Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1893 — SHORT-LIVED STRIKE. [ARTICLE]

SHORT-LIVED STRIKE.

WORLD’S FAIR LABOR LEADERS ARE SATISFIED. Exposition Official! Grant a Minimum Rate of Wages and Pass Walking Delegates— Make No Distinction Between Union and Non-Union. Work Goes Merrily O:i. Twelve hours saw the beginning and the peaceful ending of a strike at the World’s Fair that involved all union workmen within the,gates, to the number of four thousand or more, and imperiled the successful opening of the Exposition. The. settlement satisfied the laborers and the Exposition authorities arid- was effected in a conference that lasted nearly all day, with short intervals for consultation on both sides. By its terms the union men gain a minimum rate of wages, are allowed passes for their delegates, with the privilege of entering the grounds and talking with their tradesmen at any time. The Exposition gains its contention that no discrimination should be made as between union and nonunion labor.

In obedience to the order of the Building Trades Council, 4,000 union mechanics employed at the World’s Fair grounds quit work—or rather failed to go to work —at 8 o’clock Monday morning. The trades represented were the carpenters, painters, ornamental ironworkers, hodcarriers, tin and sheet iron-wbrkers, cornice-workers, steamfitters. gasfitters,, electrical workers, tile workers, mosaic-workers, lathers, gas and electrical fixture-hangers, ce-ment-finishers, fresco-painters, hoisting engineers, marble-cutters, giavelroofers and other smaller trades. At 10 o’clock 1,500 electrical workers joined the strikers. The bricklayers, stonecutters, and plasterers were not involved. For some time there was no violence and the men confined themselves to growling and to making stump speeches at which they were listened to by small crowds of workmen. At 8 o’clock half a dozen delegates entered the grounds and started to make a tour of the buildings. During the trip their numbers were increased until there was a long procession of the men. The leaders, fearing that the men might get into mischief, ordered them to disperse. This order was shown to be a wise one, as a few minutes later several of the strikers met some men who had recently been forced to join the union. These men were at work and the strikers ordered them to quit. They refused and a small fight was started. Some Columbian Guards came to the rescue and drove the strikers away. When this was reported to Mr. Burnham he gave prompt orders that all delegates found interfering with the workmen or trying to induce them to quit work should be put off the grounds. This order -was promptly put in force, and the patrol wagon was kept busy. It also prevented any trouble in the grounds. The men claimed that the council of administration of the World’s Fair had broken faith with the allied trades upon the arbitration question.