complete :eadi-
ness by the 1st of May. There was great
relief expressed by both sides when the
thing was over. for the members of the
council of administration and of the
strikers commItte alike were fearful of the
weight of public opinion which wouid fall
upon the party that opposed or obstructed
the success of the exposition.
The conference between the council of
administration and the committee was en-.
tirely friendly, and only once did matters
look dark, and that was before the confer
cnce when Mr.. Russeh. representing the
strikers. approached with the proposal for
arbitration. Mr.. Russell was met with the
reply that the council could not and would
not discuss the proposition to employ none
but union men. Mr.. Massey, of the al
commission. Is also of the council, and said
that the law of the United States bearing
on the freedom of contract forbade
bin in his capacity as governments
officer to vote for anything that
involved discrimination between citizens
4 because they were unio or nonunion men.
To add to the strength of the position. Mr.
Massey asked Mr.. Russell whether he had
stopped TO consider the very unpleasant
position the union had assumed when
IL laid itself liable to charge
of conspiracy not only against the
State and national law, bat against
the treaty laws prevailing between the
United States and the countries represents
ed within the park. Asreported later, this
seemed to be "A new thought TO the labor
leader. and be asked TO be given time to
confer with President Cogswell and the
other representatives of the union. After
he had consulted them there was no delay
in starting the conference.
SCENES AT THE WHITE CITY.
Five Thousand Men Refuse to Work ON Or