Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-06
MAKE PLANS FOR
men TO FOLLOW
AT The ARSENAL
Committee of 33 Employees For,
mulates Campaign Against
New Cards.
NO IMMEDIATE WALKOUT
When Day of Introduction Comes
Men VIII Continue to Work
but Under Protest

The committee Of SO, representing
the various trades unions of the Rock
Island Arsenal federation, held a
meeting last evening in Industrial hall
and one OF the matters decided upon
was the action to be taken the day
when the card system shall 90 into
effect at Rock Island arsenal The
committee decided that on that day
the men will finish their work under
protest and at night there will be
big mass meeting in Rock Island to
map out further plans. The original
intention was to have a walkout i'm
mediaJcly, but the union men fear
that there might be a hitch and so will
hold n meeting. The committee meets
again tonight and will probably ar
range for a big mass meeting to be
held Saturday night.
WILL BRING ORGANIZERS.
Every trade represented ON the ar
senal has sent for the international
organizer and all Of them are expected
here before next Saturday. Daily, men
ORGANIZATIONS are springing up. The
representatives state that 900 men are
organized on the arsenal now. Men
roErescntinC the clerical force at
tended me meeting last night.
Whether they can be organized is a
question OF debate. The arsenal work
men are anxious to staye off the in
stallation Of the card system until
after March 10. when the congress
siOnai committee il expected to report
TIE ORDNANCE ACTION.
The following is a copy Of a telegram
Of instruction sent by General Crozier
TO Colonel George w. Burr. the com
handing officer of Rock Island arsenal,
for the latter's guidance in reference
10 the introduction of the job card in
the shops Of the arsenal. as referred
10 In yesterdays Associated Press dis
patch.
Follow your instructions as TO en-
ploying job card after full explanation
OF character and purpose of card and
absence OF intention to use il in any
way to disadvantage of employees and
that II has nothing TO do one way or
the other with the time study or pre-
mium system Select men of reasona-
bic character for inaugurating it and
iu sufficiently small number to permit
full individual explanations. These
directions being observed require com
pliance with instructions"
COURSE TO BE FOLLOWED.
"These instructions" said Colonel
Burr this morning, will be followed
by me literally in the introduction OF
the job card. When the time comes
20 put in this card, ! intend TO per
sonally explain to the employees &c
whom IL IS given the purpose and in
tent of the card the reasons of the
management for introducing il, anC
to emphasize the fact that it has moth
ing TO do. one way or the other, with
the pay of the employee or the amount
OF effort he must make to secure thai
pay, and that IL can in no way worl
TO his disadvantage. That being done
any emplOye who refuses to use the
card will be discharged for cause, anC
under the civil service rules canno
be again employed at this arsenal
In case any considerable number o
employees quit their work on accoun
Of the introduction of this card, o
on account of the discharge OF an,
employe for refusing TO use it, thi
Office shall Immediately proceed to fl
the places OF those employees thus quit
ting the government employment a
promptly as practicable. In view o
the threats that have been made
would suggest that It would be wei
for desirable people out OF employ
ment in the tri-cities to file applics
lions for positions at this arsenal, 4