Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-28

l. distinction in the state of I'LL
nois and the nation, as well as i'm the
order of the Modern WOOdmen of
American, concluded the ceremonies
attending the laying of the corner
stone Of the head office building in
Rock Island late yesterday afternoon.
Hon. W. j. Bryan, whose speech fol-
lowed the exercises contained in last
nights ARGUS. was introduced by
President Of the Day William Jackson
in an appropriate reference to the
part Mr.. Bryan had taken in the
Omaha head camp meeting. which
originally ordered the removal of the
headquarters to Rock Island. Mr..
Bryan was given a great ovation
when he advanced and spoke as
lows:
MIR. Chairman. Neighbors. Ladies
and Conference.-The resolution in
troduced mt Omaha and passed
through that body so easily is not
evidence of any persuasive power
upon the part of the person who in
troduced the resolution. but only
shows how easy it is to win victory
when you have got a cause to fight
for. (Applause). The Woodmen
selected this city because they
thought it was good place to have
the headquarters of the order located
in, and Rock Island deserves what
ever credit there is in having won the
location. ] am glad that l am per-
mitted to participate today in the
LAYING Of the cornerstone of this per-
manent home of the Modern Wood
men Of America. feared little
that ut this time it might he difficult
to interest the people in such peace
able undertaking as the laying of a
cornerstone of building. War has
excited the people. Our hearts are
with our friends. and our thoughts
hallow those who are assembling to
fight in defense of the flag. But
when it was suggested that might
disturb here the thoughts of war
which are engrossing the attention OF
the people, | remembered that the
Woodmen of Rock Island had had Sc
much war that. a little thing
like a foreign war applause and
laughter) would not disturb them.
Great applause).
IL became member of this order
soon after went to Nebraska, and
attended the celebrated meeting held
at Des Moines, Iowa, in August, 1890
which determined to so large an ex.
tent the future of the order. And
there had the pleasure of making
the acquaintance Of many of these
neighbOrs who have since that time
been conspicuous in the direction OF
the affairs of the order. remember
that at that time. we only had abou,
10000 neighbors in the United States
But since that time the order ha.
grown until now the president of the
United States could have found within
the order more than twice as many
men rs he called out the other day tC
defend the nations honor. You car
get some idea ct the growth anC
greatness of the ofslsr if you will re
member that the volunteer force OF
this nation now assembling at the
command of the president added to
the regular army of this nation, tina,
is. the two forces together. do not
constitute two-thirds as many men a.
are members of the Modern Woodmer
of America
Why HasIt Grown:
"Why has the order grown:
When you find a thing that grows
you may make up your mind thai
there is some merit in the thing. Tn,
people do not accept orders, they d,
not join organizations unless they ar,
convinced that these organization.
are both patriotic in their purpos,
and have beneficial effect upon tn,
persons who join them. lam a be
lever in the philosophy that you can
not interest man in a thing unless
YOU convince him that he is. in som,