The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-15
SCHOOL LABOR
is DISCUSSED
BY ALEDO Men
Arguments For and Against Closed
Shop On New AledO School
are Presented.
Especial to The Argus.)

| Aledo, Feb. 15.-Over fifty work
men of various walks in life gath
cred at the Mercer hall last night
and expressed their views on the
action that has been taken to make
/ the new Aledo school job a union
lied affair.
Besides non-union craftsmen
there were also union men present.
: A vote was taken to determine the
sentiment of those present and all
were in favor of open shop" AS
called upon views were presented
regarding whether or not the Rock
Island unions could dominate this
territory, which has no union or
ganization. AS non-union men were
not acquainted with these facts,
union men were called upon and
the arguments disagreed.
One union claimed the territory
extended midway to the next union
town. This was declared erroneous
by an Aledoan, who has held card
in a Rock Island union for many
years. He stated that the Rock Is
land territory had five mile limit.
This was decided more nearly cor
rect for if the first was true then
Aledo should come under the Mon
mouth organization instead of
Rock Island. Many reported having
seen help wanted advertisements
for either union or non-union men
as the building structure was out
of closed territory.
Meet Called By Watson.
City Attorney laohert L. Wat
cd = a q
stated the facts in the case and
said that according to George B.
Holmes of Rock Island, who is in
charge of the work here, that action
was soon to be taken to discharge
all local men who refused to join
the union. In part MIR. Watson
stated that taxpayers of Aledo
were paying for the construction OF
the school and as this territory is
unorganized it is unfair to local
men to stand idly by and see out
siders do the work. Then too,
boarding houses are scarce here,
train connections poor, and the city
furnishes small entertainment to
men who are used to a larger city.
He maintained that outsiders if they
knew the sentiment of Aledoans
was so strongly against them, that
they should not care to make this
job a closed affair.
1t was the sentiment of the as
sembly that outsiders should be
fair enough TO work side by side /
with local non-Inion men since the !
job is only small one. Mr.. Watson /
that the various crafts |
form a body and elect /
a representative to a committee that |
would look farther into the matter. /
Those selected follow: Norman /
Simpson, Edward Borklund, George |
c. E. Bjorkman, Harry
James Rohan and Clarence
Barr.
The committee will see various
local clubs and organizations in the
near future to get their opinions on /
the subject, after which probably
another mass meeting will be
called. 1t is hoped that some plan
may be worked out whereby union
and non-union men may work side
by side on the local job.
In an interview with Mr.. Holmes
last night he stated that such a
plan was PARTIALLY impossible. He
maintained that the job must either
De open or closed and that there is
not enough skilled workmen in
aledo to complete the work on
schedule time. His position is cas-
ly seen to be hard one. He is
)owerless to aid local worknen IN
ess they protect him by taking out ,
/ card.