Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-06-01
SITUATiONAT THE ARSENAL.
Several Machinists Return to Work-An-
other Conference With Mai. Blunt.

Several Machinists Return to work-An-
other Conference With Mai. Blunt.
Several of the 60 machinists who re-
ceived notices to return from Com
/ mandant Blunt reported and were
given work at Rock Island arsenal
this morning. a4e
The committee representing the
striking machinists had another con-
ference with Maj. Blunt late yesterday
afternoon. The commandment re-
peated the information that he only
/ had work for 60 of the men, explain
| ing to the committee the amount of
orders on hand, and showing to the
members the telegram he had re-
ceived from the chief of ordnance di-
recting him to employ only as many
as were required.
The committee replied that as all
/ the machinists went out in 4 body
they desired to return in the same
manner. Thus the situation stands.
The machinists are having a meeting
this afternoon at the Industrial Home.
They are awaiting instructions from
Master Machinist O'Connell.
Congressman Joe R. Lane arrived
home in Davenport from his official
trip to Washington yesterday. He
was we'll satisfied with the results of
his trip, and believed that ali parties
concerned were also Congressman
Prince was also well pleased with the
manner in which the Washington au-
thorities have settled the question.
The arsenal difficulty is a matter
which has been coming on for some
time. but which first showed itself in
the recent machinists' strike. Mr..
Lane was of the opinion that the
strike did not bring the matter to n
close, although it might have hast
ened it a little. The question was
one that had never come up for con-
sideration before. and the authorities
at Washington were compelled to look
into it, which they did, and with the
results As mentioned in the daily
papers.
congressman Lane and Prince and
Master Machinist O'Connell were well
received in Washington and had con-
sidera BILE voice in the proceedings of
the conferences at Washington, at
nearly all of which they took part.
The gentlemen found the authorities
ut Washington very friendly to the
arsenal and DESTROYS of having the
matter closed up as early as possible,
and without rejecting upon the ar
senal.
Mr.. Lane stated that Gen.
Meiksljohn opened the discussion
by stating he had received the
report of Gen. Burlington, chief Of
ordnance, upon and accompanying
the report of Inspector Russell, but
that pre- sure of pending business had
prevented him seeing any of their
contents. However. it had come to
his knowledge that Mr.. O'Connell and
the men who were out at Rock Island
arsenal were bent upon the removal
of Maj. Blunt. He wanted to say.
once and for all, and he warned his
hearers not to forget it, that there
would be no removal of Maj. Blunt;
that the war department had not taken
and would not take dictation from
any source as to the assignment to
duty it should make for any officer.
Mr.. O'Connell made an effort to dis
claim any such intention on the part
of himself or the strikers, but Gen.
Meikeljohn seemed to have the case
pat, and he was supported by men,
bers of the party calling on him
The charges against Maj. Blunt were
simply wiped out as with a sponge.
1t is intimated that the report of Gen.
Burlington upon those charges was
very severe In the course of CONVEX
sation with the party Gen. Burlington
had taken occasion TO refer to Maj.
Blunt as a good man. and to compli-
ment both him and the arsenal for the
work done during the war, and at all
other times.
The secretary of war made an
order Monday which had two PROPOSE
tions in it," said Mr.. Lane. The
first of which was that all charges
against Maj. Blunt should be dis
missed. The second proposition was
general order, which applies to all
arsenals and which provides in sub
stance that employees should have the
right to present to the cOmmandant
any grievances through COMMITTEES
selected by employees. The grievances
must be stated in writing, but the
committee may supplement them
verbally"
Notice to Contractors.