New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19
CHICAGO LABOR TROUBLES.
4 STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY IN THE
BUILDING TRADES.
THIRTY THOUSAND NOW ON STRIKE
AGAINST NEW RULES-TwENTY THOU
SAND MORE MAY FOLLOW.


AGAINST NEW RULEs-TwENTy THOU
SAND MORE MAY FOLLOW.
Chicago Feb. is (speciaD-Confronted with
great labor war. which has turned thousands
of workmen into the streets and completely tied
up building operations. this city is beginning
to fear repetition of the troublous times at
tending the giant railway strike of 1894. Re
quests for police protection being received
every day from contractors and manufacturers
by Chief OF Police Ripley. and reserve forces OF
policemen are kept at the various stations day
and night. Since Chief Ripley, who had gone
away for a three weeks vacation, was hurriedly
recalled from the police dinner at New-York
two weeks ago by a telegram from Mayor Har-
rtson. he has not had opportunity to leave
the city because OF the serious situation.
IT is struggle TO determine who shall control
the building industry of Chicago, the labor
unions the contractors. Not satisfied with
obtaining the wages and hours asked for, the al
lied unions OF the various trades engaged in the
erection of buildings used their growing power
20 dictate a limitation the amount of work
man should Go in eight hour day; they placed
a restriction the building material which
should be allowed to enter the Chicago market:
they restricted the use of machinery so as TO
give more work to union men: and. to enforce
these and other exactions, they harassed the
contractors with numerous sympathetic strikes,
which entailed many aggravating and expensive
delays. The contractors decided to remedy
these conditions before starting on another year
Of building. and after oVertures for arbitration
had been ignored by the unions the contractors
united in formulating new rules to govern the
workmen. The labor men quit work rather than
follow the new rules. and both sides have
pressed their determination TO fight it to
finish.
There are 10000 union men and $500
tractors involved IN the struggle. In addition
to these there are 10000 workmen in the Chi
cago mills and factories where the material for
buildings is prepared who are indirectly affected.
making a total Of $4,000. The men in the ma
terial trades unions have voted to stand by the
strikers. and this may result in their being
thrown out Of employment also. The material
men have refused to work on any material TO
be furnished to jobs where non-union men are
put in the place of the strikers. and in this way
have embarrassed the contractors. The latter
declare, however. that Chicago is now an open
market for material. and IL the local manu-
farturers allow union dictation to hold back
their material they will purchase outside.
NoN-UNIoN MEN BROUGHT IN.
With 10000 unemployed men walking the
streets. and the possibility Of this number be-
ing increased TO $4,000. tbs contractors
bringing in large numbers of non-union men
from neighboriug cities to carry on the urgent
work. The non-union headquarters have already
been the objective point for crowds Of angry
strikers. despite the police guard at the
trance. Serious clashes may take place at any
time.
Vast interests are badly affected by the paral-
ysis OF the building industry. Conservative
Inmates place the amount OF money involved in
the tieup at 100000. Furthermore, the ef-
feet has been to bring ali real estate business
practically 10 a standstil- Investors are hold
ing back contracts amounting TO large sums
until some permanent settlement Of the diff
culties has been reached.
It is estimated that the capital involved is
distributed follows:
Buildings being constructed value. $40 900 600
Contracts under consideration ........... 100000.
Weekly wage earnings 100000
The enormous extent to which building inter
ests nave suffered In Chicago under prevail
ing labor conditions Is shown by comparison
with other cities and with local conditions in
other years. The embarrassing exactions of
labor and the frequent delays from sympathetic
strikes and other troubles had inundated cap
ital and retarded building for year past The
falling OF In building in 1899 was particularly
marked when compared with the record in other
cities. Contractors and others interested found
that in nearly every large city of the country
except in Chicago there was an appreciable in
crease in the amount Of building operations In
New-York (Manhattan and The BRONX the in
crease was near 81 per cent; IN Brooklyn, per
cent; In Cleveland, 6S per cent; in Cincinnati
81 per cent: In Minneapolis 20 per cent, and In
St Paul, SO per cent
CHICAGO'S BAD BUILDING SEASON
Inc RECORDS sho" tnat the season just closed
was the worst the building Industry has expert
ehceo IN chicago TOT ten years. There was not
"he-lhlro as fnhen building done as during the
year preceding the worlds Fair. The record is
follows
Number.
1886 S21, 1877 $50
3s40 q, 246 666
ZOE 62O4 21,777 $50
6444 %, 100 SIS
S633 IS 0l0,
Qge AK