Rock Island Argus., 1902-01-17
n. c. CleaVeIand Camp Acts
Host at Memorial Hall
Function.
NUMBER OF INTERESTING TALKS
Military Schools Condemned by
Ex-Mayor McConochie-Judge
TrimbIe on Patriotism.

caSlOn OF the smoker, the first public
function given by ii. c. Cleaveland
camp, Sons of Veterans, to which all
old soldiers and Sons of Veterans of
this city and Moline were invited. II
was a purely informal affair, and as
such it was greatly enjoyed.
There were many good speakers
present. Some of them had received
warning a short time in advance
that they might be called upon to aid
in entertaining the guests, but there
were no set speeches and many of
those who spoke did not know that
anything was expected of them till
their names were read by the master
of ceremonies, Ralph Haverstick
Everybody was provided with a nice
new clay pipe. and a half bushel
basket of smoking tobacco placed on
stand in the center of the room
furnished material for the fog.
EX-Marow William McConochie was
the first speaker. He endeavored to
get off with an excuse. but was I'm
formed that he would be expected to
respond or pay fine. and he chose
the less expensive alternative. The
fine rule was subsequently, enforced
in a number of cases. as a penalty
was imposed upon each departure
from the paths of veracity.
Military Schools Denounced.
In the course of an address of a
quarter of an hours duration Mr.. Nc
Connochie went outside of the usual
topics raised by veterans at their
meetings and entered into a discus
sion of our military system. He
pointed TO elements of weakness al
ready apparent that have led to the
downfall of the military power of
other nations. namely: the Gre
alton of a class of men whose
sole business il is to be soldiers. As
samples of other nations which, he
declared we are following, the
speaker named some of the we'll
known nations of antiquity and
France and England of our own day.
He improved the opportunity to de-
nounce the government military
schools, declaring that it was
through the operations of clique
of men schooled at West Point that
the discovery of the real leaders of
the civil war was so long delayed.
Judge Trimble Speaks.
Perhaps the speaker who was list
ened to with the greatest attention
was Judge II. NJ. Trimble. of Prince
ton, who is now presiding over the
circuit court in this city. In intro
ducing the judge the toastmaster
mentioned the fact that the former
is being talked of as a candidate for
division commander of the &. \. Il.
for Illinois, subject to the decision
of the state camp here in May. The
judge took for his theme the dcclar-
alton of the objects Of the Sons OF
Veterans and elaborated upon them
in an interesting and helpful man
ner. First he eulogized the homes
of Americans which the organiZa-
tion is sworn to support. Then. in
regard TO the incubation of the les
sons of liberty he pointed out that
eternal right and Justice are the
price of that liberty. Upon patriot
ism he said that this does not consist
in standing by ones country right or
wrong, but in making ones country
right that he may honorably stand
by ii. In conclusion he declared that
the twentieth century carries with il
higher duties of citizenship than
ever were known before. but if Amer
leans do their whole duty they may
command the world, not in war, but
in peace.
Other speakers were w. r. McIn-
tyre. f. NJ. Rogers and Capt. John
Rinck. of this city. and j. w. Nor
gan, j. w. Dewrose and Comrade
Pierce, of Moline. The addresses and
stories were interspersed with songs
by j. 4. johnson and +. NJ. Rogers.
of this city, and j. Davis, of Moline.
on. the piano by Prof.
S. T. Bowlby. \ number were fined
for smoking cigars.