Rock Island Argus., 1902-02-10
MORGAN STEPS OUT
Resignation as President of Tri-
City Labor Congress Ac-
cepted Yesterday.
DC. MAIN CHOSEN TO FILL VACANCY
Favorable Reports on Movement to
Secure OniciAl Recognition
of Unions.

George l.. Morgan, president of the
Tri-City Labor congress, was not
present at yesterday regular
meeting of that body on account of
illness in his family but he sent in his
resignation. In his communication
he recited the fact that the position
ne holds as secretary of the county
central committee of the democratic
party rendered him ineligible to office
under the rules of the congress. rhe
resignation was accepted and the fl
nancial secretary. ID. {. Main. DaVen-
port Retail Clerks union, was
chosen to flll the vacancy. J. ID. Trim
mer. of Typographical union IO7, was
elected financial secretary.
The sum of so was voted toward an
unusual cause, namely the establish
ment of labor paper in San Juan.
Porto Rico, to be known aS the
Federation Libre." or freely trans
lated, The Liberty League" The oc-
caSion for this was explained before
the congress. Santiago lnglcsias. n
carpenter of San Juan, came to New
York. where he Joined Carpenters
union 800. Cf that city. Upon his re-
turn home he advocated the establish
ment of union labor unions i'm Porto
Rico. When the change from Span
ish to the American standard of
money was inaugurated i'm the Island
the prices of commodities were
changed by the merchants. bat price
Of labor remained stationary. IneIe-
sias thereupon attempted TO organize
the laboring men to secure their
rights i'm the matter. and in doing so
he ran against the old Spanish law
against conspiracy. He was tried on
this charge and sentenced to three
years and four months Imprisonment
and seven of his associates were SEN
fenced to four months each. Secrc
tarY Ford of the congress is taking
subscriptions to help the cause of
labor in San Juan and he has col
lected so besides the sum voted yes
terdaY.
Help Fight Cash Register Company
The sum of S2J was also voted te
assist the Central Labor union, OF
Dayton. Ohio, in its fight against the
National Cash Register company
Joseph A. Gabriel. representing the
union. was present ii, the meeting
and made an address. \ committee
.composeu of .. ID. Timer and Leo
Nermere. of Rock Island and r. w.
Rennick and ID. c. Main. of Davenport.
was appointed TO wait upon the mer.
chants organizations of the two
cities to secure an Endorsement of
the stand of union labor in the mat
ter. The sum of 50 was appropriated
toward Mckinley memorial monu-
ment fund being raised entirely by
the union labor of the land.
Since the last meeting of the con-
gress. at which q resolution intro
duced by George +. Morgan appeal
ing To congress to pass n law for the
official recognition of union labor, the
same question has been taken up by
the Labor congress of San Francisco
and endorsed. Thanks were yester-
day voted the latter for the interest
shown. Letters were read from SEN
ator j. u. Dolliver. of Iowa. stating
that ne had received the communica-
tiou of the congress on the subject
and would bring il before the atten-
ton of the senate. and from Con-
grcssmen Julius kahn. of California
and III. \. Cooper, of Wisconsin, stat
ing that the proposed measure would
have their support i'm the lower house
Clerks Fight Won.
The Davenport Retail Clerks union
reported a list of eight shoe stores
of that city that had signed the
agreement to close on Sundays, thus
giving the clerks practically all they
have been fighting for in the three
cities Thanks were extended TO the
congress for the part il had taken in
the matter.
The amendment to the constitution
proposed at the last meeting render
ing all unicn labor eligible to admis-
sion 10 the meetings of the congress
and reserving the right to vote TO the
delegates was brought up and de-
feateG. 1t was further decided to be
more particular in regard TO the en-
forcemcnt of the rule concerning del
egatc cards. Unions will now be eN-
pectcd to obtain these cards from the
financial secretary and properly fill
them out for their delegates. The roll
of delegates WIN also be called at the
meetings.
Dairy Question Avoided
Delegates brought up n request
from the dairymen of the three cities
asking the congress to pass res"lu-
tions against the Tri-City Bottled
Milk and Butter company as con-
cern the operations of which are in
furious to laboring men. Upon the
development of the fact that the com
pany had not placed itself on record
as unfavorable to union labor but
rather the contrary, the request was
laid upon the table.
The committee appointed to can
vass the clothing stores to learn
where union made collars and cuffs
were handled. reported that there
were but two such places in the three
cities. the Moss Clothing company
.andMuhs Bros, both of Davenport.
Those placed on the unfair list were