Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-28

| Stanu lnB 1ule winch COul0 De uSeu IoI
manufacturing purposes, and also abb
solutely free power as q result or the
fact that the government owns great
power plant in the Mississippi at ROCK
Island arsenal, and can manufacture
these war materials cheaper there
than at any other arsenal In the
United States.
/ am also carrying on campaign
to have the government locate the
proposed 100000 government arm
or plate factory at Rock Island, where
| the government owns S96 acres OF
land. ideally located for such pur-
pose. without having to buy land for
/ a site elsewhere.
Made Member Good Roads Committee.
Realizing that the improvement OF
the country roads in my district was
one of the most important matters in
which I could engage my attention,
made a canvass among the leaders
of the house as soon as / was sworn
in, to obtain membership on the roads
committee. l was successful in being
made the Illinois representative on
this committee, and took part in
framing what is known as the Shackle-
ford bill. which carries $25.0O0,000 for
the improvement of country roads, and
as soon as this measure passes the
senate and becomes a law l intend
to see to it that the Fourteenth Illi-
nois district receives it's due proper
ton of this appropriation.
Working for Government Power
Plant.
/ ann now working on a bill looking |
toward a huge government power
plant in the Mississippi river at a
point near Rock Island and Moline
to be determined by the army en-
gineers. My idea is to have. the gov
eminent build and operate this plant,
and sell the power directly to con-
sumers practically at cost. The Mis-
sissippi is. or should be, the peoples
property, and IL it is to be harnessed,
IL should be in their interest. II a few
capitalists are permitted to harness
the river. it will, judging from past
only enrich them at the
expense of all the people; while if
the government can be induced to
swing the project, the entire COM
nunity will be benefited.
Personal Attention to Old Soldiers.
have made it one of my principal
iuties to make a daily trip to the
pension bureau to give personal at
ention to the pending pension claims
II the old soldiers, the soldiers
Widows and the soldiers orphans
'esiding in the Fourteenth district.
rhe volume of pension matters that l
I'M handling is so great that it in
olives much hard work. but there is
lothing that l do here that affords ,
ne IS much pleasure. l expect to
hortly be made member of the PEN
ion committee, which will still furth-
II increase my usefulness to my dis
riot.
In this connection l desire to state
hat as the son of an old soldier who
evoted nearly three years service to
he cause of keeping the American
lag intact, and as the representative +.
( a district in which several thous-
nds old soldiers reside, / am I'M
opposed to the proposed
Ian to amalgamate the confederate
nd American flags. Our present
ag is the most beautiful in the
'orld. 1t is satisfactory to me, and :
m proud of it, Just as it is. :
Views of Constituents Helpful. \
1 desire to repeat the assurance '
eretofore given by me that l am al
avs glad to have constituents write b
} me about pending legislation. c
ave been very much gratified be- b
luse of the number who have writ
n their opinions on matters of ma I,
onal legislation end who in connec- n
on herewith have offered many help u
j suggestions THESE letters are
IT merely Welcome, buI they are So
cited. r
desire to faithfully represent the A
ews of the people who have sent i
e here for that very purpose, and to
so 1 must know your views. If I'M T
tentionally l have taken a false
'sition, as Socrates said, II pray that
will impose on me the just pun "
hment of him who errs; and the
st punishment is that he should be 81
I right"