Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-22
LABOR BODY IN A
FIGHT ON SALOON
Federation Takes Up Matter Of
Having Barroom in the
Industrial Home.
VOTE 20 TO II AGAINST
Liquor Interests Voted Down in Hot
Argument-John Mitchell to
Lecture Here.

Vehement protests against the
granting Of the petition OF Otto Seid-
litz for a saloon in the Industrial
Home building at Twenty-flst street
and Third avenue carried the day in
the meeting Of the Tri-City Federation
Of Labor last night by vote Of 20 to
II. Equally vehement were the state
ments of those who sought TO work
in favor of the saloon interests. AS
a result, one of the hottest fights that
ever was seen in a federation meet
ing was staged and for more than
an hour there was battle royal for
recognition from the chair. Speakers
exhausted every argument that could
be thought of in connection with the
matter.
NATTER RECONSTRUCTED.
At the last meeting, the same action
was up before the federation, but &C
cording to Secretary Ed Gardner
there was a Misrepresentation OF
facts on the part of those who worked
for the saloon. It was said that the
lease had been granted to the saloon
interests, though such was not the
case. Thinking that the Industrial
Home association had signed the
lease, the federation, though opposed
to having a saloon in the building,
decided not to take the natter into
its body for consideration, but to
fight it in municipal channels. When
it was learned that that tha lease had
not been granted, it was taken into
the federation meeting.
CITY IS OPPOSED.
In the meeting with Mayor H. NJ.
Schriver, Commissioner Archie Hart
and City Attorney ]. F. W:tter last
Saturday it was decided to postpone
action till after the mass meeting set
for next Friday evening in the city
hall That the action of the fedora
ton will be taken into consideration
by the city authorities in disposal Of
the matter is a certainty. The city
is against the licensing Of further sa
in that neighborhood, as at present
there are eight saloons within sight
of the building.
Delegates against the saloon stated
that they would greatly prefer to rent
the store room in question and secure
less revenue than to have it occupied
for barroom purposes That was the
second argument in Importance, the
moral effect being the primary argu
ment of each speaker.
REFUSE TO RATIFY.
When he learned that the result
was against the action Of the Indus
trial Home associations decision il
the matter, George Andrews, presi
dent of the association, offered |
resolution providing for the endorse
ment by the federation of any actor
of the Industrial Home association IL
the conduct of the business concern
ing labor's home in Rock Island. Tn
, motion was as decisively defeated a
, that regarding the licensing of tn
, saloon.
, Before the seating Of delegates II
the federation there ware som
| VI bAdll AAouC Oy Gavin oioS
Some claimed that interests were pay
ing some to oppose the saloon, Will
others were paying those who wer
{ fighting for the petition. Though tn
{ claims were made and were cha
, lenged, nothing came of them.
mitchell l. is SECURED.
Another of the important matter
which was acted upon was that G
securing John Mitchell, formerly pre-
ident of the United Mine Workers c
/ America and vice presidea: of tn
American Federation of labor, t
! speak under the auspices of the fec
I Grafton in Rock Island March Z.
t committee consisting OF Messrs. Mo
rill, Rosenfield and Gardner Of Roc
Island, White, Snowden ard Aspel
; gren of Moline, and Coleman, Jesse
e and McCrawley of Davenport vas a.
pointed to make final preparations fo
the event.