The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-11
President Higginbotham Says the
Natter In Dispute Was Settled Two
Years Ago.

c0rnlce workers. SreamnCUefS, gaSntr6rS,
electrical workers, tile workers, mosaic
workers, fresco painters, fathers, hoist
ing engineers. marble cutters. gravel.
roofers, and other smaller trades. The
bricklayers, stonecutters and plasterers
are not involved
Claim Broken Faith.
The men claim that the council of adj
ministration of the worlds fair has
broken faith with the allied trades upon
the arbitration question, and that the
outlook Is for further violations Of
agreement on other points. Consider
able correspondence has passed between
the officials of the trades union and the
worlds fair authorities, and the result
being unsatisfactory an order was is
sued for the men TO strike.
Everything Was Orderly.
Early in the morning the men began
to gather at the entrance to the worlds
fair grounds, but few Of them passed
through thd gates. Instead they formed
in groups at each of the entrances, and
as fast as workmen approached they
were taken in hand by the pickets and
asked to refrain from going to work.
The importunities of the strikers were
generally successful and only small
percentage of the thousands Of me-
chanics employed in the construction
OF the Nv hite City" began their daily
tasks when the whistles blew for the
commencement OF work There was no
violence whatever, and beyond an occa-
sional muttered threat there was no
Indication OF any.
Expected a Speedy Settlement.
The men had brought their kits Of
tools with them in anticipation of q
speedy settlement of the d fficulty and
most of them sat quietly around dis
cussing the situation, leaving the work
of negotiation to their leaders. The
pickets were scattered up and down the
streets for several blocks and each man
as he approached was quickly apprised
of the situation and asked to stay out.
side the grounds. In most cases the re-
quest was needed and the new conner
Joined the groups on hesidewalks. The
force of police and Columbian guards
which had been held in readiness had
nothing to do beyond keeping the gate
way always clear.
Probably 70 per cent Of the trades in
terested did not go to work. and many
men of other trades who were not di-
rectly interested, knocked off work to
await the result of the trouble. In ad-
dition to these it was said that most Of
the non-un,on men and railroaders were
ready to quit il the strike was not
speedily settled.
Invited to q Conference.
At 10 o'clock, however, a messenger
came from the administration building
of the worlds fair inviting the repre-
sentatives of the strikers to confer
ence. The invitation was at once
accepted, and forenoon wore on
with the men ieiI * and smoking on
the outside while their leaders were
closeted with the council of administra-
ton.
HigginDotham Not Dismayed.
President Higginbotham was not in
the least dismayed when he heard the
men had gone ont. He said he was
sorry that the men had determined to
60 out, but the fair was q gigantic
enterprise which no labor strike could
seriously affect. Every place would be
filled and that soon. The question Of
employment Of union labor only, which
the building trades council wanted to
reopen, President Higginbotham said,
was permanently settled two years ago,
when it was agreed between the
council and the fair officials that there
should be no Discrimination that
union and non-union men should be en-
ployed alike. Now. 90 days before the
completion of the fair. the council asks
to have the matter arbitrated on as il it
were new subject. He thought the
work would not be greatly delayed, but
II it should be the people would know
where to place the blame. He antici-
pated no rioting, no bloodshed. The
fair had ample police protection and
work would be pushed.
Electrical workers Join.
As the representatives of the strikers
went into the grounds they were met
by the electrical workers, to the num-
Der Of 1850, who had decided to quit
work and who were leaving the
grounds. They passed on to the outside
Of the big fence and mingled with the
crowd already cnllActAd th@rs. AZ tho