Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-17
HOW IT WAS LANDED
Good Work of Rock islanders in
Winning Next Years G.
A. r. Encampment.
SOME TALL HUsTL1NG WAS DONE
Moline Gives Helping Hand
Systematic and Persist
ent Effort.

The action of the Grand Army of
the Republic of the state, at its en-
campment at Peoria, in unanimously
voting to meet in Rock Island next
year, is but another evidence of what
can be accomplished by a city when
determination and persistency are
put forth in behalf of any particular
enterprise. 1t will be remembered
that THE ARGUS for weeks in advance
of the gathering at Peoria repeatedly
advocated action on the part of the
business men here, if they expected
to secure recognition from the old
soldiers. 1t was shown that Rock
Island had a wide reputation as an
attractive convention city, and that
there was a good chance to secure the
encampment if IL was gone after
in the proper spirit. To Charles Nc
Hugh belongs the credit largely for
bringing the encampment to Rock
Island, Tor it was he who, at the last
moment, came TO the rescue of the
undertaking. Had he not done this,
the local delegates could not have ex-
tended an invitation from this city.
Those who attended the encsmp-
ment from this city returned last
night. They are: F. NJ. Rogers, COM
mander of John Buford post, C. b.
Knox and wife. Ex-Mayor William
McConochie, w. A. Norris. G. l.
Mitchell and wife. w. p. Quayle,
Charles McHugh, Mayor b. F. Knox.
County Clerk II. b. Hubbard and +
II. Buck and wife.
Rockford Leading Rival.
Other cities that were after the
1902 encampment were Rockford,
which proved Rock Islands most
formidable rival; East st. Louis.
Quincy and Springfield. The Rock
Island representatives saw on reach
ing Peoria Tuesday that there
would have to be some tall hustIing
| if they expected to win. And
they hustled. Before leaving this
city they had printed thousands of
badges an placards bearing the city S
name. They split up in squads and
went to Peoria over different roads,
tacklirg all Peoria-bound travellers
and bedecking them with Rock Island s
colors. Effective work was done
among the soldiers by the mem 5ers of
John Buford post. who knew person
ally most of the delegates, and showed
them that the city was anxious to en-
ertain them and would give them a
good time if they voted to come here.
Moline put her shoulder to the wheel
and helped Rock Island out in great
fashion, and in return for her help
Capt. w. G. Bennett, of that city, was
nominated by Rock Island and elected
a delegate to the national convention.
The nominating speech for Rock Is
land as the convention city of 1902
was made by Hon. w. G. Cochran, of
Sullivan. His speech was seconded
by Capt. w. G. Bennett, of Moline.
Soldiers Here I6 Years Ago
Sixteen years ago Rock Island enter
tanned the G. A. K. of the state, whose
then commander was the late Gen. Z.
S. Post, of Galesburg. who was afte r
ward congressman from this district.
L. is hoped to have Vice President
Theodore Roosevelt here for the next
encampment. When he spoke here
Ia st fall during the campaign he ex-
pressed a desire to visit Rock Island
arsenal, and the veterans believe that
he would accept an invitation to come
here for their meeting.
The work of laying plans for the
encampment for next year has already
been undertaken by the local COM
mittee. As the attendance seems to
increase at each succeeding state
gathering of the old soldiers, Is. 900
having been at Peoria. it is expected
that Rock Island will be called upon
to care for even larger crowd that
was at the meeting just ended and
a happy task it will prove.
Charles McHugh has invited those
who went from here to Peoria to
"hard tack, beans and coffee" at his
hosiery tomorrow evening.
SUPREME OFFICERS