Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-26
Go on With the Fight.

In the pending crisis in Rock Is
lands history, in the face of open
and Haunted defiance of law and the
outrageous abuse of the instruments
of the law by the agents OF the law,
there is but one cry going up and
it rings from one end of the town
to the other. It is don't give up
the fight" The men whose homes
and interests are here, the men who
respect the law because they respect
themselves and respect the rights of 9th
ers, are with one accord back. Of the
move that has been made to cleanse
the town. While The Argus has re-
ceived the heartiest encouragement
and commendatton on every hand
for its prompt and positive stand,
and is gratif1ed to know that the
people approve of its course, words,
however much appreciated, will fail
where deeds are lacking. Action is
the watchword of the hour in Rock
Island. Lawful action that will vim
dictate the law where the law is in
contempt. is what is demanded. The
happenings within a week have af-
The Argus has contended was the
situation, and notwithstanding that
The Argus was not identified with
the crusade, it was quick to record tt
self on the side of law and decency.
There it stands and there it will
stick as long as there is a vestige
of fight left in the Law and Order
league.
And right here it seems pertinent
to say that this is not the time for
qUittels. There is no occasion for
bunting cyclone cellars or running to
cover to await developments. Shock
ed, though undismayed by the open
defiance of law and order, needless of
the yelps Of desperation that emanate
from the raided dens of vice. the mem
bers of the league must go on with the
fight.
There are two kinds of gamblers
in a community that tolerates gam
bling. One is the manner of man
who runs a poker room, who permits
his patrons to have a fair run for
their money in the est of skill
and luck. He takes his chances
both on losing and on get
ting caught, but If apprehended pays
his fine or suffers any other punish
ment if he cannot get away, grins
and bears it and endeavors ito come
back" Under the law he is as much
amenable as the other kind of gam
bier and is entitled to no more con-
sideration as violator Of law.
But of the other menace in
~ hf1I
wayman with the masked face, who
stops you on the lone highway, and
with cooked revolver demands your
wallet. takes more chances than the
gambler who sits behind the manipu-
lated gaming table and gives you no
opportunity to beat it." The high
wayman stakes his life II you happen
to be armed and get the drop on him
before he robs you. The gambler
with the crooked device, takes
no chances, and he gives you none.
He robs you while you wait. 1t is
this menace to the community whose
paraphernalia was seized in Rock
Island last week, publicly exhibited
and replevined on the ground that
there were Office furnishings and per-
sonal belongings in the outfit.
This menace to the community
does not take his medicine with a
smile. He does not even duck. Firmly
entrenched, as he believes, by reason
of having paid license" money to
carry on his nefarious operations I'M
molested, he does not run to cover.
He turns and fights, and defles the
law while demanding and re-
ceiving the protection of the
law to enable him to recover his par
aphernalia and transfer 1t to Daven-
port, where it is now temporarily
stored.
This menace to decency is still with
us, and it is for the people 10 say
whether he and his accessories are to
continue among US until the clouds
blow away sufficiently to permit the
reStl m ution of feacinR Operation6. .