Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-14
PICNIC ORATORS
IN ADDRESSES TO
GREAT MULTITUDE
Rock Island and Mercer County
orangemen Have Happy
Time at Reunion.
$1,000 IN ATTEN DANCE
n. II. Van Meter Declares Irish Home
Rule Bill Pernieious and Urges
Its Defeat.

Fully $1,000 people gathered Satur-
day afternoon at Titles Grove, two
miles north of Presumption for the 36th
annual picnic Of Rock Island and Mer-
Ger county Orangemen. With ideal
weather conditions and every detail
arranged for the pleasure and comfort
of the visitors, the affair was COM
plete success and was thoroughly en-
joyed BY the big, good na-ured crowd
The same good order which has al
ways been the rule at the Orange
mems event, was maintained. Despite
the great crush of humanity, there was
no occasion for the presence Of a
police officer, so well behaved and
uecorous was the assemblage. There
was not an accident or other unsavory
feature TO mar the festivities and the
day will long be remembered by those
present.
J. l.. Clark was president of The day.
II. II. Van Meter OF Chicago, as has
been related, was the chief speaker,
and discussed the Irish home rule bill
He declared that a struggle which
will make the Balkan war pale into in.
significance will result should the
home rule program be carried out. He
claimed that the Independence CT Ire
land and the dissolution of the British
empire was the real aim of the meas.
ure and he urged that Orangemen
cast their sympathies against the bill
which he called pernicious. He also
went into the subjects OF religion and
politics.
BRITISH OFFICER HEARD.
Interes. conferred in the address of
Captain George II. Young of the Brit
ish army. The London man conveyed
the greetings of the Canadian Lodge
OF Orangemen to the Orangemen in
this country and especially Rock Is.
land and Mercer county brothers. He
discussed briefly the relation of the
army TO good citizenship and showed
the necessity of maintaining al
army. He touched upon the friendly
feeling that exists between England
and AmericS Nld discussed some OF
the elements which 20 to make their
world powers. The spirit of fairness
the liberty OF speech and thought, the
free institutions of learning and the
wide opportunity for individual cul
ture and knowledge among all classes
were referred to as contributing tC
the high type of citizenship in boil
countries. He held that Orangemer
are good citizens because of the prin
ciples of loyalty, fidelity and other at
tributes taught by the Orangement
lodge.
PREPARE FOR WAR.
That the time TO prepare for war 1,
IN the time of peace was the Centra
idea advanced in the address which
Rev. V. II. Webb of Monmouth
delivered. Il am not fearinl
trouble Of any kind" said the rec
tor, FOR l believe the advance,
thought Of the world is fast eliminat
ing the possibility Of war but there il
nothing like being prepared for tn
struggle. We are a peace loving ma
ton and none OF US are anxious 70
bloodshed. Yet if there was need O
loyal defenders Of our beloved country
] believe We could easily find them
Foes from without and within ma.
strike us and we ought to be read
for any emergency.
BISHOP DETAINED.
The Edgngton martial band and tn
Aledo Cornet band furnished must
during the afternoon. The one disaI
pointment was the inability of Bisho
VI. Edward Fawcett to be presen'
Shortly after II o'clock word cam
over the telephone that he could no
arrive in time for the exercises whic
caused much disappointment.