Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-27

the business, at once went to the men
employed in the mechanical depart
ment of the plant, and Informed them
that they no longer We're to look 10
him for their wages-that he was nc
longer their employer. This informa.
ton evidently awakened suspicion in
the hearts of the employees. for they
refused TO work any longer, and left
the place. After the men left, an Incl
dent developed that was construed as
an infraction of the principles of the
labor union agreement, and the men
at once took away. the union label of
the printing plant, which deprived the
publication of its standing as union
Office.
Frantic efforts were made by Jor.
dan to get out a paper for Sunday
morning, but the job was too big, as
some one had spiked the machines and
made pi of the type. Then, too. the
first telegraph report that has come
10 the publication in years, and which
had been ordered for Saturday night.
was being switched about from one tele.
graph company to another. and eventual.
~ stopped. John Looney was there in
the capacity of Myron Jordans at
torney. w. C. Looney, who has been
represented as having now no connec-
ton with the institution, was also
there = as an interested spectator =
Mr.. Jordan says. A pitiful appeal for
help brought in few printers, among
them "A deputy sheriff appointed BY
Sheriff Kittilsen The task was. how
ever, given up. and publication sus-
pended. 1t was stated today that q
meeting was to be held to attempt to
fix things up" and that Hon Nj. T.
Maloney has been sent for-to act as
Mr. Jordan's attorney.
Both Sides Talk.
Both Mr.. Jordan and Mr.. Wilmerton
were interviewed by an Argus repre-.
sentative today. Mr.. Wilmerton start.
ed by saying that he had nothing TO
say, and then furnished the reporte:
with the copy of the resolution. He
said that he was given a fine sur
prise party" He said that. as a matter
of fact, Mr.. Jordan had been the ono
TO suggest all of the things which the
board of directors so strongly dis
approves of in its custer of Mr.. vii
merton. 1t was Mr.. Jordan, he said
| who had arranged for the removal o.
the plant from the Looney building
and il was Mr. Jordan who had EN-
ployed Mr. Prothero and had passed
on the application of Mr.. White. He
] agreements for the purchases he has
| made.
Mr.. Jordan asked that he be not quoted
He had said. though, that he and Phi
| Miller had been overridden by Mr.
Wilmerton. and that they had no
| been officially consulted about the con
duct of the business Mr.. Jordan salt
that Mr. Wilmerton- holds the MAORI
Ity of the stock; it is not all paid TO
| in cash $50
Mr.. Wilmerton, if. was stated. Sc
cured an interest in the business abou
March 3, and that about March 25 HI
became the owner of the majority o
the stock. purchasing from the Loon
eys. Mr.. Jordan said that while h
had no feeling against the LoOneys, h
had advised Mr. Wilmerton TO secur
Iall of their holdings. and get the I.oor
eys entirely out of the business
was about this time that the company
lpress was wrecked by mysteriou
dynamite explosion, which Mr.. Jorda
the next day, in an interview with a
Argus representative, made bold t
say was coincident with the fact tina
the day before the connection of tn
Looneys with the paper had been Ell
tirely severed. and that arrangement
had been made to secure another loo;
ton, and that thereafter Mr.. Wilme
ton would control the publication a
president. This explosion, Mr.. 10
dan says. seemed to arouse the el
thusiasm of Mr.. Wilmerton. and he FIJI
filled all the requirements of the goo
Iangel that the corporation had felt
: dire need of. The plant was remove
: to Third avenue; Mr. Wilmerton la
ishly invested in machinery, buyin
among other things a big second han
press in Chicago. that cost some none
at that. together with brand ne
: lstereoptyping outfit, mats, etc
| and according to Mr.. Jorda
: employed Mr.. Prothero and Mr.. Whit
: Mr.. Jordan says that he then took
vacation, and that while he was aw;
: Mr.. Wilmerton assumed entire chars
l paying no attention to the director
7 He says the board members-himse
4 and Mr.. Miller-called Mr.. Wilmertt
@ to account once or twice, and prote.
F.; ed, but in vain.
Throwing the President Ont.
Then Saturday the meeting W
lcalled. and the opportunity presel
ing. jordan and Miller proceeded
, discharge" Mr.. Wilmerton, who is a
= mitted to be. the president of the CT
: lporation and to be the chief owner
the stock of the institution.
II Mr.. Jordan claims that Mr.. Wilm,
tons son signed checks for the co