Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-03-22
THE ISLAND MYSTERY,
Arsenal Friends Who Were and
Who May Have
Ceased to Be.
NAY MANAGE TO GET ALONG.


II rh.s 10 to b. Game Of Spite wcrk
10 b PSssibl, That the Gov. ramsns
Asy r.ks . Hand to Presirvs snd
Advance what &c Already Hes on the
1.lsud.
The Davenport Democrat, after
making reference to the discussion
by the TIE Argos Of the sudden and
unexpected change Of policy with
reference to the Increased capacity
ut Rock Island arsenal, says: Truly
the outlook for the future for Rock
Island arsenal 10 not q bright one.
Not only Is none Of the $50, COO, 900
war fund coming to Il, but 1t is evi.
dent that none Of 1t is going to come
TO It. The appropriation now avail.
able Tor 1t 10 not large one. 1t is
90 small that Capt. Blunt went to
washington to do sll possible to &c.
IL enlarged, SO that there might not
be reduction Of the work. What
has recently happened at Washing.
ton our readers know. It is enough
to say that he did not get the money.
Not only that, but the order OF in.
crease here Was recalled. The future
10 very uncertain. Capt. Blunt came
back here. Is he told the Democrats
reporter who met him on the w,y
home. bent on making tie utmost,
up to the limit OF the possibilities,
out OF Rock Islsud arsenal. He
found discouragements Of manifold
nature awaiting him be-e; the recall
OF orders from Washington, aud an
incip;ent strike growing out OF con-
diii,ns for which he was not respon-
sible; but he sill adheres to deter
minatiou to do the best that can bs
done for kock leland arsenal. In
this. - ever. be has had the most
ardent support OF Gen. Flagler,
chief OF ordnance, but even the chief
OF ordinance does not have all the
say abou. appropriations. Even re-
gsrding the work nov in progress at
the arsenal there il uncertain,y.
Capt. Blunt cannot say how long
there may be employment for the
extra men recently taken on there.
II lie doubtful whether he would care
to guarantee employment to the old
force very long. but unless there is
more money for the work he is not
likely 10 be long in doubt. The
men who have stood by Rock Island
arsenal for years, in the matter OF
getting money for its payroll, and in
every other respect, even spending
their own cash literally to aid in the
campaign for its improvement, have
failed this time"
Dssertee. Hat VIII Survive.
There are esrmarks fsintly dis
cernible in the above comments, and
IL 1t 10 really true that some Of the
men who have stood by Rock Island
arsenal in the past have become
lukewarm now, and propose to with
draw their influence for and support
OF this great institution, such is to
be regretted deeply and sincerely.
Yet the degree OF friendship, that is
measured by Sc f.interest entirely, is
not SO great o factor but what it
might be over-estimated while ex.
tended. or really not seriously
missed when withheld. II spite is In
the future to take the place of the
kindly regard Of the past, purely be-
cause the government has denied the
right Of influential friends to rule the
island, then the recent unpleasant t.
ries will not be without valuable
outcome after all, for we have
learned some things. But the Dem.
ocrst or any OF its friends
must not think that the government
OF the United States is to frown upon
Rock Island arsenal. that the shops
and storehouses are to be locked up
for want Of appropriations to conduct
them. There will be more m oney
voted for Rock Island arsenal, and
unless We mistake not some OF that
t5o.000.00O appropriation defense
fund will yet come here to be ex.
pended IS originally contemplated.
II good friends have retired their
support. there may be found retired
list big enough to hold others who
pretend to be good friends. Rock
Island arsenal is greater than any
man who has ever been connected
with il or may have been interested
Ia 1t. 1t is too big to be ruled
through Washington 6y neighbor-
hood clique.
Davenport citizens are talking OF
taking steps to find out what is at
the bottom Of the present status OF
Affairs ut the arsenal. They will find
all the cooperation they need and
desire In Rock Island In any such
undertaking-and the source OF the
misunderstanding will not be hard
TO locate, either.
When Yoor Throat Clogs
Or feels raw and rough. nothing
gives such prompt and efiectual re-
lief ~ DR.. Bells Pine Tar Honey. A
IL