Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-01-22
THE COURT HOUSE CAUSE.
The Labor Organizations Attacked for OPP
poalug Collins

The Labor Organizations Attacked f0f OPP
pooling Collins.
The Union OF this morning makes
a most contemplate attack on the
union labor of the COM
for the stand it has taken in
the county board extend
ing special favors to S. j. Collins.
1t commences by saying that 1.-THE
democrats who have for some weeks
been running the labor congress and
its affiliated unions to injure Stephen
j. Collins, on Sunday last saw fit to
denounce the Union for refusing to
aid them in their contemplate
work" The denunciatiOn which the
Union says was made of it Sunday
consisted simply of reference to the
fact that the Union had refused to
publish the call for the mass meeting
then being held. and the purpose Of
which was to take action with refer
ence to Mr.. Collins. The Union
makes no explanation of its refusal
to extend to the cause of union labor
the courtesy of announcing the meet
ing, leaving the inference indisput-
ed that it's declaration was accounta-
BILE for in the mere fact that the
labor cause felt called upon to voice
an opposition to Mr.. Collins.
Not Political Attack.
The Union insults union labor
when it says that the labor congress
is predominated or dictated to by the
democratic or any other political
party, and its attempt in its extreme
devotion to Mr.. Collins to put po-
litical construction on the stand that
organized labor has taken. will not
be productive of the anticipated re-
suits, either to Mr.. Collins or its own
cause. The very act of its refusal to
announce the meeting evinces the
contracted spirit that possesses its
soul, and which would, if it were in
its power. suppress the effort of
labor % express its feelings where
they are at issue with any movement
that tends to make objection to the
adorable Collins.
Mr.. Collins is not objected to be-
cause he is chairman of the republic
can county committee, but there is
very strong feeling against extend
ing personal privileges to him at the
expense of the public at large, repre-
sentative of all classes, as q reward
for his services rendered by virtue of
the Office he holds politically. The
labor congress does not oppose him
either politically, nor because he
does not at all times employ union
labor. 1t protests that one who is
the outspoken foe of the cause Of
labor should be selected out of the
because he is prominent politician.
Labor will present other experts.
with capacity fully equal to that of
Collins, without regard to politics,
from whom the county board may
select superintendent who is not
obnoxious to labor. Is there any
thing unreasonable in that? The
Union says to enter objection to Col
ling before board largely of re-
publicans and honest men is, to say
the least, unwise, as well as unjusti-
fable" 1t is neither unwisc or I'm
justiiiablc for the tax payers repre-
sented in the labor congress to petit
ton any body representing the tax
payers interests, no matter what the
composition of that body, and to at
tempt, as the Union has, to ignore
and to muzzle such cause, is no.
thing short of an outrage. The
labor congress has not, as the
Union declares, said, in effect,
'.you may employ any rot or
scallawag or jobbcr or BRIDE
taker, for all we care" The cause of
union labor is higher, its aspirations
nobler than to voice such an unhOly
and outrageous sentiment as the
Union insults labor by attributing
to it.
There is a disposition to give Col
Inns the cinch to which he aspires.
This may not apply to the board OF
supervisors, but it does to certain of
the building committee, and there
have been abundant developments to
demonstrate this fact. The attempt
to quiet all reference to him at the
recent meeting and to defer action
until after the spring election and
then give it to him evinces the
realization of the fact that the course
determined upon is neither polite nor
popular, nor is it the part Of wisdom.
The labor congress proposes to lay
it's cause before the board despite the
| Union, and it will rest with the board
to act upon the same.
| Boston Store Bargains.