The morning call., 1893-04-11
BEGUN AND ENDED.
Story Of the Worlds Fair
Strike.
ORDERED BY LABOR LEADERS.
The Result Is That Men Not in Unions
Have Still the Right to
Work.
ORDERED BY LABOR LEADERS.



the men who walked cut this morning will
walk back again tomorrow morning, and
ninety one out OF every hundred of them
will work for the same wages and work the
same number of hours as before the strike.
For the first time since its inception
organized labor came squarely in contact
with the United States Government and
while all questions of wages were satisfac-
toriIy settled the right of the employer to
use non-union or union men and the right
Of the men to be in the ranks OF organized
labor or without them was Insisted upon by
the representatives of the National Govern
ment and acknowledged by the union men
themselves.
For twelve hours to-day the results of the
painstaking expenditure of more than
$4,000. eco, the good name of a mighty na-
tion and its pledges 10 the nations of the
earth were imperled and endangered, while
the men who reaped the benefits of the
expenditure of that money argued with the
men who controlled it over the question of
cents an hour and the right of men to
think and act as they please within the law
II took cool heads and temperate blood to
guide the dispute to a peaceful issue. but
fortunately these elements were not lacking.
1t was 10 o'clock tonight when the meet
ing between the council of administration
and the representatives Of the Building
Trades Council came TO an agreement,
which is to continue throughout the entire
period of the exposition, and under which
further trouble seems to be impossible
The men have received the formal conces-
sion of the minimum rate of wages and have
yielded TO the demands of the exposition
officials that they may employ any man
whether he be or whether he be not men,
ber OF any labor organization.
The first step looking toward peace was
made this afternoon when committee of
the strikers submitted to the council of ad-
ministraton proposition 10 arbitrate on
April 12- The council was in session and
promptly returned an answer. II was to
the effect that it was prepared to meet the
men at once.
To this the committee agreed, aud the re-
suit was lengthy meeting. All the points
in the case were gone into and at 10 o'clock
Tonight the council presented to the execu-
tive committee of the strikers resolutions
declaring that in the employment Of work
men or artisans the representatives Of union
or organized labor shall be entitled to equal
consideration with non-union men, and that
the workingmen heretofore employed who
to-day struck shall not be refused employ
ment hereafter on that account it being the
expressed purpose of the council that organ
ized labor a such shall not be Disseminated
against; and further. that there shall be
paid TO every artisan employed at least the
minimum rate Of wages prescribed for his
trade
These concessions were made with the
distinct understanding that they be accepted
by the executive committee as a full settle
ment aud solution Of the present contro-
EeTsy; that the men who have gone on a
strike shall return to work al once, and that
the provisions and stipulations of said reso-
lutions shall continue in force and be opera
tive during the whole period OF the exposi-
tion.
These resolutions were al once signed by
all the members of the strikers executive
committee, representing 5000 or 5000 labor
ing men. and the trouble was over.
1t was a close call for the exposition, not
only for its opening but for its success. The
work Of the men who struck to-day is
nearly over, and while they could not have
ruined the fair they might, by stopping
work, have so delayed matters that the ex-
position might not have been in complete
readiness by the 1st of August.
There was great relief expressed on both
sides when the thing was over, for both
alike were fearful of the weight Of public
opinion which would fall upon the party
that opposed or obstructed the success of
the exposition.
The strike to-day was an attempt to
uniOnize the fair, neither more nor less
than that. The sbor leaders claimed that
the fair authorities had not kept faith with
them because they had refused to consider
the making of n new arrangement, in the
face of the fact that majority of the con-
tractors employed by the exposition had
already made arrangements with the men
entirely satisfactory to them.
Two years ago, when the labor representa-
tiYes made a demand that none but union
men should be employed at the fair they
were asked If they could guarantee that the
unions could furnish enough men at all
times 10 enable the work TO be prosecuted
without delay. After taking an account of
stock they were forced to confess that the
unions were not strong enough to furnish all
the men the exposition mightrequire. They
were then informed by the national COM
mission that the Government could not and
would not discriminate against men be-
cause they were or were not members of
labor organizations. This ended the argu-
ment on the union question, and the matter
was dropped until two weeks ago. when
the unions put in demand that all nom
union men be discharged. This was refused.
and then the trouble began which eliminated
In to-day's strike. 1t was strike of labur
leaders and not a strike of men. The vast
majority Of the men were unwilling to
strike, and only went out when ordered by
the walking delegates, and most of them
went out very unwillingy. There were
several quarrels and numerous minor fights
during the day. but nothing Of a serIous
nature occurred.
The conference between the council nj
administration and the committee was en-
tireIy friendly, and only once did matters
look dark and that was before the confer
euce, when Mr.. Russell. representing the
strikers, approached with his pro; osal for
arbitration. Russell was met with the
reply that the council could not and would
not discuss proposition to employ none
but union men.
Mr. Massey OF the national commission ia
also mem Der Of the council, and said that
the law OF the United States bearing on the
freedom Of contract forbade him. in his
capacity as a Government officer. to vote
Tor anything that Involved a discrimination
between citizens because they were union
or non-union men.
Commissioner Massey further asked Rus
sell whether he had stopped to consider the
very unpleasant position the union assumed
when II laid itself liable to charge of con-
spiracy, not only against the State and
national law, but against the treaty laws
prevailing between the United States and
foreign countries represented In the park.
This seemed q new thought TO the labor
leader. and after conference with Presi-
dent Cogswel and other representatives
there was no delay in concluding the con-
ference
ORDERED TO STRIKE.
The Men Quit Work. but There Was
Little Disturbance.