The Portland daily press., 1893-04-11


Clubs Pretty Freely-At One Time, the
Strike Looked Pretty Serious-The
Auburn Difficulty.
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 10.-At the most
critical time possible for the Worlds
Fair, the big exposition today encounter
ed it's first great strike. A thousand
union men quit work, with a prospect
that 1000 more might join in the stam-
pede before night.
1t was the elimination Of much con-
troyersy over what is claimed to be an
agreement between the Worlds Fair
officials and the representatives OF union
labor by which all disputes between en-
ployers and employees on exposition work
we're to be settled by arbitration. The
men contend that some of the exposition
officials have recently shown a disposi-
ton. now that the Fair is nearly COM
pleted, to deny point blank anything
asked.
Today was named by the business
agents of the Building Trades Council
must be assented to if a strike was to be
averted. Early this morning the ennis
saries detailed to spread the news of the
order for general strike, as issued by
the Building Trades Council, were on
hand at the various entrances to the Fair
ground The delegates were quickly
Strung along the fence from Sixty-seventh
street to Fifth sixth street in regular
picket line formation. George Gary, the
president of the Bridge Workers Union,
was marshal of the forces, and with will
ing assistants his work of detailing was
well done. Each side street leading to
the grounds was picketed on both side
walks to make the canvass of incoming
workers as complete as possible.
s'Are youia union man?'' was the!ques-
ton each dinner-pail carrier was button
holed with, and if the answer was in the
affirmative the order of the Council was
communicated.
Very few union men disobeyed the Or
der. If the subject of examination
proved to be non-union man, short
statement of the condition of affairs was
given. and his membership in the union
solicited. No threats were made OF bod
iIy harm if he showed an inclination to
proceed to work.
AS the hour approached s o'clock the
delegates began some very lively work.
The men who had joined the strikers
now constituted themselves delegates.
Some mounted boxes at the gates and
shouted, Attention, union men," or
some such salutation to attract attention
Stump speeches of their grievances be-
came the order of the moment, and
more recruits were added to the ranks.
Dennis Healy, non-union carpenter. de
nounced the strike and was promptly
beaten into insensibility by Edward Nor
ris, union man.
By 9 o'clock about 1000 men, all told,
had quit work. An hour later 1900 cleo
trical workers went out. Decisive ac-
tion was taken by the construction de-
partment. and orders were issued to the
uniformed Columbus Guards to remove
delegates found actively soliciting men
to quit work. From that time on patrol
wagon calls were pretty frequent.
The prompt removal of agitators an
gered the crowds of men at the gates,
and great deal Of threatening talk was
INDUCED in. Numerous personal en-
counters occurred between strikers I'M
der the influence of liquor and non-union
men who showed disposition to go to
work. Finally squad of officers was
called out, who ordered the men to either
90 to work or leave the vicinity. The
latter order they were slow to obey, and
as a result several received some hard
raps from the officers clubs. After a
half hours work the men were forced
across the street.
When the strike was at it's height, fully
1000 men were out. At first the Worlds
Fair managers declined to treat with the
men, claiming that there was no ground
for controversy. Finally, the author
tiles deserted this position and late at
night reached terms which ended the
strike. The men will return to work to-
morrow.