Rock Island Argus., 1900-03-12

Moline Organizations Disqualified fol
Membership Under Rules OF Congress
Charter-CommIttee Finds Larger Part
of County Printing Is Done at Home
Arsenal Back Pay. Resolutions. Etc.
TheTri-City La Dor congress met in
monthly session yesterday afternoon
at the industrial home. There was a
good attendance of delegates. After
the usual routine business the accep-
tance and obligation of delegates from
several unions was transacted.
The committee that had been ap-
pointed at the last meeting to investi-
gate the case of Morrison Il Dolly,
cigar manufacturers, did not appear
to agree, and after discussion it was
decided that the matter was out of
the proper jurisdiction of the con-
gress, and the firm was advised to
deal with the Cigarmakers' union.
The committee to inquire in re-
gard to where county printing was
beng done reported that by far
the larger part was done within the
county, and it was believed that neces-
sary for the coming election will be
kept ut home.
A letter from President Helm beck, of
the board of education of Rock Island,
was read asking that list of those
publishers of school books favorab BILE
to organized Ia Dor be furnished him,
and the secretary was directed to pro-
cure and forward same. Other letters,
including one from the national repre-
sentative of stationary liremen asking
for an organization here, were read
and several bills allowed, after which
the unfinished business was taken up.
The question that had been up be-
fore concerning the attitude of the
congress toward the State Federation
of Labor was raised. The congress,
under its present charter, cannot ad-
nit delegates from unions that are
not affiliated with the American Fed
eratioE, and it appears that the stone
cutters and one other union from Mo
line are not so qualified. The secre-
tary was directed to correspond with
the secretary Of the federation for in
formation on the subject.
Drops Telephone Question.
Resolutions condemning the action
OF The Rock Island city council
on the telephone franchise ques-
tion that had been laid over
from last meeting Were taken up. j.
w. Cavanaugh made few remarks
on the question, in which he deplored
the fact that the congress had been
drawn into the matter. He claimed
that the resolutions had been offered
in the belief that the merchants of
Rock Island wanted But he had sub
sequently found that the great ma ior-
ity of the merchants did not desire a
change, and, furthermore, that as the
telephone subscribers Of the town
were not union men, therefore the
congress had gone out of it's way to
meddle in the affair. He ended with
4 motion to drop the resolutions,
which was carried.
The question that had previously |
been pending concerning the charac-
ter of the labor employed at the |
George Donald coal mines at Briar
Bluff was discussed, and it was the |
popular opinion that there was no |
reasonable excuse why nOn-union
abor should be employed, but no ac-
ion was taken.
In the election of officers which
j. w. Cavanaugh was chos-
IN as reading clerk in the place of the
ormer clerk, Mr.. Eastman, whose
erm as delegate had expired. j.
VI. Farnham, who is recording secre-
airy, was made financial secretary
Ilso. L. j. McCann was elected trus-
ee. Louis Jahns was made organizer
or the American Federation of Labor
or Rock Island, in addition to Mo-
inc.
Back Pay Agitation.
a letter signed by a committee rep
esenting the employees at Rock ISL
md arsenal was read by the secre-
ary. 1t asked the Endorsement bv
he congress of a petition circulating
n the three cities favoring the pas
age of bill providing for back pay
o government employees who had
worked overtime in violation Of the
-hour law of 1868, and which was
Introduced in the house of representa-
ives by Congressman Prince Dec. II
asst. There was considerable discus-i
ion on this subject, bringing out the
llegation that the arsenal empioyes
we're not strictly in line with union
abor, and that the congress was not
disposed to act favorably in the mat
er for the sake of EN- ployes now in
he government service. Several
nem bers declared that the bill now
n question was one which everv con-
ressman from this district for over
wenty years had tried to get through,
ringing it up always just before the
EXPIRATION of his term of office. and
ne that the congress had already
pent much time and some money
pom. Secretary Cavanaugh said that
i the bills presented had contained
feature that would render them void
ven if passed; namely. they author