Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-15

Resolution Asking the Corporation of
All Those Friendly to the Cause of
Union Observation-Disclosures Powers
Tells of the Grievance of the Employees
Other Matters Receiving Attention.
An important matter before the Tri-
City Labor congress at its monthly
meeting at the Industrial Home yes
terday was the difficulty between the
Rock Island shoe factory and its en-
ployes, who are out on strike be-
cause the firm refused a slighradvance
in wages to the girls in the fitting
departments and persists. the men
claim, in ignoring the executive COM
mittee of the Shoe Workers union, an
organization recently formed as a
branch of the national body, the APP
proval and support of which the local
union has in its present trouble. After
hearing a review of the controversy
by committee from the Shoe Work
ers' union the congress unanimously
adopted the following:
Resolved, That in view of the ex-
listing difficulty between members of
the Shoe Workers union of Rock ISL
and and its employers, comprising
both the question of wages and the
right to maintain the union organiZa-
ton. we deem the action of the Rock
Island Shoe company inimical TO the
general interest, and ask all friends
and sympathiZers with organized Ia
Dor to cease encouraging the firm or
its patrons in the way of patronage;
and be it further
Resolved, That immediate action be
taken to spread the information in the
| journals favorable to organized labor,
The executive committee of the
congress was empowered to take any
further action with reference to the
matter it saw fit.
NJ. F. Powers, president of the Shoe
Workers union, said he was recently
discharged from the employment of
the factory for no apparent cause
other than with view to disrupting
the organization of which he is the
head. He stated that the company
was presented for wage schedule
which provided with n small increase
in the pay of the girls in the fitting
department, and replied with another
schedule, making general reduction
of from to II per cent. The fact
was made known to the national eX-
ecutive of the Shoe Workers organ
ization, and he authorized the eXecu-
tive board of the local body to order
a strike if deemed advisable. Mr..
Powers said the employees of the fac
tory are all out, and will demand be-
fore returning to work, his reinstate-
ment, the recognition of the unions
executive board, and the payment of
its schedule.
other DoIngs.
A number of concerns throughout
the country dealing unfairly with en-
ployes were brought to the attention
of the congress by circular letters,
and committees were appointed in the
three cities to call on merchants and
endeavor to have them cease handling
goods manufactured by these con-
Germs.
w. H. Schillinger offered an amend
ment to the bylaws providing for the
payment of the corresponding secre-
tary of 81 per meeting. This was
laid over = month under the rules.
The secretary was instructed to ex-
tend an invitation to the miners
union of Coal Valley and the Wheel
Workers union of Moline to send del |
egates to the congress.
After the business of the meeting |
had been disposed of addresses were
made by Harry Bostock, the first |
president of the Labor congress, who |
is now located in the Indiana gas belt, |
where he is doing good work in the
interest of orpaniZe,l labor and Mr.