Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-18
UNION VS.. UNIONS.
Settling Sunday Afternoons
Labor Meeting.
POLITICS FIRST, CAUSE LATER.

That b the Policy Of tho Morning Paper
The Course Of the "Argus'' and That Of
the Worklugmen-Mr. Collins Persis-
tency to Get = Job From the County.
The Union belittles Sunday after
moons mass meeting held BY the la
Dor unions at HilIier's hall, and as
serts that the purpose of the callers
was to ''bolster up THE ARGUS in its
fight against S. j. Collins, the chair
man OF the republican county COM
mittee. The course of the Union
in taking up the cudgel against the
cause OF union labor in the interests
OF political boss whom labor has
declared to be an enemy to its cause,
is not unnatural as far as that paper
is concerned.
The aim of the Union in this con-
nection is to, BY its base and ground
less charge that Sundays labor meet
ing was of a political tendency. rally
republican strength enough to Col
Inns side to insure his appointment
to the position he aspires, but it's
most surprising characteristic is
found in the exhibition it makes of
itself on one hand by attempting to
show that Collins is fully in accord
with the interests and desires of local
labor as lar as regards the benefits to
come in the court house construction,
and its effrontery on the other in adj
vancing the argument that las SUPER
intendent of construction he would
have nothing whatever to do with
the employmento Of labor, for he could
not, as an impartial expert, en-
gagged to see that specifications
were faithfully carried out, be-
come the contractor and builder
himself, while he might be if not
so employed, for the lowest respon-
sible bidder must get the award :"
In other words. the Union, while
endeavoring to convince labor in one
breath that Collins is its friend, in
the next, seeks to convince it that to
get him out of the way and prevent
the contingency of his getting the
contract-which would mean the ex-
clusion of union labor on the work
it would be wise precaution to
have him appointed superintendent
OF construction, where he would have
no contact with labor. Great head,
this of the union newspaper, in it's
proposition to Union labor. But the
question may naturally arise, why is
it that Mr.. Collins must be provided
for in any capacity in connection
with the new court house? Is there
any reason to concede that if he is
not appointed superintendent he will
receive the contract?
AS to Mr.. Collins Politics.
As far as The ARGUS is concerned,
it is not making political fight on
Mr.. Collins. 1t is not opposing him
because he is a republican, but it
does most vigorously protest that he
should expect the position merely be-
cause he is chairman of the republi-
can county committee, The tax pay
ers of this county, those who will pay
for the court house construction, are
as apt to be democrats as republi-
cans, and while there should be. no
prejudice against any man because he
is republican or democrat, the
county should not be asked or ex-
pected to reward man for his polit-
zeal services to any particular party.
Mr.. Collins seeks the positi on
for which he is an applica mt through
his official political standing. The
fact that the court house bond issue
proposition had carried was barely
announced before Mr.. Collins, not as
Il builder, contractor or architect,
but as chairman of the republican
county committee, was out working
among the supervisors to secure, not
alone the SUPPLEMENTARY of con-
struction, but the position of design
ing architect. He worked his scheme
through the medium of the republi-
can county committee. and in every
manner known to political manipula-
ton he advanced his claims. 1t was
these tactics, this assumption on the
part of Mr.. Collins that as a repub-
1ican leader he was entitled to recog-
milton for the position that THE AR
GUS opposed. and does oppose.
As to Labor.
The ARGUS also maintained, and
does maintain, that the county
should recognize the rights of labor
| III al Uudt pCItdlu " buc ucW COuTt
house construction. 1t recognizes
that union labor did its share toward
carrying the bond proposition. and
that man in sympathy with union
labor, rather than an opponent, should
be the choice of the board when the
situation requiring such an appoint.
ment presents itself. In other
words, The ARGUS believes it to be
the duty of the board to keep faith
with labor at all times, and as far as
the law will allow, to favor home
labor at all times.
Mr.. Collins has had the audacity
to seek absolute control of the court
house construction in every respect.
He may have been disappointed in
his early aspirations as far as de-
signing the building is concerned.
but he is still seeking to force him
| xolf m tho hoo I'd Tho ,unocoseor -,