Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-30
LAW AND ORDER
LEAGUE STARTED
Constitution Adopted at Meet
ing Held Last Even
ing.
CONDEMN ADMINISTRATION
Blame for Present Moral Conditions
in the City PIaced-To Name
Officers.

AT meeting last evening at Armory
hall law and order league was 1Ur-
mally launched in conformity with the
plans made at the preliminary meet
ing of citizens held a week ago. The
meeting last night was not as well at
tended as the first meeting had been,
but apparently everyone who was
there was wholly in sympathy with
the movement.
Chairman A. D. Sperry had appoint
ed committee consisting Of Henry c..
Schaffer, William Jackson, Fred Tit
terlngton, W. L. Aster and Leopold
Simon to draft a plan under which
the law and order league in this city
should be organized and at the meet
ing last evening this committee,
through Mr.. Schaffer, made its report
Articles In Constitution.
The constitution consists of seven
articles, all of which met with the en-,
tire approval of those present. The
first article Is to the effect that the
organization shall be known as a law
and order league, the second that its
purpose shall be to see that existing
laws bearing on the morality of the
city shall be enforced, and third to
extend support and encouragement to
officers and officials of the city who at
tempt to do their duty and fulfill their
paths of Office. The fourth article states
that any citizen of Rock Island may
become a member of the league and
the fifth provides as the officers of the
organization a president and secretary
treasurer who are to be elected an
nually. Article six suggests an ad-
visory committee consisting of five to
confer with the officers and advise
them and the club in its proceedings.
The last article empowers the presi-
denc or any 10 members to call meet
ing.
Report is Adopted.
The report caused a general discus
sion and resume Of the conditions
which now exist in the city. At the
close Of the discussion the report was
received and adopted without a dis
senting voice. The selection of the
officers for the league was left with
the committee which drew up the coll-
stitution. A list of officials will be re-
ported at the next meeting which will
be held Thursday evening of the com,
ing week
During the course Of the discussion
words of severe condemnation were
directed at the conditions now existing
in Rock Island by those who spoke
among whom were William Jackson, H.
E. Van Duzer and NJ H. Sexton. Each
one took a hard rap at the present
administration, laying considerable of
the blame upon its head. "a moral
profigate' was the term adopted by
Mr.. Van Duzer, who declared that had
the voters known that he was going to
so degenerate they would never have
placed him In the executive chair"
Suggests Removals.
Mr.. Sexton, when called upon for an
expression of his views, stated that
he was heart and soul in the reform
plan If it was not merely the forerun !
ner of a prohibition movement. He
said the saloon question had been set
tied at the polls and that there should |
be no further attempts to Gust saloons
until the time came for another cleo |
ton. He stated 1t as his belief that |
the cause for the present moral de- |
generaoy In the city rested with the |
administration rather than with the |
6dIOOuk00p0ES, anu bAeSI II10 RIOpCL
thing to do was to put men In Office
who had the nerve to enforce the laws.
He commended also that such men
should be upheld regardless Of party
and should not be thrown out of Office
at the very first election, as was the
case with Henry c. Schafrer when he
enforced the saloon laws.
Mr.. Sexton asked how much longer
the citizens were going to allow the
present situation to continue and sug-
gested that the best start that could
possibly be made In cleaning up the
city would be the removal from Office
Of certain city official. He left to
Inference the name Of the person
whom he had in mind. The speaker
was applauded, but no action was
taken upon the suggestion, and 1t was
laid over until such time as the league
Isl fully organized with its permanent
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