The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-30


Alderman Shallene for fighting. Fined
S. and costs. No mouey, and was re-
turned to the calaboose
B2rThe fire alarm was sounded this
morning, but the blaze, which was 10 a
house occupied by Geo. sWoodward on
Wells street, was extinguished with pals
before the engine arrived. No serious
damage done.
19~The FIRE engine works satisfactorily
at the cisterns, but being slightly out of
repair, it will not draw water at distance
OF 10 or l2 feet as it was expected to do
at the fire last Friday The only persons
responsible for its useless condition are the
FIRE committee.
HGFThe new militia company met at
the Reese House last Saturday evening to
perfect their organization, So much else
was going on, however, that there was not
tuil attendance and another meeting will
be held at the same place Thursday even
ing OF this week. 10 the meantime, those i
who have not done so, are requested to |
call at Wheelock bakery and sign their |
papers.
Workmen's Mass n Getting.
last Saturday evening the strikers held |
meeting al. .Freia Hall and invited the
employees of Buford & Co.'S plow shop,
Rock Island, and those of the Moline PIow
Cos works. An effort was made to get an
able speaker to address the meeting, but
those who were accustomed to speak in
public, in view of the excited condition of
the public mind, were apparently afraid
to trust themselves before such an aud
ience, consequently no speaker was secured,
and the meeting was thrown upon its own
resources. One gentleman from RCck
| Island, E. A. White, was called upon and
made quite lengthy argument upon the
| financial question. His ideas were good,
aud tolerably well delivered; but the pulse
OF the meeting was not in condition to
receive or retain abstracts and dry state
ments and figures. Several others made
brief remarks. the Rock Island men
pledging their sympathy and support for
the strikers. The following resolutions
we're passed, after which thel meeting ad-
jourued to o'clock this morning:
WHEREAS, We the citizens of Moline,
| ILL.,, do hereby condemn the present system
of convict labor, as practiced 10 our peni-
4 tentiaries at present; and
WHEREAS, The present system of con-
Wet labor is detrimental to the community
at large, and especially to the working
classes. therefore.
Resolved That the working men Of
Moline do all in their power to abolish the
contract system, aud we ask of our pres
ent Legislature a revision of the present
statutes regulating prison labor.
ReSotUed, That we, the workingmen. Of
Moline, favor the election Of parties
friendly to the above resolutions.
! (Signed) WORKDIEN OF MOLINE, ILL.,
a Card From Deere & Company.
To our Employees:
We are 10 receipt of communication
signed g. S. Cornwall and others, as fol-
lows:
We understand that shipments have been made
from your establishment. In our opinion this is
not in accordance with your promise TO US, and
we respectfully ask that this be discontinued:
And in reply would say we have made
no promise that all business shall cease at
our works for any specified length of time.
We stated that there was no object in our
running our shops for the present. and
would remain shut down for time or until
prospects improved; and this should be
said 10 justice to all concerned. We have
not supposed that our men wished to be
considered discharged from our employ,
but that few days Of intermission we're
needed for the unnatural excitement to
subside; nor have they any reason TO be-
lieve that our friendly feelings towards
them have changed. We have always be-
lieved that our men consider themselves a
part of this establishment. and take as
much interest and pride in the success of
the business as do the officers and stock
holders themselves, and, if correct, the
present is an unnatural attitude for both
parties.
For our part we cannot consent to be
placed in the position of enemies engaged
10 a conflict, or under siege, or negotiating
for surrender. Nor do We suppose that
our men wish to be considered and treated
with as hostile organization. Yet, such
is their apparent attitude. They come to
US as a body, represented by a committee,
, and not as individuals and friends, acknowl-
edging our mutual dependence and to con-
, suit as to our mutual interests for the fu-
ture. This latter, it seems to US, is the
only way that employer and employe can
meet.
We may have enemies outside the shop.
. but none in. We are at our usual place of
a business daily, ready to receive and talk
with our men as individuals, but cannot
, confer with them as hostile organization,
dUu VI OAI prosperous LOl3tAohS
q with each other are to be resumed it can
only be in this way and as friends.
q Very respectfully and truly yours.
: DEERE Il COMPANY.
The Strike Virtually Settled. Deere q
9 Co. Propose a Compromise. The
Matter Left to the Honor Of
Deere & Co.
!, The strikers met this morning at
+ O'Clock. and immediately adjourned for an
hour, to await the result of an interview
: between their committee and Deere Il Co
q At IL o'clock the committee returned
a and submitted the following proposition,
received from Gilpin Moore and G. @.
!. Mason, viz: That the men go to work to.
morrow morning without any specific
- promise as regards wages, and trust to ouI
honor to satisfactorily adjust the wages
= with them individually, which we promise
: to do; and. at the end of two weeks, il
!, every thi0gis not satisfactory, call another
meeting and let the strike continue.
The president, L. Beers, strongly recon.
mended the acceptance of this proposition;
e said that be was satisfied that they would
'e never receive better offer from the frm;
n that the company were desirous OF com
& promise. but their pride would forbid oi
d their coming out squarely and allowing
ltheIr employees to dictate terms to them;