Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-08
ONE POINT AT ISSUE
Pith of the Dispute at the Cres-
cent City.
N0N-UNION LABOR THE DIFFICULTY

The Strikers Demands Its Prescription
and the Employers Refuse Even to Dis
cuss that Matter, but Will Arbitrate the
Other Questions-Militia Still in Readi-
ness and Governor Foster on the Ground
Trying to Work Compromise-Plant-
ers with the Merchants.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. S.-The general
strike is more general than ever. The de-
cision Of the Typographical union to join
the striking phalanx nerved the other
bodies which were neutral in the matter
and all Of the labor unions which signed
the call for the general strike are now out
except the cotton laborers The latter are
most important part of the Amalgamated
Council, but in the face of an idle summer,
the losS Of labor which a strike would en-
tail and the opposition Of the powerful cot
ton exchange which would be aroused, the
cotton unions have been allowed to remain
ut work II is understood, however that
the men are ready 10 quit work when the
committee gives the word, although the in
structions are that even " The order comes
the men must finish any work which
they have begun.
Not street car is running, no work is
being done and the only sign Of activity is
In the Wholesale grocery district against
which the strike is principally directed.
The new men there are willing to remain
Mt work until violence is 50 general as to
make it unsafe for them to continue The
stopping of their labor would lead to the
closing OF the wholesale groceries till the
strike Is well over, the merchants saving
tha they are ready to close from thirty to
ninety days and fill their country orders d.
rect from the west. The strike of the print
ers has the effect of closing all the news
papers except The Daily States, which the
printers have been fighting for several
years There were reports that attempts
would be made to stop the paper from ap-
pearing, but the place has been well guard
ed and the paper will be issued as usual.
Fighting Labor Prescription.
The proposition made through the gov
ernor, To arbitrate the question of hours
and wages, but to leave the question of
unionisIn entirely alone, has not vet been
responded 20 by the labor side, but il is
hardly thought that it will be accepted,
as the cry Of unionism is made the rallyinR
cause of the labor bodies. The merchants
aloo stAJ bhdt tnty Will not fect1e further.
SAID President Odendahl, of the board of
trade: ut is not unionism we are fighting,
butthe abuse of uniODisln and the dicta-
torial demand that none but union men be
employed The govSnor is keeping his
staff within call and Che militia is ready to
come out at short notice.
Pears About tho Gas and Water.
Governor Foster said at noon yesterday
that there had been no change in the strike
situation. In the event of a serious clash.
resulting in rioting. the governor win be
on hand to cope with the situation He re-
realizes the danger that is menacing all
classes Of the community and will prevent
loss Of life if /. is within his power to do 20.
There is widespread feeling as a result
Of statement Of the gas people that unless
the utmost care is exercised dangerous ex-
plosions may follow the cutting off of the
gas supply People are also great,
worried at the prospect of cutting off Of
the water supply, which would place the
city AT the mercy OF the fire fiend