Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-16
TO FORCE A DEAL
Extremes Resorted to i'm Behalf
of Wate'works Pump
Concern,
AROUSE ALDERMEN AIMED AT
Wore Developments in Matter Which
Comes Up sTomorrow
Night.

Something of surprise attended by
IMPRESSIONS of Indignation on the part
If numerous of the aldermen was Gre
lted in Rock Island Saturday evening
when ii developed that attempts were
being made to influence some of the
members of the city council through
he power of an organization to which
hey belong. in favor of a certain pump
lnder consideration by the city for the
Vaterworks
Reference has frequently been made
trough the columns of The Argus 10
ne extent to which outside influences
IS well as local interests involving
'ormer city officials We're being
brought TO play upon the council in the
lending pump negotiations II so hap
pens that the attempt 10 enlist other
forces IN the transaction proves a part
If the work of the same concern. and
he effect of it is likely TO be that the
company. regardless of all else is in
LANCER of losing some of the prestige
It may have gained.
On the question OF the respective
merits of the pumps represented in the
propositions submitted TO the council
10 outsider ought TO be as well qua lifted
o speak as the members of the coun-
I'll who have gone into the subject
And yet il is fair 10 presume. that in a
general sense one pump is about as
good as another among the big con.
ems. At least there is hardly enough
Inference in favor of any one for the
lway by undue influence in its favor. In
act a pump of any value ought to have
sufficient bottom to stand on before the
council without requiring its Tepresen
'ative to go to the extremes shown
the Rock Island negotiations to
force its purchase. The fact tina;
lOt only out-Of-town influences "a
we'll as ex-city officials have been work
ng on members of the city council ir
behalf of this particular concern ought
o be enough to arouse discussion. while
he attempt 10 whip two of the alder
men into line through their devotion TO
any cause is the climax Such a piece
If work must prove boomerang TO the
interests cOnCeiying of the scheme Il
only goes to show the far reaching eff
'ect of wheels within wheels. such q
great institution is capable of swinging
ven without the knowledge of the men
hopes finally to reach and use for its
own gain. 1t is but natural that the
aldermen should desire to take into
consideration the cause interests and
The wishes of all organizations inter
ested, particularly union labor. for in
stance. in making so extensive a pur
chase. and the right of labor. il
made, TO protest against the recognition
of any factory whose record has beer
hostile to the reasonable demands %
labor should be recognized. But that an.
great influence should be enlisted il
behalf of any particular institution, eS
pecially where there is back of the
same concern men whose alliances are
not the purest and best right here il
Rock Island, is another thing, and there
cannot be much doubt that any infiu
ence remote from Rock Island. that has
been involved in the question has been
the subject of misrepresentation as tC
the actual situation. Evidence of this
came today in the form of a telegram
from the head of the organization re-
ferred to- stating he was not familiar
with the local situation and advising
the members here to keep hands OFT
and observe a strictly neutral attitude
as far as favoring any particular com
peting company in the pump deal.
Views of an Alderman.
N n alderman annNprCinU ON the pIynI,