Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-18

PLACING $4,000
MEN IN IOLENESS
Practically All Plants With Exception
Of Arsenal and Silvis Shops
Shut Down.
FEW LOCAL EXEMPTIONS MADE
Concerns Using Wood to Produce
Steam Power Are Not Hit Under
Suspension Orders.

Practically all Industrial activity in
Rock Island county was suspended
today.
Under the orders Of the fuel admin
istration factories were closed last
evening for q period Of five days, about
fifteen thousand men in the county
being placed in idleness.
There were certain exemptions, how
ever, by reason of the fact that the
Rock Island Sash C Door works uses
shavings and wood with the blower
method to produce steam for opera
ton Of its plant. it was not compelled
to close The John Volk & Co. plant
also was not compelled to close, since
it does not use coal to operate its
plant. The orders of the fuel admin
istration state that plants using coal,
coke or electric power must suspend.
The local committee interpreted the
instructions as not applying to those
plants which do not use coal or coke
or power produced through the use OF
this kind OF fuel.
Little further information came to-
day as to whether or not the heads
of the factories in Rock Island would
are off. 1t is generally understood
that few if anv plants. would pay the
men for the time the factories are
closed. 1t was stated today that new
er before were the factory workers
better prepared for a lay-off than al
the present time when wages are high
er than they ever have been and work
is more plentiful than ever before.
Obeyed In Spirit.
The spirit as well as the letter Of
the fuel administration order, closing
all industries east Of the Mississippi
for a five-day period. beginning today
was in full force to-day.
Nearly fifteen thousand men are idle
Production of all kinds has ceased
farm implement orders, orders fol
blows, tractors, wagons, shells, ant
all the other products manufactured
locally will be delayed five days.
With the exception Of Colone
George Burr, arsenal commandant, al
local factory heads acc epted as ofticia
the order issued through press dis
patches.
The order was accepted stoically
in spirit of cooperation, though alst
of resignation. Officials of majorit.
of local factories declined to common
ON the situation or the order. AL
stated they were obeyiug the order
that their plants were strut down. AL
T intimated that while Garfield's ordel
was n serious blow to production i
probably was necessary.
E. l.. Clark, manager OF the Uni
versal Tractor company, employing l.,
200 persons, stated his plant was com
plying in every extent to the order
both in its spirit and in its letter
This plant at first considered Operat
ing by means of using tractors. Aftel
a brief conference the plan was aban
doned as being not entirely within the
spirit of Garfield's order.
1.-THE order was little hasty and
little drastic Some other way nigh
have been found. Non-essential'
might have been denied fuel for
time"
This spirit Of rather heroic accept
ance of an unwelcome and severe or
der is typical of all local industries
1t probably typifies the opinion
though unexpressed-of officials O
these industries.
In some shops some men are work
ing on repairs and such employment
as can be carried out without use o
power or heat. Three hundred mel
are working in the lumber yards O
the John Deere Wagon company. Va
rious Office forces Of local industries
are not affected by the order.
Williams White & Co., though no
operating this morning, expected tt
receive an order from Washington Civ
ing their plants permission to us'
fuel as usual. This plant is engaged
largely on munitions contracts.
Working at Silvfs.
Eighteen hundred men are workin.
at Silvis today. The order issued b.
Garfield was interpreted to mean tina
all activities connected with transpor
tation of fuel were not affected. "W'
are not affected by the ORDER" salt
S. W. Mullinix, superintendent of thu
shops. THE Silvis shops are running
as usual" Mr.. Mullinix stated tina
the closing OF other industries woul'
not benefit the Silvis shops.
Stone & Webster are employing be
tween 900 and LOO men today. Thu
majority of these men are employed
on outside work. 1t Is understood tina
fuel is being used today as usual. TIL
order issued by the fuel administra
ton has, according to one official o
the company, no effect on arsena
construction work.