Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-04-06
SITUATION is UNCHANGED.
MachinIsts Soliciting Support of Senators
and ConCressmen.

The arsenal machinists' strike sit
uation is in a state of state quo. The
men held protracted meeting last
night with Master Machinist O'Con-
nell. at the conclusion of which the
latter left for Chicago to confer with
Senator William Mason, and later to
60 to Springfield to see Senator Gull
lom, to solicit their influence in
bringing about a favorable solution of
the arsenal difficulty.
kilograms were sent to the Iowa
senator's and to congressman in
adjacent districts. As result
Congressman G. w. Prince arrived
from Galesburg today.
Mai. Blunt said Blk of the striking
machinists returned TO work at Rock
Island arsenal this morning. Each
was seen individually by the COM
mandant, the situation gone over,
and upon their agreeing to abide by
and observe the laws, regulations.
rules and orders established and pre-
scribed for the management and in
ternal government of the arsenal,
| they were reemployed.
Below is given in full the commu--
nication of the machinists to Com
mandant Blunt, and the latter's re-
ply:
Major S. Z. Blunt, Commandant of
Rock Island Arsenal-Sir: We, the
machinists of Rock Island arsenal. be-
lieving that our rights as citizens and
employees of the United States are be-
ing trampled upon by you and your
su bordinates; that common laborers
are placed at machines at reduced
wages, and competent machinists are
commanded to instruct them; that be-
cause we have organized for our mu-
tual help and advancement, we have
incurred your i'll will; that through
influence incompetent men are paid
20. so per day, while some competent
union machinists receive but 1926;
that union machinists who have long
been in the employ, and whose |
ability is beyond question, have |
been reduced in wages for trivial mis-
takes. while grievous mistakes of non
union men have passed unnoticed;
that the present time card system,
requiring the men to stipulate the
amount of work performed per day,
thus establishing a piece work sys-
TEN, is odious; that brides, in the
guise of advance in wages, were
offered to men should they establish a
record for fast work; that men are
to work overtime, and on
receiving only straight time;
that petitions for redress of griev-
ances have been ignored; that when
signers of the aforesaid petitions
asked for an advance in wages, you
said you would not raise the wages of
any man who signed those petitions,
thus establishing black list and de-
nying us our constitutional right to
petition for a redress of grievances.
Being unable longer to endure such
grievances, we do hereby offer the fol-
owing resolutions:
Resolved l, That no man who has
not served at least four years at the
trade, and who is not competent
shall be allowed to operate ,
4 machine or work wise.
Resolved 2, That no discrimination
be made against oganized labor. II
Resolved 3, That the minimum {
wages for machinists shall be $3.50
per day. II
Resolved 4. That those receiving
$3.50 per day at the present time, and I
hose receiving 1925 per day, and {
who have complied with all rules and I
of the civil service. be | Z
-aised to 1915 and 81 so respect {
vely. Is
Resolved 5, That the above resolu-
ion, No. 4, be applied also to those /
before such rules were in c
rogue. II
Resolved 6, That the men shall not
,e required to state on time card the (
mount of work done per day. If
Resolved z, That shop rule No. Is {
re in parts annulled and the remain $
ng rules be modified. f
Resolved 8, That all committees I
Waiting on you for redress of griev- i
noes be given respectful audience. 4
We respectfully submit the above t
pledging ourselves on our [
acred honor to the performance of h
ur duty as citizens and machinists. &
MATTHEW GoRMAN, HORACE CArLIN, n
GEORGE Chiffon, w. L LYMAN,
w. X. WATERS. L. G. BERRY,
l. a. SwARTZ.
Rock Island Arsenal, April 3, 1899. a
Post orders No. 50: 1. The re- b
eipt by the commanding officer of 81
from some of the d
Employees under the form of petitions, G
ut actually presenting demands. for X
is compliance, makes it evident that el
he relation borne by employees at a
Military establishment to their en- a.
loyer, the general government, and OF
} the governments agent, the COM b
handing officer, are not fully under &c
-ood by all concerned. b'
,. The legislative branch of the r,
overnment has enacted laws and the bl
,cretary of war has prescribed regu- W
.tions for their execution, which il'
irect that the commanding officer of
n arsenal (under the orders of the
lief of ordnance) shall make and