Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-11
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
Scenes and Incidents OF the Big Uprising
of Labor at the Fair.

CHICAGO, April 10.-At the most
critical time possible for the Worlds
Fair, the big exposition to-day en-
countered its first great strike.
thousand men quit work this morning
with prospect that 1900 more might
Join In the stampede before night. The
stoppage Of work was the elimination
OF much controversy over what Is
claimed to be an agreement between the
Worlds Fair officials and the represent
ative of union labor, by which all dis
putes were to be settled by arbitration.
The men contend that some OF the
exposition officials have recently shown
disposition, now that the fair Is near
ly completed, to deny point blank any
thing asked. To-day was named by the
agents of the Building Trades Council
as the final time at which arbitration
must be assented to II a strike was to
be averted. The trades affected are
the carpenters, painters, ornamental
iron workers, bod carriers, tin and
sheet iron workers, cornice workers,
steam and gas filters, electrical work.
ers, tile workers, mosaic workers, lath-
ers. gas and electrical fixture hangers,
cement finishers, fresco painters, hoist
ing engineers. marble cutters, gravel
roofers and other small trades. The
bricklayers, stonecutters and skaters
are not involved.
Early this morning the emmissaries
detailed to spread the news OF the order
for general strike at Jackson Park, as
issued by the Building Trades Council,
late last night, were at hand at the vari-
Gus entrances TO the fair grounds. The
delegates were quickly strung along the
fence from Sixty-seventh to Fifty-sixth
street, in regular picket line formation.
George Gary. the president OF the
Bridge Workers Union, was marshal OF
the forces, and with the willing assis-
tants, his work Of detailing was well
done. Each side street leading to the
grounds was picketed on both sidewalks
10 make the canvass OF incoming work
ers as complete as possible.
"Are you a union man?" was the ques-
ton each dinner pail carrier was button
holed with, and IL the answer was In the
affirmative, the order of the council was
communicated. Very few union men
disobeyed the order. II the subject OF
examination proved to be non-union
man, a short statement OF the affairs
was given, and his membership In the
union solicited. No threats were made
OF bodily harm II he showed an inclina-
ton 20 proceed to work.
As the hour OF o'clock approached
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
menl" or some such salutaton TO attract
attention. Stump speeches on their
grievances became the order OF the
moment and more recruits were added
to the ranks. At 7:45 o'clock a party OF
half dozen delegates started in az the
Sixty-fifth' street gate to make tour OF
the grounds. They walked rapidly, aud
by the time the transportation, cold
storage, electricity, mining, administra-
tion, agricultural and machinery build
ings had been passed, the party, aug
mented to nearly 200. brought up at the
| liheral arts building.