Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-03-28
LABOR WILL ACT.
Decides in Mass Meeting to OPP
pose Sinnet and Oberg.
THEIR DEFIANT TACTICS RESENTED

THElR DEFIANT TAUriCS RESENTED
The Supervisors Will he Vigorously but
Properly Opposed by All Friends Of La
boris Cause.-The Farcical Attempt of
the SUPERVISOR to square Themselves
in the County Board Yesterday.
The adjourned mass meeting of
laboring men at Killers hall last
evening to hear the reports of COM
mittees previously named to canvass
the Situation and determine on the
course to be pursued in the present
campaign looking to the best inter-
es;s of labor, was largely attended;
in fact, it was one of the best gather
ings of representative. intelligent la
Dor ever held in Rock Island. The
subject under discussion was taken
up in a conservative impassionate
manner; the committee reports were
duly made showing that the feeling
of all classes of workingmen indi-
Gated an opposing sentiment to the
assistant supervisors running for re-
election, and that this same senti-
ment was shared by large portion
of our business and professional men
who were free to express their opin-
ion that it was time TO call a halt on
the boards methods of conducting
court house matters. and that the
only way to do il was to show the
public feeling by the retirement of
such men as are seeking to return
on the strength of their records.
Since petitions had been of no avail
in the past, and the board had de-
MED the tax payers the right to have
anything to say on court house mat
tiers, the public could only have its
wishes respected by forcibly DEM
onstrating to the board that its past
tactics are not approved of.
Action Taken.
All these facts considered, the
meeting determined that in view of
the sense of the resolutions which in
due form and perfect good faith had
been sent the board at the proper
time bearing on the appointment of
a superintendent of the building, the
dignity, the good faith and the cause
Of labor could only be consistently
maintained by using every effort to
defeat Messrs. Sinnet and Oberg, and
the necessary steps were taken in the
matter of workers to accomplish that
end, and it was the sense of the meet
ing that all honorable means be used
to carry out this purpose.
Yesterdays Subterfuge.
The action of Supervisors Oberg
and Sinnet in yesterdays meeting of
the board, the latter in calling Super
visor Jenkins to the chair in order
that he might take the floor in up
holding the petition and resolution
for having the stone cnt on the
grounds, is regarded by labor as a
mere bid for their favor after having
turned them down in their supplica-
tions in matters of principle as
directly concerning them, but which
did not happen to have been made
on the verge of political election.
Realizing since, that labor is in
earnest, and already feeling the force
of its influence, these supervisors are
now aiming to counteract the effect
and regain the support they have
lost by their attitude toward petit
tons which they did not feel called
upon to speak upon 1T the time.
The petition and the action look
ing to having stone cut on the
grounds are proper and worthy.
Home labor deserves the best fruits
Of the court house erection and home
Dor should be given every possible
advantage, but it has been obliged
to fight for even respec full recogni-
ton on the board, which, instead of
listening to the voice of labor, has
placed in charge and control of the
court house one who has no use for
organized labor and who has been
its most bitter and uncompromising
foe. So it is that the laboring man
is not to be gulled into swallowing
yesterdays subterfuge adopted SIM
ply as a catchvote plan, to be re-
pealed after election if the same su-
pervisors are in charge, and at any
rate modified according to the ideas
of Superintendent Collins.
Labor looks to its friends for its
rights. 1t knows its friends and
measures them by their free and
open deeds, not their bids for votes.
1t is the principle of recognition
which Is the best after all that labor
is fighting for now. 1t realizes that
labor can only be given consideration
with friend of labor in charge.
With the retirement of Sinnet and
Oberg the board will awake to a
realization that labor means what it
says and then there may yet be a
chance for respectful treatment.
The Modern Way