Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-18
MORALS OF A CITY.
Civic Federation Says Rock ISL
and's are Poisoned.
REPEATING OF THAT ORDINANCE.

The City Government Remembered for
Its Alleged Violation of LAWS ut Last
Evenings Mass Meeting at Association
Hall.
The city government was treated
to another going over at last even
|irg's mass meeting under the aus
piccs of the Rock Island Civic FEEDER
alton for its alleged violation of the
state laws in repeating the ordinance
applying tothe closing of the saloons
on the seventh day.
The meeting was held in the Young
Mems Christian Association hall and
attracted in the neighborhood Of
fifty men, who listened to stirring
illustrations of our moral condition
as compared with other cities.
And there was some excellent
vocal selections by the Re-Echo aud
Apollo quartets OF Augustana col
lege. In the absence of President
Foss, NJ. w. Battles was chosen
chairman.
Something Is Wrong.
Robert Lynn was called upon for
an expression of his opinion. He
said that he never in his life shirked
from doing his duty as citizen. and
said if every body did likewise there
would be no occasion for one man to
keep his eye on the other. land the
prime cause for a meeting of this
nature" continued MIR. Lynn, lis
brought about by someone doing
what he ought not to. l have no
sympathy for a man who will violate
the law; and | have less respect for
one who will violate law when he
swears to uphold it. 1t will require
time, but the only way to remedy
our condition is through the ballot
box What we must and are in duty
bound to do is to protect the rising
generation-our girls and boys
from the criminal influences to which
they are at present exposed"
Prof. A. W. Williamson. of Angus
tana college, said the administration
of city or country was great edu
Gator. If it is careless or polluted
the natural tendency in the educa-
ton of our young is degenerating,
as they are more or less guided NOR
ally by the men who occupy posi-
tions of honor and who are looked
upon as honorable. Mr.. Williamson
said he realized it would require
some time to get a good and moral
city government, but he believed it
by their Maker to remove the vice
from the pathway of their children.
Worst in Our History.
William jackson said that never
in the history of Rock Island did such
a demoralizing condition of affairs
exist as now. Neither did he remem-
Der during his 81 years residence
here when a city council recorded an
act which injured the morality OF
the community. Hence the singu.
layity of the recent action with ref
erence to the saloon question of
the city fathers.
Mr.. jackson also took occasion to
assure his auditors that the Rock
Island Civic Federation was not dead
Notwithstanding the hopes and be-
liefs of many. And they may call us
cranks," continued Mr.. jackson,
"because we belong to Civic FEEDER.
alton. Well, let them call away;
what do we care as long as we speak
and dc what we know to be right.
And what every honest man wants to
do is to live long enough to see
the city council! replace upon the
ordinance books the act requiring
saloons to close on Sunday.
What's the use in talking about oul
prosperity when in fact Rock Island
is in the most degraded state of any
city in Illinois today" Mr.. Jackson
termed the open Sunday saloon the
browning disgrace of our city.
L. f. West said he felt like the two
men in the well. They knew they
were there, but did not know how to
get out.
| Nervous women will find relief in