Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-27
ice STRIKE OFF
AS ARBITRATION
is DECIDED ON
Dealers and Union Men Agreed to
Name Delegates for ArbitTa-
ton Within 4S Hours.

throughout the city as a result of a
settlement reached between union
drivers and ice dealers at the city
hall yesterday afternoon.
What might have been a serious
strike ended when William kellogg,
head of the union men. gave verbal
orders to start work again this
morning.
The strike, for an increase of 81
per week. was settled between the
two factions at a special meeting Of
the city commission when union
men and employees agreed to name
arbitrators within 4S hours from 3
p. m yesterday.
Twenty ice wagon drivers and
helpers were present at the meet
ing to represent their union while
the employers were represented by
five dealers, including Albert d.
Huesing of the Rock Island Arti-
fetal Ice company. F. H. Rockwell
Of Rockwell Ice & Coal company
and John Campbell Of the Empire
Coal & Ice company.
Mr.. Huesing opened the discus
sion at the meeting when he spoke
Tor a few minutes. questioning the
right of the men to strike He
claimed that according to the con-
tract between the employers and
the union men, the drivers and
helpers were not allowed to strike,
but were to arbitrate.
@sIn answer Mr.. Kellog later said
that his union tried to come to con-
terence with the employers, but no
agreement could be reached.
Is Misunderstanding.
According to information which
vas brought out in the meeting,
the entire strike came through a
Misunderstanding. Both factions
had expressed willingness to arbi-
trate some time ago, but were UNI
able to get together because OF a
Misunderstanding on the date of
arbitration.
Under Interpretation of a letter
dated May 3. 1919, and signed by
officers of the Transfers local No.
295, matters between the two sides
we're to be settled by arbitration.
Fhis letter of May is a supple
ment to a contract signed between
the two parties June 81. 1915, and
effective until May 1, 1919. The or
iginal contract granted the men a
wage of $50 per week for expert
enced men and SIS for new men.
The supplement grants them an in
crease to .s24 and $50 per week, for
experienced and inexperienced
men. respectively. and is supposed
to have been binding until June 1.
1920.
The misunderstanding which re-
suited in the strike. before arbitra-
tion could be reached, arose when
the union men announced to the
dealers Tuesday that they we're go
ing to have a conference that night
and expected the dealers to attend
with them to discuss increase in
wages. 1t happened that the deal
ers were having a picnic on the
same night and told the men that
they would prefer to take the mat
ter up later in the week.
As a result Of this statement, the
union men assumed they had
been refused a conference and de-
cided that night at meeting that,
whereas they could come to no
conference with the dealers, they
would strike.
Strike they did and Rock Island
was practically without ice for an
entire day.
Mayor Calls Conference.
Mayor H. NJ. Schriver is respon-
sible largely for the men being back
TO work today. He talked to both
sides at the city hall yesterday aft
ernoon and pleaded with them for
the city's sake to get together and
keep the people supplied with ice.
He said that the matter was one of
vital interest to every citizen in
was really the only manly way to
settle the dispute.
After arguments on both sides
the men finally agreed to the may |
or's policy.
The Dealers Speak.
Mr. Huesing was the first to |
speak before the commission. He !
explained the details OF the contract |
and the letter from the union men !
by which no strike was to be called !
before arbitration.
He said that he had granted the !
men an increase Of 81 per week |
while the war was going on when |
he was not bound to so.
1t was agreed by the men that |
arbitration should have been used, |
but they claimed they saw no way |
to do so when the dealers refused |
to meet with them in conference.
F. H. Rockwell took the floor for |
a few moments and explained that |
the strike was an entire misunder- |
standing.
He gained the favor Of some OF |
the teamsters at the start, when he |
told of the faithfulnesS OF his en- |
ployes and his desire to do the fair |
thing by them.
A few moments later and the en- |
tire throng Kissed him when he re- |
ferred to them in a less dignitied |
manner.
kellogg Answers.
Mr.. kellogg took the floor to an
swer the statements of the dealers. |
In his words he was not very elo- |
ouent. and faltered bit in express |
sion but he had his ideas and I'm |
ally put them before the commits
sion.
He said that he was willing to !
arbftrate the question and had told |
the employers so on Tuesday. He |
claimed that they refused to attend |
the conference of the union men |
and that the men decided there was
no way OF. getting action except in
striking.
&c aIso aecuaed Mr.. HuesinR Of |