Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-02

shut down our factories but we nave
got to take drastic measures.
Mr.. McEnlry declared the CONFER
ence was town meeting calieo 10
consider democratically what shouio
be done, He asserted all the INDUS
tries OF the county should have been
closed for much longer period thah
was ordered by DR.. Garfield. Are you
willing? he asked. ito give up snare
of your profits until warm weather
sets in and not so much fuel is
needed?"
He then gave consideration to the
sacrifices demanded and OF the use
lessness of being pessimistlc anu Oh
the needs Of being pessimistic anu OF
going to suffer-" he declared. NO
one is going to be without coal.
About this time distinct murmur
began to be heard in the room. muir
muir that demanded why the confer
ence had ben called if no one was IN
danger of suffering.
That murmur was given pubic Ut
terance when Mr.. Butterworth asked
why the commission had called the
men together. Il don't think any man
will refuse to make sacrifices,' said
Mr.. Butterworth. 1T Is question OF
necessity. You can have every ton OF
coal in all the Deere yards. You can
shut down all our factories. But you
must take the responsibility for the re-
suits.
"You were entirely wrong not to
consult the dealers more. l think II
! nf dealers
we would find out our wants and per-
haps be able to supply them. We don't
know what to do. We have nothing
to guide us. Let the commission talk
with the coal dealers and find out
how much coal is needed. Then come
back and tell us and we will try to
supply the want"
| Mr.. McEniry declared the coal deal
ers had been consulted from day to day
and that these dealers had cooperated
| LOYALTY with the commission.
| George NJ Loosely, president of FISK
and Loosely, asserted that If good
expert had been on the Job he would
not have sat in his Office and merely
sent kilograms. An experienced traf-
| fc man was needed, he stated.
!
scented. And every business man who
spoke, declared he was in favor OF
reducing number OF hours during
which stores were open.
"If the commission issues an order,
it will be obeyed," said William G.
Carstens, secretary of the Business
Mems association of Moline, East Mo-
| line and Silvis.
Ernest Jericho and a number OF
other druggists pledged their loyal
support to any rulings made by the
! commission.
John erik said the furniture deal
ers would be in favor of opening sew
eral hours later in the day.
Representatives of the cigar store
men said such stores served as pub
! lie waiting rooms but that the cigar
men were anxious to observe any nee
essary changes made in hours.
| Clothing and shoe men, liquor deal
ers, confectionery men and BARRIERS,
grocers and butchers were also rep
PRESENTED All of them declared that
the situation could best be handled by
! opening the stores an hour or two lat
er in the morning.
A representative Of East Moline
merchants pleaded that In East Mo-
! line conditions were different than in
Rock Island and Moline and asked for
special closing hours.
1t was after 5 o'clock when the
meeting finally adjourned. Chairman
Clevenstine announced that the ad-
vice of the men would be taken under
advisement and new opening and clos
! ing orders formulated.
William Butterworth, president Of
Deere & Co., called at the Moline city
hall this morning and inquired for
Mayor Carlson. Mayor Carlson Was
not in his office.
| When asked by an Argus reporter
as to the purpose Of his conference
with the mayor, Mr.. Butterworth stat
ed that he wished to find out more
about the coal situation. II want to
know exactly where we are at" he
said. And I want to find out what
l can do"
The conference, he asserted, would
make no material change in the coal
problem.
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