Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-12
THOUSANDS OF
ORANGENEN ARE
At BIG PICNIC
Annual Event North of Preemp-
ton attracts Great Crowd
as Usual.
SPEAKERS OF NOTE HEARD
Bishop Fswcett, n. Il. Van Meter and
Other Able Orators Discuss
Live Issues.

Thousands are in attendance today
at the thirty-sixth annual picnic of
Rock Island and Mercer County
Orangemen at the pretty park in South
Bowling, two miles north of Pre-
emption. The weather conditions are
ideal and the visitors are having an
excellent time
In all OF the years since the institu-
lion Of the annual event. there has
never been an accident on the grounds
nor has The services of a police Of
hcer been Necessary. AS high as To-
600 people have been in attendance
al one time, but so orderly has been
the assemblGge that trouble has al
ways been avoided. The officers hope
that the record for attendance and
for order will be surpassed today.
PROMISENT sPT,lAKERs.
Prominent among the speakers at
the picnic this afternoon were RI. Rev,
NJ. Edward Fawcett, bishop of the do
cese of Quincy; Hon. H. H. VanMeter.
Chicago; Cata.n George II. Young Of
the British Army. London, England:
and Rev, V. II. Webb. Monmouth. J. l..
Clarke acted as president of the day
ana Foster Armstrong was super
intendent Of concessions and grounds.
The rnarshals were William McMahon.
Henry Blakley and Robert Doonan.
The Aledo cornet band and the Edg-
ington martial band played. A basket
dinner was enjoyed at noon.
VAN METERS ADDRESS.
Mr.. Van Meter IN his address bitter
~ arraigned the home rule measure
for Ireland which has been before the
British parliament for some time. He
said in part:
Unless some modification is made
in The so-called home-rule measure,
which the Scotch-Irish race regards as
threatening Rome rule. the battles be
tween the Balkan states might prove
mere child's play compared to the
revolution that awaits the British
empire in the very near future
Ulster will not stand or fall alone.
for the faith Of our fathers.
Suddenly and silently as the Tt.
talic struck its death blow in mid
ocean, so might this, one Of the most
magnificent empires he world ever
saw unconscicusly speed to self-de.
struCtion in the height OF its glory and
those 10 whom the British government
Is catering would welcome its death
blow with unbounded JOY. But its
loyal citizenship under such leaders,
as Lord Roberts. General Kitchener
and Admiral Beresford. patriots. not
politicians, would bear the brun- of the
battle for the perpetuity OF the British
empire against which it's secret and
open foes are now conspiring under
the banner Of so-called home rule.
"HOslE RULE" SHAM.
TO SHOW what q sham this so
called home rule really is. this same
government which would grant il re
fuses the mothers. wires and sister.
OF the British empire the RICH. of equa.
suffrage when Britain has been ruled
by women such g Elizabeth and Vic
terra. whom Britishers almost adore as
sovereigns. while denying To the entir,
Womannocd Of their empire the righr
Of franchise. that self-government
which is real ana not pretended HON,
rule
Those Of rs who were born under
the British banner and love It on,
next TO cur own. as the ensign o.
civil. religious ana Industrial liberty
the flag Of the free. hope and pray thai
the Geo OF our fathers may guide the