Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-28
ARSENAL HANDS
QUIT The COUNCIL
Charles Borst and William
Cochran Resign as Aldermen
to Hold Places.
OTHERS ARE DISCHARGED
G. @. Wilson and A. w. johnson
Are Dismissed for political
Activity"

Charles Borst, alderman from the
! Seventh ward, and William Cochran,
alderman from the Fifth ward, resign
ed their seats in the city council last
night TO prevent their dismissal as en-
pIoyes IN the shops at Rock Island ar
senal having been informed, they
stated, that they had the alternative
| OF retiring as officials Of the city or
surrenGering their places with the
United States government. They had
been notified, they said, that their pO-
litical activity was a violation OF the
government civil service rules.
When Messrs. Borst and Cochran
had declared their intention to with
draw from membership in the council,
Alderman II. J. Prick read resoll-
rion condemning the Taylor system
of shop management which has been
introduced at Rock Island arsenal,
holding the innovation TO be unjust
and inhumane, and unworthy of the
people of a free country" The reso-
luton was unanimously adopted, and
it was ordered that copies be forward
ed to Congressman James Mckinney
and United States Senators Shelby
Cullom and William Lorimer.
TWO MECHANICS DISMISSED.
Charles c. Wilson, $50 Twenty
eight street, and Albert ". Johnson,
932 Fourteenth street, mechanics in
the Rock Island arsenal shops, were
discharged yesterday upon order of
the commanding officer for alleg-
ed political activity" Presumably
Mr. Wilson and Mr.. Johnson are pay
ing the penalty for having permitted
their names 10 appear on the primary
ballot as candidates for nomination as
commissioners of Rock Island under
the new form of government. 1t should
be said in justice to both Mr.. VIII
son and Mr.. Johnson that neither cir
culated his own nominating petitions,
nor did he devote any time towards
interesting voters in his candidacy.
Mr.. Wilson and MIR. Johnson both
were put forward by their feilow-work-
men at the arsenal. and any campaign
ing that might have been done in
their behalf was carried on by their
shop associates and other friends
While political activity may be a vi
olation of the government civil ser
vice rules, the spirit of the Illinois
commission government law is speci-
fically stated to be non-pOlitical.
Manifestly there has been an injus-
tice done Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. John
son, If their dismissals are wholly
passed on the violations alleged, when
two of their shop associates, Messrs
Borst and Cochran, are permitted to
ha1 hot
the conditions laid down by the arsen-
al notwithstanding their posi-
tions as members of the city council.
On the other hand, neither Mr.. VIII
son nor Mr. Johnson was elected to
public Office. and neither is now seek
ing an elective office
ANOTHER REASON LIMITED.
1t is limited that the real reason for
the dismissal of Messrs. Wilson and
Johnson is their activity in opposing
the Introduction of the Taylor system
in the arsenal shops. funds having
been raised to defray the expenses of
a committee to make a trip to Wash
ingtCn to lay the grievance of the ar
senal workmen before the secretary
of war.
The discharge OF Messrs Wilson
and Johnson has been taken cogniz-
ance of by the Arsenal Workmen's
federation and other union labor bod
les OF the tri-cities, and protest meet
ings are to be held. \ delegation of
arsenal workmen waited on Congress-
men James Mckinney at the New
Harper last night and acquainted him
with the situation at the arsenal, to-
gether with the summary dismissal of
Messrs Wilson and Johnson, and he
was urged to exert his influence at
Washington in securing an adjudica-