The morning call., 1893-11-04
A PUBLIC APPEAL.
The Labor Council on the
MidWinter Fair.
1t Adopts Report Showing the
Attitude of the Management
to the Unions.

The Labor Council met last evening al
its headquarters, 1133 Mission street.
Considerable indignation was expressed
by the council as whole and tie Typo
graphical and Musicians unions espe-
cially regarding the attitude toward them
of the management of the Midwinter
Fair.
The following report was presented bv
the committee appointed 10 investigate
the contracts given out by the executive
board of the fair, and was adopted by the
council:
To the Press, the Merchants and the Citizens
Of CdiffOTTlid-GE GENTLEMEN: The position as
sumed by The San Francisco Labor Council is
one which We regret as loyal ciIizeDS OF Cali
fornia but it is one into which we have been
forced in defense of our rights as taxpayers and
resident workers in the State.
When The idea OF Midwinter Exposition was
broached we recognized the harm such an
affair would do the resident workers II good
and sufficient safeguards were not erected. To
this end the Labor Council appointed a COM
mlttee 10 confer with the executive committee
OF the MidwinIer Fair, with Instructions To re-
quest that committee that California mechanics
be given the preference OF employment, and
that the recognized scale of wages and number
OF working hours per day be maintained.
Our requests were received and promised
with great apparent Willingness by the Mid
winter Fair executive committee, the members
of which assured our delegates that they would
pledge their Individual words 10 have their
promises kept to the letter.
Upon this understanding the Labor Council
and the various trades organizations OF the
Slate gave their hearty support TO he Mid
winter FAIR project, both morally and fnan-
clally,
Itis now proven by fact and word that the
executive committee of the fair has played US
false in every particular, The contractors re-
ceiVing tile awards for the fair buildings, with
the exception OF the Art building, have bros en
every rule and precedent governing working
hours and wages; they have refused to hire
California mechanics in preference 10 tramp
workers, aud their course has been upheld by
the executive committee OF the MldWlnter FAR.
We have made every possible effort 10 have
these abuses corrected In private way, so as
not 10 cause any public friction or distrust of
the fair, as we hoped II would help the pros
perity of the State III which we reside and earn
our living, but all in vain. Our protests have
be n d>regarded by the executive committee
of the fair, and we are told by the director
general that If We dare make any public COM
plaint trains Will be run from the East carrying
the idle OF every locality 10 dispace us and
further crowd the RANKS of the destitute In our
city. This, TOO, from the man VINO prated
loudly about his wish TO raise funds 10 aid the
unemployed men of San Francisco.
AS 10 the trade unions, thousands OF dollars
were subscribed by them and their members in
the belief that they were thus aiding their des
tituje brother woTknen.
WHAT is the result?
There are in this city 26OO union carpenters.
furniture-wOrke and other wOodworkers, of
which number fully 1900 are out of employ
ment, r0t one of whom has been given an
hours work on the fair buildings. or the men
employed, rs per cent are not residents OF San
Francisco and 80 per cent OF these are not resi-
dents of California, having been brought here
by advertisements In newspapers all over the
country.
Now, we ask you is this the course Of action
likely 10 prove a benefit 10 our State? Was it
10 bring a horde OF destitute wOrkngmeu to
our city that your money was subscribed?
Have not the members of the executive COM
mittee OF the MidwlDter Fair acted in manner
unworthy of honorable men or good citizens +?
Their excuse is that "wnen these promises
were given they were necessary TO promote the
fair; we are now in position 10 disregard
every objection you may raise" Do you In
dOrSe their stand?
Our cause is IN your hands We ask you to
consider this statement calmly and without
prejudice and 10 render US verdict IN accord
ance with the facts. Respectfully
SAN FRANCISCO LABOR COUNCIL.
The Musicians Union reported that it
had received letter from the Musicians
Union at Chicago stating that the Elgin
Watch Company Band, non- union band of
80 pieces, was under contract to come and
play at the Mid winter Fair. The union
had contributed about $1,000 in money and
services to the fair fund under promises
of employment, and this anticipated i'm
portatIon Of non-union musicians was re-
garded as great injustice.
The Typographical Union reported much
Indignation among its members regarding
the work of the fair management. A
large number of the members were out Of
work and the union was giving out meal
tickets and preparing to furnish lodgings
for its unemployed.
The Tallors' Union reported strike
against the firms of j. Nj. Litchfeld & Co.,
II Post street. aud Giuseppe NJ. PCstigli-
one, 207 Sutter street, for cutting wages
The question of the legal right of the union
members to remain in the neighborhOod of
the stores and walk on the sidewalk undis-
turbed by the police was referred to the
committee on law and legislation.
The Musicians Union reported trouble
with one of the theaterS, and the eXpecta-
tlon that the employment of non-union
musicians would soon be followed by the
breaking up of the company. The union
| also complained OF the hiring OF non-union
music by the Teamsters' Union for pic
mic next Sunday at Germania Gardens and
announced an intention of giving COM
peting picnic on that day.
The furniture-wOrkers declared boycott
against Brunswick. Bake 81 Collender.
billiard table makers, and the American
Bar-fxture Company.
David Lubin of Sacramento was invited
to appear at the next meeting to explain
his proposition looking toward the Gov
eminent acting as agent for the transpor-
tation of all farm produce in the same way
as it transports mail matter.
The programme of exercises to be in-
cluded in call to the labor convention, to
be held on February 20. 21 and % next.
was approved and ordered sent 20 tie
labor centers throughout the coast.
The action of the Council in connection
with the Farmers Alliance was heartily
ratified by several more unions, including
tha Tailors, and Rrewers' uniOns