Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-07-10

President Mckinley, Setting Forth De-
tails in Connection With the Recent Ar
senaI Strike, in Which 1t is Claimed the
Machinists Were Unfairly Dealt with.
The regular monthly meeting of
the Tri-City Labor congress yester-
day was largely attended. 1t was
an executive session. After the
regular routine business had been dis
posed of. the following officers were
elected for the ensuing term:
Decentralization Davis, Moline.
Vice Presiient-Hugo Struck, DAY.
export.
Secretary-G. E. Morgan, Rock ISL
and.
Financial Secretary Anton Ben
son, Moline.
Treasurer-George c. Barnes, Rock
Island.
Statistician-Louis Jahns, Moline.
Sergeant-at-arms M. Susemiehl,
Davenport.
Trustees-C. A. Sandine, Moline;
John c. Norton, Moline, and l.. c.
johnson. Davenport.
The matter of business agent was
laid over for one month.
The congress was affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor
A vote of thanks was given Shaffer
Bleuer & Schlemmer for the donation
to the congress of a copy of their
directory.
A resolution from Twin-City Typo
graphical union No. 10Y was read ten
dering the support and sympathy of
that organization to the arsenal union
machinists.
The new constitution was adopted.
Communication on Arsenal strike.
The following communication, pre-
pared and submitted by Thomas Ed
win Smith, was adopted:
Industrial Home, Rock Island, H.,
July IL, 1899: To Hon. Villa m McKin-
ley. President of the United States. Es-
teemed Sir: The Tri-City Labor con-
gress, representing the cities of Rock
Island and Moline. Ill, and Davenport,
Iowa, does bring to your notice,
through the committee whose sigma
lures are affixed hereto, the following
facts:
That the mem bers of this congress
look with not only Indignation, but
with apprehension and alarm, upon
the recent conduct of the officials of
the war department, insomuch as
they have ignored our interceSsions,
Haunted defiance to our interests by
resorting to various subterfuges, have
grossly, unjustitiably and without
cause, Disseminated against organ
lied labor, and have endeavored, as
their attitude relative to the grievance
in hand for the past six months indi
Gates, to transform the usages and
principles of unionism from their
present laudable and conscientious
nature into a dead letter and mockery
of the most blatant and intoIera BILE
character. We also stand convinced
that we and our fellow workmen are not
being fairly represented in the govern
mental institutions situated on the
island of Rock Island, commonly
known as the Rock Island arsenal, for
the reason that non-union men are
employed in the place of union men
in the machine shops, and that from
among the entire membership of
union machinists in the tri-cities, not
more than II are being employed.
whereas there are nearly seventy nom
union machinists and helpers re-
tanned.
We are fully aware of the fact and
to its fullest significance,
that had not the lockout at the arse
nal of the machinists occurred (the
fac's of which you are familiar witty
there would be a greater number of
union men employed at the Rock Isl
and arsenal than there now are, even
though the working force has been
reduced; hence with this knowledge,
which cannot be disproved nor eff
faced, either by citation of condi-
tions or a statement of any import
our condemnation of the
of the war department in this
must appear to you well
founded and justitiable.
Reinstatement of Men Asked.
That we desire the reinstatement of
our fellow members and co-workers
under conditions which are not only
but demanded. under the
laws of union principles, or in other
words. under fair, equitable and hui
name conditions.
That we have pleaded with every
official of the war department without
Il 4 l.