Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-09
FOR MORAL FORCE.
Six Hundred Men Declare
Themselves Affrmatively.
TO SUPPRESS MUNICIPAL EVIL

ing's Mass Meeting.
Upward of six hundred men ex-
pressed their appreciation of the
newly inaugurated movement, whose
purpose is to crystalize municipal
government and suppress immorali-
ty, at the Central Presbyterian
church last evening. 1t was the
mass meeting called by citizens OF
posed to the recent action of the city
council in repeating the ordinance
pertaining to the Sunday regulation
of the liquor traffic. and probably a
larger gathering of men never as
sembled together under one roof in
Rock Island before. They were all
with interest in the cause
and some without-in whose pres
ence the municipal fathers were
again scored for their actions as to
the saloons. So, too, was the LiJ-
uor Dealers Protective association
ridiculed for its resolution to the
city council for its elimination
of the Sunday law. Especially was
the reason set forth by the liquor
men of the beneficial consequences
to them individually and to the peo-
pie in general resulting from Sunday
traffic, burlesqued and branded an
open confession Of the uncalled-for
and unnecessary action.
Favor q Federation.
Enthusiasm in the reform move
ment spoke favorable to the organi-
cation and about three hundred o.
those present handed in their sigma
lures signifying their desire to be-
come members of the federation.
Preliminary to the resolution to or
ganize there were stirring remarks
by several local orators. Of the
ministry present there were Revs.
Ira w. Allen, of the Central Presby-
terrain; G. f. TAYLOR, First Baptist;
+. W. Merrell, First NJ. F.; w. S.
Marquis. Broadway Presbyterian; ;
ii. G. Marshall, United Presbyter-
ian. and Rey. S. $. Cryer, of Albert
Lea, MINI. After the singing of
"America" by the audience aud choir
and the Offering of prayer by the
pastor, Rev. Allen, William Jack
son WAS elected chairman and Josiah
Hasselquist secretary of the meeting.
Mr.. jackson read the call and spoke
of the city's advancement in beauti-
iication during recent years, while
to some extent pride could also be
expressed in existing morality.
although the laws were not enforced,
and the Christian people evinced
forebearance then in not demanding
closer restrictions, but when their
influence and honor, he commended,
were openly antagonized, no fair
minded citizen would condemn them
for striving to right the wrong done
them. Why should the poor man
be prosecuted for trivial offense
and another man be allowed to go
unheeded in his disregard of the
laws every seventh day?" interro-
gated Mr.. jackson. The council
may spit at the Christian sentiment
to protect the saloonkcepers," fur
Their said the chairman, .but they
will suffer the consequence" He rid
iculed the liquor dealers resolutions
to the council and said the contents
made weak and nonsensical confess
sion of the so-called benefits of the
open Sunday saloons. In conclusion
he appealed to all citizens "tr fight
until the blot upon our fair city is
wiped out"
DavenpOrter's Roast.
"You should relegate to obscurity
the men who perpetr ated this out
rage in repeating this ordinance. d"
This was the emphatic suggestion of
U. X. Roraback. of Davenport, who
radically condemned the liquor
traffic and all catering to it's sue
cess. He held the saloons as barna-
cles on the good ship OF state. and
should be wiped from the face of the
earth. One way of accomplishing
this, he suggested, was for people to
quit drinking. He claimed that
Rock Island, Moline and Davenport
would be thrice as populous today
but for the hold that the saloon
had on them. Mr.. Roraback said
4 gentleman had told him Rock Is
land was worse than Davenport. III
so. may the Lord help Rock lsland"'
he replied.
Acted In bad Faith.
II. A. Weld contended that tie
council simply acted IN bad faith.
Every member of the body was n
gentleman, so far as he knew, and
when they repealed the ordinance they
believed they were responding to the
general sentiment of the people, but
he believed they now realized their
mistake. LET the municipality
know where the sentiment OF the
people is" concluded Mr.. Weld.
land it will act accordingly" Fol-
lowing Mr.. Yields remarks. Rev. &.
f. Taylor presented resolution that
the sense of the meeting be in concert
with the call and approbative of the
resolutions adopted ct the First NJ.
church week previous. 1t was
adopted by rising vote. Rev. Tay-
Tor urged the necessity of non-sec-
tartan and non-political movement to
seek to better the moral conditions
and other affairs of the city. These
sentiments were also expressed by &.
Io~~sa.- II