Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-27

NC 10 hot nave the T1EEE 10 break
laws and we Will always ind the true
trade unionIsts standing for law. or
der and deecncy while engaged in their
noble work Of trying 10 improve the
conditions under which the masses
must work Labor is in full accord
with world democracy. Let capital go
as far.
Although this country is at war,
we laborers still have the rights guar
auteed Us under the constitution We
stilI have the rights Of free speech
Mr.. MacGoWan and Mr Griffin were
not breaking any law or gttering any
treason against the United States
when they were unceremoniousIv
hustled 10 Chicago They were strictly
within their rights and we expect to
see that IN the future they exercise
their rights without m0ieEtatIon.
Promise that the department Of jus
Jice at Washington will thoroughly in
vesugate the circumstances and facts
concerning the arrest Of the two local
labor leaders was contained in a let
ter which was read at the meeting
from Attorney General Gregory. i
was addressed TO Victor Olander Of the
state federation, who forwarded it
here. The attorney general stated
that complaint had been filed with
he said that il would be carefully i'm
vestigated- Between the speeches an
orchestra played.
Resolutions Adopted.
The chairman then stated that the
TTi-City Federation of Labor had APP
pointed a committee to draft resolu-
tons for presentation at the mass
meeting and asked James A Weed
chairman Of the committee. to read
them The resolutions which were
adopted by standing vote. we're as
follows
Whereas, on the seventh day of
August, 1917, the unwarranted and en-
tlrely uncalIed for arrest of two of our
brothers occurred, by the department
of justice of the federal government
and presumably by regular secret ser
vice men. and
w he~eaS. the SummarllT disturbing
of q meeting of men considering those
things of vital importance to their
earning a livelihood. and the forced
entrance into said peaceful gathering
/ by stalWarts Of the bull profession
with the evident intention of covering
those present into submission to the
diCtauoBs of a once defunct corpora
ton and the slave drivers in the en-
plov Of said concern. and
/ Whereas. the hoax is now trotted
forth that misinf0rmation had been
given and that the department of jus
tice had followed up too hastily and
too forcefulIy Wild rumors which evil
IDENTIFY emanated from the hireliugs
and understudies of the bosses now
I pretending control and management of
! the once Great Rock island route the
( stock Of which railroad seems to have
+ been suddenly Tejuvenated. with the
/ possible intention of handing The Unit
( ed States government big sour lemon
/ i'm case the bulls Of finance succeed" in
sJampeding matters to the point where
'eXtenuating circumstances make il
imperative that the said government
take over and buy out the important
/ transconuneutaI lines Of railroad i'm
order TO facilitate the movement of
troops and munitions and government
and army supplies; now. therefore be
it
Resolved. That the Tri-City Fedora
fion of Labor of Davenport, Iowa,
Rock Island. Moline East Moline and
s.. Silyis, HI, and the local unions in this
vicinity affiliated with and forming
part of the American Federation of
Labor. believing and fully recognizing
that unless a public and open demon
{ stration and protest be given, we may
B- i4G GLE {D AAE AELEA -L8tl anu ltikt@
mites such as corporation hirellngs
are low enough TO stoap to and i'm
pose upon the men who earn their
bread by the sweat of their brow, and
We do hereby most sincerely depIOTe
the linking up of the supposed depart
ment Of justice OF the nation with the
plans and conniving triCkery of the
parasites sapping the life from the
sturdy men who do 7he drudzinE hard
work for the tyrannical concern which
these driving masters represents and
be it further
Resolved, That we ask the press
and the people Of this busy center of
commercial industry and manufac-
tories to know the truth and the eE-
act situation in which Iabor's persecu-
ton has been attempted and the work
iugman's best interests thwarted bt
these DULLES in the Euise Of govern
mental safeguards and If further at
tempts be made in the carrying ON of
this cruel propaganda. that every
right thinking man and woman voice
their unqualified protest against such
.hHgh-handed measures being taken
again here or anywhere else in this
land of the free and home of the
brave and that all pledge their united
and determined efforts to aid morally
power the man who tolls, for he has
a.. an inherent right ID fully protect his
interests and bring about improved
/, conditions in a sane, orderly and ef
fective manner, and be il further
Resolved, That we, as residents OF
this industrial community and citizens
of this great commonwealth assem-
bled here this 26th day OF August. in
the year of Our Lord 1917, i'm the iii
nois theatre, Rock Island, Ill. havina
most solemnIy protested against the
Vaccinations Of the men in the employ
of the department of justice of Gun
government, with the management O.
the corporation known as the Chicago
Rock Island & Pacific Railway com.
pany we do hereby stand unquaIi
fiedly upon our rights as American
workiugmen and citizens. and request
yes. demand, that the department o.
justice come clear and declare itself
that in the future il viii not be useC
vi f~S