The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-04-17
say MANUFACTURERS OPPOSE
!. ! CONTINUING OPERATION OF
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one years. All the arsenals put
together can only manufacture
$153, 900 900 worth OF these articles,
or less than one-fourth Of the total
needed.
1t was explailed that the fed
Grafton realized this situation i'm
mediately after the armistice was
signed and as q means OF self
preservation and with IN idea Of
saving the government money and
keeping q working force intact in
case OF further wars, the federation
agitated the arsenal orders branch.
This movement spread to all ar
senals and practically every gov
eminent head approved the plan.
Plan Explained.
The arsenal orders branch plan
was explained by Mr.. Cook as fol-
lows:
THE men realized that the arsen-
ais could not 60 on manufacturing
war material and that the war de-
pArtment alone would not have
enough peace time work to keep
the arsenals busy. Therefore, We
decided to ask the government to
let Us manufacture peace time arti-
cies aeeGea by other government
departments, such as mail sacks
for the postoffice department.
I'VE wanted to show the admins
tration that we could save the gov
eminent money, and offered to bid
on these jobs the same as private
concerns-the lowest bidder taking
the work.
"The plan was accepted and we
, began. The arsenal here has been
running a year on that kind of
work, and we have not scratched
the surface. Just recently the or
ders branch. which has headquar-
tiers in Washington, cleaned up 9TH
er contracts in competition with
private concerns, but was forced to
give them up on account Of the
closing down program, which will
not give us time to finish the jobs
we have just obtained.
I'VE have underbid. private con-
Germs even on top Of the big over
head expense Of extraordinary up
keep of q government arsenal with,
in this case especially, large force
of guards, q private civilian police
department, a fire department, a big
force of clerks to handle matters
and unkeep Of grounds and the $3.50,
100000 plant with its $50,000,00O
worth of machinery and equipment.
I'VE want to continue this work.
We don't want to make war ma
terial, but want to save the govern
ment money in making its own
peace time material to as large an
extent as possible. We want to bid
even with all competitors in doing
all of this. We want to aid in our
own self preservation. / know
how arsenal workmen were brought
here. I was one OF the men sent
out to scour the country for expert
workmen. I practically got down
Ion my knees to men to get then
to come here. They said they die
not want to leave their established
homes to come here to work as thu
, war was an uncertain matter.
sent kilograms back to this effec
and was told to tell the men tt
come on as there would be worl
. at the arsenal five years after the
war ended. After the armistice wa:
signed and the big layoff came
thought / would be lynched fol
some of the things I told the men
The government free employment
service sent in an examiner and
through his aid We managed to de-
mobilize vast number of workers
with a minimum amount of ill feel.
ing.
}; Workers Want to Stay Here.
, IF there is a big layoff ahead
, you people can't rest assured thai
these men will be absorbed in youl
local factories. The men at the ar
senaI are the pick of the country
They are experts in fine work. L
, the arsenal closes they will &
where their class of work is in de
mand and the tri-cities will lost
close to 5000 families.
"One of the biggest reasons why
the arsenals should not be allowed
to go into cold storage is that al
organization should be kept up il
case of further war. Buildings anG
machinery are not production. The
human force is the biggest of al
factors in the organization.
T; Before the war several million:
of dollars were appropriated to place
the small arms plant in shape. This
money was diverted in some way
and someone used it to buy pistols
The war came with the small arms
plant closed. 1t took us one veal
after the wan started to get ths
force to bring that plant up to pro
duction.
THE war department talks of re
moving the harness department t
, Jacksonville, Ind. 1t will cos
100000, to move the, department
and fix up buildings at jefferson
willie Just to store the department
There is only one brick buildin,
at Jeffersonviile and other build
ings are practically sheds.
THE equipment department is Il
be moved, taking away the ma
chinery and equipment for the man
ufacture of everything that a sol
der carries. The moving of tn
harness department alone with Is
employees at work now, means tn
affecting of 700 employees and tn
Gripping of the arsenal for the tax
. ing of contracts as the department
are all intertwined.
I'VE would have to turn dow
contracts where leather case o
other leather goods was needed
Taking away this department alon
affects the carpentry department
and many machin lists.
with these departments eithe
, gone entirely or crippled We can
,. bid on work where leather goods
: woodwork or hardware is needed
We would be crippled to a vast de
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