Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-13

next to Rock Island, Moline is about
the best town on the map to go TO, 4
cannot see how any section of this
city would better itself, even If per
mitted to withdraw and annex itself
TO that city-that is from the stand
point OF municipal conditions. Rock
Island Is better Of financially than
Moline, as has been repeatedly shown
OF late during the discussion that en-
tered into the bond Issue campaign.
Another thing, while it has often
been said that 1t Is possible to find
construction of law that will warrant
the starting OF any form of court pro-
ceedings, IL Is not go easy to end those
proceedings the way they begin. Or
binary common sense on the other
hand would seem to discourage any
such proceeding. There is a vast diff
ference between Withdrawing from
one organized municipality and at
| taching TO another, and the mere act
OF territorial annexation from an IN
organized township TO a contiguous
city. II was indisputably the original
COuLcuDldllpu
conditions shall justify all unorganized
territory shall be merged with some
form OF definite local government, At
first glance It would not appear TO be
g matter Of ready accomplishment to
| lift any entire section of one city, with
all its improvements, its public proper
| " IN sewers, water mains, schools,
/ and other buildings which belong 10
| the people as a whole, and are enlist
| ed as part and parcel OF the municipal
I asses, in all its transactions, financial
/ and otherwise, and hitch il on 10 an
/ other town. II it were possible, there
would be continued confusion through
out the commonwealth, for any dissat-
/ isfied community might withdraw and
go elsewhere and any time. The rule
/ that would prevent such an action
within a state would apply between
the states in their relation with each
other and in their relations with the
union as a whole.
The Argus earnestly hopes that
there are no people within the borders
Of the city who are so hopelessly dis
I
is presenting further evidence of pre-
dominant determination to widen and
grow that they would seek residence
elsewhere, but If there are such they
viii not be permitted to take any of
the municipal belongings with them
when they pick up and go.
The way to make any city bigger
IN
and secession, but in cooperation in
the strength of union and combined
effort, in loyalty and il public spirit.
A man who under any pretense would
betray, or seek to betray, his home
town is not a patriot in the finest
sense OF the word. No one need love
Moline less because he loves Rock
Island more, and there is no grudge
being harbored toward Moline III this
discussion so far as The Argus is con
cerned, but this paper stands ready
to fight 10 the last drop Of the hat
any move that would anticipate the
taking away from Rock Island any
part of the domain within the city's
incorporated limits.
Meanwhile let those who in ill-con
sidered moments Of anger or passion
have contemplated the act of seeding
on a small scale remember that the
same principle was once tested be
fore the world in its broadest sense as
applied to organized government, and
to those so minded The Argus, in 4
kindness and charity, recommends fol
Sunday reading Lincoln's first inaug
ural address.