The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-15

0uceo To-Day thAt ne VIII appoint
. feommittee within . day or 30 in
vlsw Of rousing sentiment In this
community In an effort to avoid
~ rodaction OF the Rock Island
Arsenal to . mere mass Of stone
a1d steel with only between 300
AID 400 employees to guard 1t and
p4event deterioration.
The mayors announcement
came ~ the result OF a conference
Wednesday night at the city hall
With representatives Of the Ar
s@nal federation.
The scare was sounded that
there ID authentic information
which would lead to the conclu-
sion that the war department is
planning on having only the ar
senal FIRE and police. department
employees. those needed in upkeep
Of stocks to prevent deterioration.
ground keepers and ONCE help as
retained at the arsenal after
July 1.
Such is the pending situation as
announced by representatives of
the arsenal orders branch, who are
In. close touch with the situation
att Washington and who have re-
Gently returned to the tri-cities.
Arsenal officers predicted some
months ago that reductions would
probably be made to a peace basis
of 5000 or 5000 employees. The
tri-city community expected some
such reduction without alarm, the
r"pre SO as the pre-war payroll
listed only about 1000 employees.
The biggest stir in the situation,
however, followed the recent visit
Of Secretary of War Newton D.
Baker, after whose visit to the ar
eehal rumors were Immediately
afoat that the arsenal force would
b6 reduced to about 1900 en-
plbyes.
in fact. the first rumblings of
these rumors were heard a little
before the secretary's arrival here
and one delegation. at least, is
kllown u have interviewed the Sec
rotary relative to the arsenal sit
uatior. Members Ct this delega-
ton said that the ~ would
neither deny nor 1t .-le rumor.
Mayor Realize .2ger.
Mayor Harry N. .5chrlyer said
To-Day that the NOR he has delved
int the matter the. more he is con-
vinced that public sentiment must
be brought to bear against any
radical reductions at the arsenal.
Wednesday night the mayor met
with c. A. Cook, president of the
Arsenal federation; c. D. Worley
who had been in Washington dur
ing the last six months for the ar
senal orders branch; j. Sicily OF
the electrical workers and W. E
Hender of the sheet metal work
ers.
These men brought the sensa
tional report OF the probable re-
duction to between 800 and 4Ot
men. It was said that the policy
is contemplated in connection will
all arsenals maintained by thu
government.
Warning Is Needed.
Mr.. Worley was before Con
gresham w. j. Graham's commit
tee of investigation of war expen
ditures and because of his familiar
ity with affairs connected with ar
senals his warning is taken a
authoritative locally.
As result of the vast import
ance of the alleged pending situa
tion Mayor Schriver called in 10
\ seph f. Prendergast, former tray
cling examiner for the Unite,
= States free employment service a
the arsenal, and c. E. Williams
who is closely affiliated with tn
Arsenal federation, in order tina
they might aid in reaching a so
luton OF what should be done.
II was pointed out that the ar
senal men are not resting conten
with the statement that the leathe,
and cloth department has SO ia,
been reduced that the arsenal il
losing little in its proposed trans
fer to Jacksonville, Ind. They say
First, that it will throw out O
work persons established here.
Second, that the plant that is pro
posed as an addition to the arsena
by removal from New York will
not be operated, but installed only
Third, that the ramifications O
the leather and cloth department
aresso far reaching that the re
motal is only an entering wedg,
for the dismantling of the arsena
for the benefit of places somebod,
is DESTROYS of favoring.
Fourth, that Jacksonville doe
not have buildings suitable TO
housing of this department an,
that the next call probably will b
for an appropriation for ne,
buildings.
Fifth, that one of the advantage
set forth for Jeffersonville is raj,
road facilities, but that no point i
the country is so favored with raj
facilities as are available to tn
Rock Island arsenal and to the Sa
wanna proving grounds.
What Is Proposed.
I'VE are not asking the govern
ment to spend dollar to pile U
war material beyond the point q
need" said c. A. Cook. president q
the federation Of arsenal workmer
What We ask Is that the plant
the government has so we'll and S
thoroughly equipped be utilized fo
the manufacture Of articles the gov
eminent uses in the war depart
ment and in other departments.
For about year the arsens
has been compelled to go into com
petition with private manufacturer
and bid even for the work of tn
war department. We think thu
the government should use its ow
plants for the manufacture OF it
own necessary articles. Throug
the arsenal orders branch. whic