Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-10

tons among the poor. the transplant
I ing of the family from a peasant life
and from land of oppression 70 shut
them up in factories and shops so
miserabiy lighted and ventilated that
they are hardly fit for habitation.
They receive a poor living wage with
often not enough to pay the rent, buy
proper clothing and food, and yet they
are expected TO be reared to good citi-
zenship The poor foreigner selling
his vote brings a terrible blight on
him, but for every man who has a
vote TO sell there is a good American
buyer. The foreigner is not played
with fairly. The poor mother has not
the time to inquire where her boy
spends his evenings, what is his recre-
alton. who his companions No one
asks him in what kind of a factory he
is employed. whether or not it is work
he desires, what are his inclinations,
his talents; sees whether or not he
has right working conditions, a prop
erly ventilated and lighted room, pro-
lection from machinery. etc. The only
question is whether or not he brings
home an unopened envelope, stamping
him by this sign as a good or bad
boy.
Schools and churches should be
opened as social centers, where whole
some, moral. sane and pure recreation
may be found. These are some of the |
startling problems all over the coun- |
try, not perhaps as great or as start |
ling every place, but they are there to |
be solved il any strides along social I
purity are to be made 1t is up TO the |
women, the homemakers and house
keepers TO use the lallot as weapon /
to remedy these evils. The whole /
country looks to the women of this |
state with their newly acquired pow
er to show other states how wisely |
tLey guard their solemn responsibility |
and use their privilege, that they may
be examples for putting the weapon
into many thousands of hands in the
country. 81 challenge the women to
protect the best interests of the state
and nation" was Miss Vittum's closing
message
Answers Municipal Questions.
At the close of her talk she gracious
" answered questions dealing with
the subject of municipal housekeeping
and many additional points were ad-
vanced. When informed that the
women voters of this city outnumber
the men by large number she placed
an additional responsibility upon the
women by remarking that never again
can the women blame the men for
anything in the city. The women of
the state owe it to the women of Amer
lea to show their good citizenship and
cast their ballots. They may make
mistakes at first, but they will be good
and honest mistakes-measures, not
persons should be the first considera-
ton. Asked as the best methods for
the elimination of vice she
said: Eternal vigilance is the price
Of civic righteousness and the authori-
ties must be made to understand that
the women, once awakened, are awake
for all times with the power OF the
ballot as their weapon"
Business of Department.
Following the talk of Miss Vittum
the business session of the department
was held A resolution was adopted
and will be presented to the proper
asking for cleaner and
better ventilated street cars. Other
matters were discussed in executive
session and will be taken up for fur
Their consideration at a special meet
ing to be held next Thursday after
noon.
JOINT INSTALLATION