New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-12
CUTC1GO GRAB-G Il MES.

Tbrough all the contradictory statements
about the short-lvcd strike at Chicago one TACT
stands ont which sufficcS to determine the
merit, Of the controversy, and which Is no
LONGER disputrd The strike was mainly caused
nv y demand that non-unon workmen. who
have been employed from the inception OF the
works should be discharged From the first
the union workmcn have known that the man
apcmcnt would not grant this demand, nod
;ny that il had m legal right to do so, and with
pfrfcct understanding of this tho union. men
have continued to work on the various build
mos and TO receive the high wages paid for
work there. II seems to have been admitted
on behalf of the unions that this demand was
n violation of definite agreement and 1t was
certainly a strange disregard Of the good faith
which should govern the action OF men VINO
have rcapcd large advantages from the patriotic
undertaking.
The prcmrt termination Of the strike rs re-
spcc,s the Official management of the ExpoSi-
,ion does not remove the whole difficulty, as
there are vet unsettled controversies between
various contractors and the unions. But IN
those the individual interests of the contractors
are AT stake and it is reported that they nave
been demanding and cXtorting from the man
occmcn, better terms in order TO realize higher
profits. which profits the wolkingmcn now want
70 share If this is the state of facts. the con
tractors probably will not hold out long, pro-
vidcd they can make any reasonable agreement
The speedy settlement between the unions ana
the management reflects more credit upon the
leaders Of rho organizations than they nj hrS'
appcaIcd 70 deserve and warrants the hope that
fair ferns will be offered in the other c)ntro-
vcr.ics so that the great work can be com
pletcd without delay. onc important cause oi
the demands recently made by the workers it
is said. is the rapid advance in the cost of
living at Chicago. They claim that rents and
rates of board have advanced already 80 I'M
reasonably. and will advance > much more be-
fore the Exposition opens that they require
higher wages in order TO make living. ms
a0Olds with the statements recently made by
, correspondent who showed how the grasplng
spirit of ChicIgo landlord, and boarding house
keepers was preparing TO fleece the pubic dur
ing the Fair 1t is a pity that one of the great
American cities cannot on such patriotic occa-
sion offer decent and reasonable entertainment
70 the multtudcs who will visit the Exposition.
Probably the injustice done 10 others by Chi
cage people Will rccol severely upon themselves
in the end. For their performances, it Is al
ready evident tend 10 fore up the wages OF
labor. 70 render all services and all production
more silly. ard 80 to infict great injury upon
Chicago as place of business or a centre
Of industry.
Those who know how hard it i to scale down
-,agcs rents and prices. after such season OF
unnatural and wild initiation, will not find it
difficult t. believe that n graSping spirit this
summer will cost Chicago in the end much more
than il will realize in increased profits. Labor
will insist upon lis share of the plumber, most
properly. and will continue 10 make Chicago
people pay higher wages long after the cost
of living ha, been reduced. The wrong is one
which is likely to bring with it and after it
a severe rctribution. But 1t is none the less
one which ought to have been prevented by 4
city :, generously sustained by public funds,
and which should at least be held in check, for
the sake of the millions who wish TO share the
benefits and the educational advantages OF an
Exposition largely promoted by the money Of
the people.