Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-20
Question That Members of
Council Have Been Unable
to Get Answered.
MAYOR REFUSES TO PEACH
Latter Says Lack Of Union Gard Drew
ecutive, Charging Injustice.


organization or individual whose alleg
ed complaint was responsible for the
: dismissal Of J. w. Cavanaugh from his
employment with the Pittsburg Filter
Manufacturing company in connection
with the installation of the new water
system in Reservoir park. The mayor
In a message, explained that the re-
moval Of Mr.. Cavanaugh was in strict
Uniformity with the terms of the con-
tract with the Pittsburg company that
none but union labor be employed on
the work. Mr.. Cavanaugh was not the
possessor of union card. The mayor
assured the council and Mr.. Cavan-
augh that the personality of Mr.. Cav
anaugh did not enter into the case ;
that the mayor held Mr.. Cavanaugh in
the highest esteem as a citizen and
workman. The mayor stated that he
understood Mr.. Cavanaugh was to Sc
cure an endorsement from the Rock
Island Industrial Home association, and
when that was presented he would
order his reinstatement at Reservoir
park.
Queer Unionlsm, Says CavanauEh.
Mr.. Cavanaugh was present at the
meeting. In the first place, want to
say to the members of the city coun-
Gil that I do not care for the job that
have been filling on the filter con-
struction," Mr.. Cavanaugh said. Il
have been identified with organized
labor in Rock Island upwards of
quarter of century. and this is the
first instance wherein my unionism has
| to-
am here tonight for the purpose of
learning the name of the union that
entered protest against my employ
ment I will never be satisfied until
that courtesy is extended me. l am
making this demand of the city council,
! because it is my right as a taxpayer
and advocate OF organized labor. There
! is only one union that could possibly
| be concerned in the class of work l
have been performing at the filter
plant, and that is the plumbers and
steamfftters. I have been assured by
officers of that union that I was en-
tirely satisfactory. Since I know the
complaint was not registered by that
union, 1 am at a loss to understand
where it could have originated. The
association, while it is really avail |
able, does not suit me as a substitute |
for union card. That is not the kind |
Of unfonism that was trained in. Fur
thermore would like to know what |
particular union whose card l should |
hold in order to be acceptable as an
employee on the filter work. I don't
believe there is a member of this coun-
ell who can answer my question"
Reinstatement Called For.
Alderman Charles Thompson offered
a resolution calling for the reinstate-
ment of Mr.. Cavanaugh. Mr.. Thomp-
son reminded the council that he had
been dealing with union labor for
years, and he felt sure that a great in
Justice had been done Mr.. Cavanaugh
He never heard before of a union be-
ing afraid to show its hand in such an
instance.
Aldermen H ]. Frick, G. A. Schmid, 4;
Arthur HUH and J. T. Stephens voiced
the sentiments expressed by Alderman
all demanding of the mayor I
that he make known the name Of the {
protestant. There was a hot exchange
Of words between the mayor and Aid
erman Schmid, the latter charging the
executive with being afraid to give the
council the information that it sought
The mayor admitted finally that the
protest had not been filed by an organ I
zation, leaving the inference that it
came from an individual.
The whole proceeding has the ear
marks of a small piece of spite work
substitute motion, offered by Alder s
nan Martin McNealy, that the resolu-
ion of Alderman Thompson, together }
With the message of the mayor, be re- {
erred to the waterworks committee to E
investigate and report back to the '
was adopted.
GaIes7:urg Asked to Settle.
H. n. Rounds was allowed his bill /
# $175 for nursing Devore, a small
'ox patient, at the local pesthouse. !,
rhe council instructed the clerk to
ender a bill for the amount to the .
ity of Galesburg, by whose author :
ties it has been found Devore was
eleased before he had fully recovered
rom the disease. He was removed
d this city from a Rock Island South =
IN train on which he came from
ialesburg. =,
Hartz & Bahnsen company was the -
owest bidder on furnishing the city
carload of alum for the waterworks
apartment. The bid of the local con-
ern was accepted. Bids were receiv- :
d from several local concerns for the Ii
IMPLYING OF five carloads of coal for
ne waterworks department. These
Tere referred to the finance and wa
srworks committees with power to
ct. Two bids for furnishing SEQ feet a
Z 24inch sewer pipe were referred ta 9
ne street and alley and waterworks q
ommittee with power to act Y
Reassessment Ordered. O
The mayor and city attorney we're d
lstructed by the council to file sup g
Elemental assessment in the comfy C,