Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-28
POOR POLICY Mr.. PRINCE.
That OF Aiming at Arsenal Commandment
Instead of the Rule.

Instead of the Rule.
THE ARGUS is surprised to learn
through the Moline Dispatch of the
practical substantiation of a report
which has been in circulation for the
past few days, but which it seems
difficult to believe, and that is to the
effect that Congressman Prince is Ia
| boring to bring a political pressure to
bear such as will result in the re-
moval of Maj Stanhope E. Blunt
from the commandancy of Rock
Island arsenal-to secure his
transfer to some other ar
senal I'm lending himself to such a
purpose for motives too transparent
to require explanation, Congressman
Prince is aiming to serve neither
the machinists, who are now on 4
strike at the arsenal, nor the interests
of the community. Much as may be
the sympathy felt with the machinists
in their present grievance, it is not
going to better their condition by
striking at the officer who enforces a
Observation-Disclosures of the
arsenal. aud neglecLing the obnoxious
rule that is responsible for the diff
Guilty. TO all representatives of the
machinists with whom The ARGUS
has conversed it has learned that it is
principle that is bling contended
for. and the main end and aim has
been all along to have the rule under
which Maj. Blunt has acted in de-
Ginning to receive the committee of
the men abrogated. 70 accomplish
this the aid of Congressman Prince
was invoked, but so far no. informa-
ton has come of his success in this
direction. Failing in this if such it
is to he, he will accomplish little
either in removing the cause of the
difficulty or lettering the condition of
the men by attempting to have
the present commandment transferred.
The fact that the rule exists and that
the chief of ordnance has ordered
obedience to it, will not place any new
commandant that might come here in
any better advantage to treat with the
men.
At the existing stage in the devel-
opment of the possibilities of Rock
Island arsenal, q change in command
ants might prove anything but adj
vantageous to the community, which
is at this particular time anticipating
with so much eagerness the installa
ton of the small arms plant here.
That Ma j. Blunt is man of wonder
full capacity for emergencies was dem
onstrated during the late war,
when the resources of the ar
senal were taxed to their fullest
limit. Apart from this, no command
ant at the arsenal has ever worked
more Zealously for the arsenal than
he, and to him is due to a large de-
gree the working up of the sentiment
in the three cities which crystaliZed
in the formation of the joint tri-city
movement which resulted in the sue
cess of the small arms plant for the
arsenal. The Old and homely express
sion that it is not always arsafe prop
osition to swap horses while crossing
a stream, may prove applicable to the
situation here. Maj Blunt has be-
come identified with the small arms
enterprise and realizes it's importance
to the arsenal and to the three cities.
If Congressman Prince is arXious to
do good thing for the arsenal ma
chinists, let him use his influence to
have the barrier removed to the men
dealing with the commandant direct,
no matter who he may be. Sober
Judgment either in the men who have
Just grievances, or i'll the com munity
at large, is not appealed to on the
theory that two wrongs make Il right.