Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-20
BUSINESS MEMS
ANNUAL DINNER
is HELD AT CLUB
One Hundred and Five Sit
Down to Most Sumptuous
Repast.
SPEAKER ADKINS TALKS
Discusses at Considerable Length the
Working of the Illinois State
Legislature.

The Rock Island business men
lO5 strong-gathered last evening at
the Rock Island club and enjoyed
the annual banquet of the associa-
ton. That the organization is COM
ing into its own was shown by the
capacity attendance ana by the var
led interests of the city which were
represented. Banquet tickets TO the
number Of 10 had been sold and
IS that was the capacity number,
numerous requests made for them
during the early hours Of the even
ing had 70 be refused and many who
would have liked to have attended the
dinner, could not be present.
The repast which was served was
excellent and was much enjoy
ed. The banquet hall was open
ed to the diners at 1880 and it was
after O'Clock before President H.
A. Clevenstine raped for order and
the speaking began.
MTNTYRE POSTMASTER
Mr.. Clevenstine, in a few well
chosen words pointed out the needs
of a better organized and progressive
business association and of the many
good things that could be accom-
plished. Among these he spoke OF
the small arms plant at Rock Island
arsenal and the present danger OF
losing It. He then introduced w. b.
Mcintyre, who was billed as toast
master.
Toastmaster Mcintyre. in his own
iuimitable way and with more than
the customary frills, introduced as
the main speaker of the evening
Hon. Charles Adkins OF Bement, H..
speaker of the Illinois house of rep,
resentatives.
TELLS OF PROCEDURE.
Speaker Adkins, after a tribute to
the democratic spirit OF American
citizens. launched into a two-houi
discussion of the Illinois state leg
islnture Hc pointed ont in detail
the workings OF the house, showing
how the speaker is selected. how the
committees are selected and made
NJ, the vast detail Of work connect
cd with the organizing and appoint
ing Of the committeeman, the fac
iional fights which hinder legislation
the methods Of introducing O bill
the procedure OF the bills and in fac
gave very clear insight into thu
general working Of the legislature.
Tho speaker occasion 10 Sian
the state senate. condemning its gen
oral methods OF procedure and il
legislation.
OPPOSES INITIATIVE.
Mr. Adkins expressed himself vehe
mently against the initiative and refer
endum. which he stamped as revolu
tionarv measures and he also ok
pressed the belief that the state an
nation are going too far in the curbinj
Of railroads and the so-called trusts
He said that many years ago. ever
effort was made TO induce invest
ments Of capital, giving the investor
free rein. while now the pendulum
IS swinging In the other directio
and is going too far.
He also took occasion TO cOndem
the legislature for it's practice c
rushing business through at the las
minute though he condoned this fac
by showing that II was necessary tina
hurry-up measures be used Never
theless. he thinks II a disgrace TO tn
fair name Of the state that on on
occasion AZ least. closing sessio
lasted all Of Saturday night and ra
over into the wee hours OF Sunday.
FINEST LAND IN WORLD.
After giving his opinion on varior
questions of public policy on varioU