Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-29

were taken of the streets because
there was no money to pay for the
collection of garbage. The city clerk
stated a few weeks ago that practi-
caIly every fund of the city except
the police and fire department was
exhausted. The city had borrowed up
to the limit set by the banks, which
was 100000.
THE streets and alleys OF the city
are In a deplorable condition. The
streets are filled with the accumulated
filth of months, while in the alleys
will be found everything In the way OF
offal from homes, restaurants, free
lunch saloons and hotels. Sickness
turks in every alley and the germs of
disease are lifted from the streets by
every breeze"
Now that is a fine kind Of adver-
Using for the city to be scattered
broadcast. There may be much of
exaggeration and untruth in 1t. Only
the resident of Rock Island can know
how much truth there is in it But
whether it be false or true, that Is the
kind of stories being circulated about
our city, and people on the outside,
reading such stuff, are bound TO be in
huenced by 1t.
In some parts of the state, the mere
announcement that man Is expecting
to move to Rock Island is the signal
for sympathy and commfseration on
the part of his friends. Articles like
that in the American have helped to
arouse such sentiment. People out
CID foNI 90 CnIQTdid
city this is, and their prejudices lead
them to believe and imagine all kinds
of things. Such publicity is enough
to cripple, or even to kill, the business
interests of the city.
Take on the other hand, the pub
licity that has been given to Rockford
and Galesburg and Decatur in the last
two years since they have been dry,
They have been quoted all over as
examples of prosperous, clean. dry
cities, and partly as a result of this
desirable sort of advertising, they
have flourished as never before.
No one thinks of blaming the sa-
looms of Rock Island entirely for the
present conditions. Many other
things have contributed to bring the
city down, but it is an undeniable fact
that the presence of the saloons In
city affairs for the last 40 years has
resulted in corrupting politics and
civic affairs, and in lowering the tone
of morals, and in producing conditions
that have hurt business terribly. Put
out the saloons and inside of five
years this city can take its place with
the cleanest and busiest and best cities
in the state.
A high rate of taxes, with a low
tone of morality, a corrupt city gov
eminent, dirty streets, defiance of
law, and a high percentage of crime
and disease, do not constitute strong
attraction to business men looking for
location, or to people seeking city
for a home.
The people of Rock Island need to
do two things: First, realize the true
condition of affairs in the city, and
clean them up. Second, advertise the
improvement just as widely as the dis
advantages have been advertised
With it's natural advantages, Rock
Island ought to be one of the best
business cities in the state. With the
saloons expelled and the city freed
from their domination in politics, 1t
will have a chance to come to its own.
That is one reason why every bust
ness man who has al eye to the future
is going to vote yes" when he goes
to the polls next Tuesday
PRESS COMMITTEE.