The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-19
MOLINE.
HG~The board of highway commission
Al . ct

B9rThe board of highway commission
ers were in session this afternoon.
gGSeryices at all the churches to NOR
row, except the st. Anthonys lCathollc) on
account Of the absence of Father Greve.
DG~The Sugar Hollow bridge, will be
commenced at once. Mayor Weelock
says the city will go ahead without regard
to opposition.
D9rThe Moline Rifles met last evening
at treja Hall. Jerome B. Magill, was elec-
ted captain by acclamation and w. X. Oy-
ler, first lieuten ant
HS~ -Four tramps registered at the police
headquarters this morning: Edward Goff-
egan. 80, Canada; Chas. CLARK, 36, Irish;
Frank Skidmore, AZ, Penna; Chas. Quinn,
Is, ireland, Bounced.
n1Work will be resumed in the mould
ing department of the Union Malleable
Iron Works early next week. The new
cupola is being put in place under dlrec,
ton OF the patentee, Mr.. Blakeney, OF
Springfield, Ohio.
| The Moulders' Strike.
AS was expected, the Union comes to
the rescue of Deere & Co., and undertakes
to justify the recent reduction IN wages.
The Union has always been on the side OF
capital as against labor and its article this
morning is but a continuation OF Its old
policy to favor the money kings, Instead
OF the toiling millions. The statements In
that paper this morning are explicitly de.
MED by the moulders, who say that 1t is
impossible for any workman, even ii
assisted by boy, as suggested, to turn out
Is wheels per day. 1t is also untrue that
the mohlders were offered Internationally
$3.50 per day. They were offered that
amount, but only with the proviso that 8
wheels per day should be made, otherwise
no workman could get the wages promised ;
and that was an advance OF only Il cents
per wheel. The Union also acknowledges
that the object of the reduction was to
make the boys pay for that new moulding
shop" There can be no justification in
this course. 1t simply shows the mer'
cenary motives Of employer as against
employe and fully illustrates the efforts OF
capital to control labor. The moulder:
are hard working men, probably no branch
, 10 the shop is more laborious or more in
furious to health than this particular lint
of work, and at so cents per wheel they
are only fairly paid tor their labor. TIL,
t moulders deny that any firm in Molin,
pays So SO per day, uncondittoholly, ant
say they will stick it out to the last
. Whether it is best for them to do so TIL
? ARGUS does not pretend to say; that is
matter to be governed by their circum
stances and future prospects, and OF whicI
/ they alone must judge. But THE ARGU
does say that the course of Deere 4 u
seems iEberal and oppressive.
This is the third time "a reduction ha
been made and in no case has 1t been ne'
6 essary, unless it be desire to grind tn
G heel OF oppression on the necks OF th
q poor and force the mechanics to accel
y their terms or stdrue. Suppose m
chanic does earn $4 or even $5 per da,
has he not the same right to prosper {
the capitalist ? Ii there had been an III
e expected increase in the prices of mate
y ials the case would be different; as it
= however, the reverse is the case; iron an
steel is lower now than for years, and y
Deere Il Co. maintain the old high pric
for plows and cultivators. If the prlc
IS were reduced in accordance with the r
reduction in labor, so that the farnle
S. would receive the benefit, then the NJ
chanic could not complain, but it is not
and is not likely to be so. The whole ma
ter is an unjust attempt to force employ
nt to pay for improvements. The Union c.
attempt to defend this course, and m
continue to take the side of capitals
and monopolists as against the hard wor
y ing mechanic, but it cannot Justify the ;
~ ton of Deere & Co. for reducing the wag
for 35 to so per cent when there exl;
no real reason for so doing,