Rock Island Argus., 1899-04-05
SITUATION AT THE ARSENAL.
Demands of the Men and the Reply of
Mai. Blunt.

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Demands of the Men and the Reply oi
Mai. Blunt.
The strike of the machinists al
Rock Island arsenal, mentioned as
prospective in last nights ARGUS, oc,
CURED at o'clock yesterday after
noon. The machinists held meeting
at the Industrial Home building last
evening, at which Grand Master Ma
chinist O'Connell, of Chicago,
was present Tri-City lodge 3SS,
to which the machinists belong,
has appointed press COM
mittee composed of A. c. Berry, OF
this city, J. G. Moody and Matt Cor
man, of Davenport, and Thomas Ros-
borough, of Moline. to which is dele
gated the duty of giving out all in
formation furnished the public. The
committee called at THE ARGUS office
last evening and stated that the ma
chinists had ceased to work, but as
TO causes stated that it must
come from Maj. Blunt, in whose
hands they had placed all that they
had to say.
When an interview was sought by
THE ARGUS today, Maj. Blunt simply
furnished copies of the mems de
mands and his reply thereto. The
communication of the striking en-
ployes states that their ghts have
been trampled upon by the COM
manding officer and his subOrdinates
that common laborers have been
placed on machines at reduced wages
and skilled mechanic commanded to
instruct them; that because they have
organized for their mutual help and
advancement they have incurred the
i'll will of the commandant, and
that through influence incompe-
tent men are paid $3.50 per day,
while some competent union ma
'chinists receive but 1926. The
men claim that union machinists have
been discharged without cause, and
that "black list" has been main
tanned. They also complain of the
time-check system. The men ask
that $3.50 per day be the minimum
wage for machinists and that S2.75
be paid for the better class of work,
and that the shop rules be modified
so as to permit them to talk and have
more liberties in the shops than they
are not allowed.
In this reply, which was posted yes
terday, Maj. Blunt states that the
men do not seem to understand the
relations of employees at a mil
itary post to the commanding officer,
who is an agent of the government,
and has not the power to increase
wages, but who has the power to
make and enforce rules of the shops.
Maj. Blunt assures the men that all
requests of individual employees
will receive due consideration,
but until the : laws governing
him are changed, he must
continue to exercise his powers with
out dictation from employees or any
committee representing them. He
states that under the rules it is the
privilege of employees to either accept
or decline work at the wages paid.
Maj. Blunt said further that $50 of
the machinists working at the arsenal
had ceased to work. Fifty still re-
unfortunately in one sense, "
the ma ior added, 'the work at the ar
senal has been so progressing of late
that l should have been compelled to
toward the end of the month have
made reduction in the force of ma
and while the mum ber ceas-
ing to work is not so much larger
than had anticipated, and will delay
the work somewhat, it will not en-
barrass it. No new hands will be
taken on in place of those who have
Maj Blunt stated that he regretted
most the possibility of the unpleas-
ant circumstance working a preiudi-
cial effect at Washington toward the
arsenal just as we are about to estab-
lish small arms plant at the arsenal,
in accordance with the provisions of
the last congress. Il have planned
to 20 east next week, - he said, .'to look
after the purchase of machinery for the
small arms factory. While the plaGt
will be installed at once, / very much
fear the department may limit it to war
as the one at Springfield
is operating quietly under the same
prescribed regulations rs prevail here,
and without distur bance. / know
his, for was stationed there five YEAR,,
and made it a special duty to look
INTO this point when l was back there
The machinists held an extended
meeting at the Industrial home this
but at its conclusion the
press committee announced that it
lad decided to endeavor to effect a
settlement of the matter before Civ
ng anything out for publication.