Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-18

|
Ira Kari
The spread was laid on three tables
neatly arranged in the reception room
of the club house on Sixteenth street.
The decorations were elaborate, con
sisting of potted plants, ferns, car
nations and American beauties. Man
ager Ritchey was highly compliment
ed on the delicious menu, which fol
lows:
Blue Points. Sauterne.
Celery
ConsCmme Il La Royale.
Sailed almonds. Olives
PianIed Shad, Maitre D'Hotei
Roast Fiilet OF Beef with mushrooms s
Croquettes of sweetoresds Pontet Canet
French RI Peasi Teal Roman oman Punch,
Ice Cream in Forms. Assorted Cakes.
Poone, -. cbf fryit Champagne a ,,o cr,o,.e..
Conee. Cgars.
TOasts Are Responded To.
When the repast had been par
taken of. Phil Mitchell. in the capac-
ity of POSTMASTER, called upon f. H.
Guyer, the guest of honor, to respond
to Where Are We At?" Mr.. Guyer
replied, that geographically we were
stationed on the natural route OF
transportation east and west and
north and south, uncture furnish
ing advantages such as were scarcely
to be found. He said we would also
soon have the use of the Hennepin
canal from lake Michigan to the Mis-.
sissippi, insuring freight rates that
could not 0be duplicated elsewhere.
While che credit for pressing the but
ton in the matter of securing the APP
preparation for the small arms plant
was due to the clubs of the tri-cities
and the Representatives they had sent
to Washington, MIR. Guyer said it
should not be forgotten that there
was, too, Schley present who did
most of the work. He thanked the
club members most heartily for the
generous and unprecedented distinc-
ton and honor paid him.
Maj. S. +. Blunt responded to the
toast, Armies and Arsenals." He
said the club could well congratulate
itself on the work it had so far per-
formed. \ small arms plant had
been discussed for many years, but
until the club took the matter up,
nothing had been done. The button
had been pressed frequently, but it
never rang before. Maj. Blunt stated
that the $3.50, 1000 would only pur-
chase portion of the machinery for
the plant, so he reminded the club
that its good work should not end
now. 1t should ask again. He said
the small arms plant would in ali
probability add 1000 men to the
arsenal force, and it was his hope
that he would be allowed to remain at
his present post to see $500 men
marching daily from the island work
shops.
w r. Moore, of Moline, who was
with Mr.. Guyer ut Washington, dis
cussed The Lobby" He said the
people of the three cities were only
exercising a right which they had in
asking the appropriation. The result
should serve TO demonstrate to the
cities their strength when they Joined
hands in an und -rtaking. To Mr..
Guyer, he said, belonged the credit of
suggesting united action on the part
o; Rock Island, Moline and Daven-
port
Capt. c. Med. Townsend gave an
interesting talk on WATERWAYS"
He sa d that the real reason for the
existence of Rock Island was the rap
ids located above her. He urged that
more attention be paid to our rivers,
not alone by the citizens, but by the
Lesson of the War.
Capt. o. b. Mitcham discussed
The Lessons Of the Late War" He
the other subjects that had
been treated by those who spoke Ee-
fore him ard declared his intention OF
touching up the rest of the world"
He stated the absolute unprepared-
ness of America for war when the
conflict with Spain broke out, and the
rapidity with which we got our armies
equipped and in shape to fight dem
onstrated our unlimited capacity for
doing things. Capt Mitcham de-
plored the fact, however. that there
was very little equipment on hand at
the outbreak of the war, and he be-
lieved our late pleasantness should
have the effect of urging upon our
congress the necessity for always hav
ing on hand equipment and stores to
equip an army able to cope with any
nation on the globe
President F. w Bahnsen responded
to the toast, The Rock Island Club. -
and referred to the effective work ac-
Continued on Seventh page.