Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-09
STILL TALKING OF
LABOR'S VICTORY
SUCCESS OF ANTl-TAYLOR SYS-
TEN LEGISLATION cAUs-
ING COMMENT.
How Atlas Helped Turn Trick That
Upset Opponents Caieuls-
tons.
fsrecial to The Arsus.)

fSneelAl 10 Inc ATS ls-l
Washington. March 9-The action
Of congress in finally keeping in the
army and navy bills the anti-Taylor
system amendment is still the subject
Of comment.
General Crozler did all within mis-
power 20 have the amendment killed.
on the morning OF the day in which
the matter was decided General Gro
zier called at the home OF Congress
man Dent OF Alabama, one of the con-
ferees on the army bill. before the
solon was out OF bed
There is no doubt but that the sue
cess OF the snti-Taylor system amend
ment was due 10 the fact that the
friends OF the measure in congress
were thoroughly organized and were
on the Job all the time. During the
three days the amendment was in
conference the members who were
supporting IL had arrangements made
10 have representation on the floor
every minute of the time, lest in the
absence OF its friends the army and
navy bills be suddenly reported from
conference without the amendment
and be passed by unanimous consent.
The advocates OF the amendment took
turns in remaining constantly on the
floor OF the house. so that there should
be no opportunity OF the amendment
being killed in the rush and excite
ment attending the closing days OF !
the session.
BY a peculiar coincidence William I
O. Thompson. counsel for the indus |
trial relations committee. gave out a |
statement TO the newspapers 10 be |
published Monday morning March 1, /
the day on which il was anticipated 4
the conferees would decide the fate |
of the anti-Taylor system amendment, /
which purported to show that General !
Crozier had agreed TO some kind of
a plan for collective bargaining that
would guarantee a fair settlement OF
the Taylor system.
This article was sent to the Wash.
ington newspapers to be published
Monday morning. the day congress
was 10 pass upon the Taylor system.
Had II appeared in the public press
without explanation. il might have re-
suited in congress killing the anti
TAYLOR system amendment, in the be
lief that the matter had been settled
10 the satisfaction of the arsenal en-
ployes. as there would have been no
chance for the statement TO have been
1;
Atlas on the Job.
A washington newspaper man, how !
aver. foreseeing this possible result,
showed Il to y. p. Atlas, president ,
u District -. International Order of ,
which includes practic-
.Ilv all machinists employed in the
.rsenals and navy yards, telling him
[ was to appear in the Washington
papers Monday morning
Mr.. Alias Immediately issued
statement which was given TO the
in Washington on Sunday
md printed in the same issue on Mon
law with the statement given out by
he commission on industrial rela-
ions. Mr.. Alifas' statement complete
y took the wind out OF the other state
nent. In the statement issued by the
Industrial commission il appeared as
, Mr.. Alias had agreed 70 General
'rozier's plan. but he stated he had
one no such thing He stated Cen
raj Crozier's plan had been rejected
instead Of having been accepted by ,
he arsenal employees.
General Crozier issued statement
esemb bling our tentative agreement .
aid Mr.. Atlas. making such changes
S he desired without ascertaining
rhether the employees or their repre-
entatives were willing to agree to
he vital changes made. The net re-
uIt of General Crozier's plan would
e that the war department would is
ne orders in accordance with its own
few OF the matter in controversy"
Editors Note--Mr. Alias state