Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02
SHOPS PREPARING
To RESIST union
General Movement to Force All Fac
tories Into Recognition Believed
10 B0de Trouble.
SHERIFF HAS BEEN CONSULTED
Asked To Be Ready to Afford Protec-
tion to Property in Event His Ser
vices Are Needed.

Signs of trouble made their appear
ance at the Williams, White & Co.
plant last night. the first since en-
ployes of the concern walked out on
strike as a protest against the dis
charge of 10 men who had joined the
union. second demonstration oc-
Cured this morning. Police were call
ed in each instance. but there was no
clash between the authorities and the
unionists.
Workmen employed in that part of
the plant which is devoted TO manufac-
ture of war munitions did not walk
out with the other employees at the in
ception of the strike and that depart
ment has continued TO operate day and
night.
Last night between $50 and 200 men
appeared before the building on Third
avenue and Eighth street and are re-
ported to have made demonstration.
Some are said TO have entered the
building and TO have persuaded num-
Der of the men who were working to
quit their jobs.
Officials of the company telephoned
for the police. The men dispersed on
their orders and there was no actual
trouble.
Not Former Employees.
According TO a report that reached
city officials, the men who appeared at
the plant last night were not former
employees of Williams, White * Co, but
we're employees "a the Silvis shops who
had been holding union meeting, and
who decided, after the meeting, to
march to the Williams, White &, Co.
plant TO make demonstration in favor
of the strikers.
The second demonstration occurred
TINS .uOI nIus ana was Of more serl-
Gus nature, according TO reports which
reached authorities. When workmen
employed on the day shift appeared for
work they found their way barred by
25 or 80 men.
Attempts were made to intimidate
them. it is reported, and threatening
language was used. There was no
actual violence, however, and the pick
cts dispersed when ordered TO by the
police.
1t is understood that there was no
steam up in the plant, however, and
there is every indication that the en-
tire plant may be closed down and
kept closed until there is some sOlu-
ticz. Of the trouble reached, or until the
strike wears itself out
AS previously announced, Charles
MACEDONIAN, president OF the Tri-City
Federation of Labor, has said that the
strike d the Williams, White & Co.
plant has nothing to do with hours,
wages or conditions. but is q protest
against refusal of the company TO en-
plOy men affiliated with the unions.
In the meantime, however, there are
indications that the strike there is
part of general plan to unionize the
shops of the tri-cities. There cOntin-
ues to be rumors of demands that will
be made at other shops, some in regard
to hours, some concerning wages, and
others on the out and out question of
whether or not union men may be dis
charged.
As reported last night, meeting of
the employees of the Root & Van Der
WORT concern in East Moline has been
called for Sunday and, while labor Of
fcials refuse to make any definite
statement regarding the purpose of
this meeting, it is reported from
sources considered authentic that the
meeting is for the purpose Of deciding
whether or not demand be made for
an eight-hOur day.
That the manufacturers of the tri-
cities will resist any attempt to union
ize the shops of the tri-cities is gen
orally understood. How far the plans