New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-11
PRICE THREE CENTS.
WORLDS FAIR STRIKE OFF,
BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL AND EXPOSI.
TION MANAGERS REACH AN AGREEMENT. =
THE LABOR LEADERS ABANDON THEIR DEMAND
FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NON.
UNION MEN-A LARGE PART OF THE
1000 STRIKERS TO RETURN
TO WORK TO-DAY.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.1

Worlds Fair grounds this morning was amicably
settled tonight at a meeting Of the Council OF
Administration with the executive committee OF
the Building Trades Council The whole trouble
is settled so far as the Exposition Company u
concerned; but there are several contractors on
the grounds who must sign the agreement before
their men will return to work. There are 1000
men who will not return to work in the morning
on this account. committee will be at work
early endcavoring to get these contractors to sign
the agreement. which will put these men at work
and enable the great enterprise to be pushed to an
early completion
The movement was not one which appealed to
public sympathy in any feature. The
highest wages have been paid and, while a
large number of union men have found employ
ment here, they have worked along without COM
plant and in apparent fellowship with those
craftsmen who have preferred TO toll indepen-
IDENTIFY Of trade organizations. The Exposition
officials at the beginning of the work assumed tho
attitude that the undertaking being National in
its character, there must be no discrimination be-
tween the workmen employed with respect to
membership or non-membership in trades-unions.
The stand was taken Also at the same time, that
only actual citizens of the United States should
he engaged and this principle has also prevailed
without serious criticism anywhere
hcdnWlllIc there has Deem cOISluerdDle aGltatlon
in union circles, and excuses have been sought
for organizing movement which should empha-
size the hostility of union toward non-unon men,
and result in driving the latter out altogether.
This excuse was found in the proposed revision
of time and rate schedules under the control OF
the Building Trades Council. Attached 10 the
demands made in behalf Of the Carpenters
Union was requirement. that all nOn-union men
should be dismissed. 1t is alleged by Of the
union officials that the Fair managers have not
lived up TO their agreements in the matter OF
adjusting difficulties By arbitration, but specific
instances of failure in this direction are not
indicated thus far.
Eight o'clock this morning was the hour fixed
for the opening Of the strike, and promptly on
time the walking delegates appeared among the
groups of workmen There was evident reluctance
on the part of many 10 obey the orders of tho
Building Trades Council but gradually the ranks
OF the strikers were swellcd, until by o'clock
about 1000 had quit work The men retired
peacefully from the grounds AMI no disturbances
OF serious character reported. few
single encounters were noted here and there, In
cases where some union man, more CONSERVATIVE
than his fellows, hesitated to obey the orders OF
the union chiefs.
A meeting of representatives Of each Of the
building trades identified with the strike and in
| oluded in the council followed by confer
cnoe between a committee of the labor leaders
and the Council OF Administration on behalf of
tho Exposition authorities
TIE session OF the two committees this after1
noon was 2 long one and both sides Of the trouble
were Thoroughly discussed. Director OF Works
Burnham proved 10 President Russell, of the
Building Trades Council that the building trades
had agreed, when work the Fair was begun,
that union and non-uniOn men should work to-
grther without discrimination. President Russell
finally acknowledged that in that one particular
the building trades We're in the wrong
The following document was then drawn up
by George V. Massey. and was signed by the EX-
ecutve Committee Of the Building Trades:
Whereas In a conference held this day between tho
Executive OF the Building Trades Council and
the Council OF Administration the Worlds Columbian
Exposition IL alleged and suggested that, In tbs
employment workmen in the several trades represented
ly said Executive Committee for work under the direct
charge and supervision Of said Exposition Company, dis.
crmnation hod been made against representatives OF
organized labor: and
Wherea. such allegations If well foundcd) suggest
condition contrary Ia the Views and purposes of this
Council, and Ito Works. and in order that its
view, and policy in behalf be clearly declared
and definitely understood, 1t is by said Council
Received, That in the employment OF workmen or
a trades represented BY said Executive
Committee for performance OF work under the direct
charge and supervision Of the Worlds Columbian Expos
ton OF union or organized labor shall DO
entitled equal consideration with those Of nonunon
labor; and that workmen heretofore employed by
said Exposition Company who have this day gone ous
on strike shall not be refused employment hereafter
on that account, being the express purpose
Of Council that organized labor, as such'
shall not be- Disseminated against; and,
Resolved further That there shall be paid to every
artisan employed by the Exposition Company at least
the minimum Of prescribed for the trade In
which he Is employed and,
hat rpDrp
delegate OF each OF trades shall be furnished with
pass emitting him to free admission 10 the grounds. and
shall have right confer with the workmcn Of his
trade all times provided such conference shall not
materially interfere with or retard the work
Resolved further That the concessions made in and BY
the oi iegoing resolutions made with the dstinct
understanding that they shall be accepted by said Ex.
ccutive Committee full settlement and solution Of
the prsent CONTROVERSY that the gone
OH strike shall work at and that the pro-
visions stipulatons of sad resolutions shall continue
in force and operative during the whole period OF
exposition.
The strike was then declared of, and President
Russell promised that the should return to
work tomorrow morning a. il nothing had hap
penct Delegates will be stationed outside the
grounds to instruct the men to go back, but not
TO allow the men working for those contractors
who have not signed the new scale to resume
work.
The meeting broke mp in a friendly manner, tho
Delegates shaking hands with President Illggin-
botham and Dircctor-of-WOrks Burnham.
The walking delegates this morning were strung
along the Exposition grounds from SiXty-seventh-
st. to FiftysiXth-st, in regular picket line forma-
ton. George Cary, the president of the Bridge
Workers Union, was marshal of the forces Each
side street leading to the grounds was piclSeted
on both sidewalks TO make the canvass Of in
coming workers as complete as possible
Are you union man? ?" was the question
asked of each dnner-pail and If the answer was
in the affirmative the order of the council was
communicated. Few union disobeyed tho
command. II the subject of examination proved
to he a non-unon man, a short statement Of tho
condition of affairs was given and his member
shin in the union was solicited. No threats were
made of bodily harm if he showed an inclination
to proceed to work.
IA the hour approached o'clock the delegates