The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-10
There Have Been Frequent Strikes Of
Small Size In the Past.
NOW The DISAPFECTED COMBINE
The Trouble Will Cause a Great Delay I'm
the Work aud May Prevent the Open
Ing The Management Take Things
Calmly and says It's All Right-No
Fear of Violence Expressed-Guards
May Strike Also.

CHICAGO. April 10-About 1000 work
men employed by the Worlds fair
managers struck work this morning.
Very few workmen are at work at the
fair grounds today.
AT meeting held yesterday it was de-
cided to strike at o'clock this morning
unless union laborers alone were en-
ployed at Jackson park. When the
workmen appeared at the park this
morning they were informed that the
managers Of the Fair would not accede to
their demands and the strike was inau.
gurated.
The strikers claim that the managers
of the Fair broke their agreement. In
addition to the fact that non-union
workmen are employed the carpenters
have another grievance. They claim
they are paid less than other men in that
trade and demand an increase of cents
an hour. Most OF the strikers are car
penters. there being fully 1900 engaged
In the stfike.
The workmen are gathered around the
grounds discussing the affair and trying
to induce the men who are working to
quit and join the ranks OF the strikers
Unless compromise is effected at
once the strike will leave the fair man
ayers In very bad shape. for even under
the most favor ,ble circumstances the
fair will not be complete on May l.
Laborng men have been much in
N
crease Of wages in every direction at
Jackson park, and they have figur d il
out that general strike would probably
result In tn ir getting almost anything
they demanded. Small strikes have been
OF daily occurIenct. Many OF the m were
ordered without authority OF the organ
izations controlling the laborers.
There were
Dozen or More Strikes
Saturday at jackson park. The most
important was in the work being done by
the New York Insulated Wire company.
The foremen, forty in number, Quit be-
cause they we're not paid As cents The
company granted their demand once and
then rsfused ii. When the foremen ouit
Eearly 400 men under taem had to SION
also.
Twenty-Five machinists in Machiner Y
hall struck Saturday for 40 cents an
hour. They had been getting 80 aud 35
Nearly all the carpenters employed In ,
putting up pavilions in Electricity hall
also quit.
There is work at jackson park for
5000 more carpenters than are now en-
ployed: Signs reading, Carpenters
wanted. forty cents per hour" are posted
on scores OF buildings In jackson park.
Trouble Arises
from two sources-the employment of
uon-union men and dispute over wages.
When the first trouble between the union
men and the exposition authorities
broke out two years ago the labor leaders
submitted their demands. These were |
eight hLurs for a days work, the arbi ra- |
tration or al differences, the adoption of |
minimum scale of wages and pledge |
that none but union meu should be en- |
ployed.
After n series OF conferences the ex- |
position authorities a sreed to the eight |
hours aud the arbitration demand, but
refused TO agree To employ oaly union =
men or adopt The minimum scale. The
labor leaders finally agreed To this and |
everyt hing went on smoothly until within
few weeks, when the union men agaiu
presented their demands and insisted
upon their being allowed.
A general strike will stop preparations
for the oIening, aud when Mr.. Cleveland
gets here on May he will find every.
thing in confusion unless matters are
fixed up in "A very short time
President Harlow n. Higinbothsm
talks as though he did not fear any Sc
rious results from a general strike, but il
was plain TO be seen that he was much
disturbed.
"We shall let them go. We have had
many conferences with them and have
told them that we cannot accede TO their
demands"
But what will you do ~
Get other men TO take their places"
do you think you can get the men
good, competent men 2"
'On, yes, L guess So
There Is much dissatisfaction among |
the me bers of the Columbian Guard |
some OF whom say they are ready to 20
Dut IL they can make anything by IL.
Iney are IN the employ of The govern
ment and cannot 10 Ou a strike, for tnat
would be desertion, and in such cass the |
woulI be harhly dealt with
ny the government. The Columbian |
Juards say tLey dUn't get pay enough.
This serves TO snow Jhat the strike
ever has taKen badly at the fair
grounds. Some OF the railroad men at
'ne fair grounds, including switchmen.
switch tenders, engineers and
say they will cfeerfuily obey an
,rder T. quit work at an a e.