Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-13
LINCOLN HAILED
FIRST AMERICAN
BY PROF. MERRY
University of Iowa Educator Is
Orator at Annual Banquet of
Rock Island Club.
STRIKING LESSONS DRAWN
Colonel George W. Burr Says Govern
n1ent Can Manufacture War
Munitions Cheaper.

ard tireIess exponent or democracy.
was portrayed in the making. in the
testing and in the proving. last night
at the Lincoln day banquet OF the
Rock Island club. by Professor Glenn
y Merry. professor OF oratory at the
University OF Iowa. Tie banquet
wPs also marked by an address by
Colonel George W. Burr. commandant
az the Rock Island arsenal. who gave
review OF the significance the ar
senal held TO the city OF Rock
Island and what il had accomplished
in efficiency ana economy OF manufac-
ture-
Bernard ID. Connolly acted as toast
master. In introducing Colonel Burr,
the first speaker. he spoke OF keen
interest he retained in arsenal affairs
from the fact that his father. Major
Connolly. had been active in 1864 in
shaping national legislation TO have the
arsenal located at Rock Island. This
is n day in which patriotism is natur-
ally inspired within our breasts for a
man who claimed Illinois as his state"
said Mr.. Connolly in presenting Pro
fessor Merry to the banqueters as the
Lincoln day orator. Lincoln was pic
tured by Mr. Connolly as a man who
in his life and his death was an ever
present inspiration to the American
people.
Members OF the Rock Island club as
sembled for the banquet at 1880 I
o'clock. 4 half hour reception preced- /
ed retirement to the banquet. hall. The 1
assembled men stood while the invoca-
ton was pronounced by Rev. Father
c. p O'NeiIl. after which a toast to
the president. of the United States was
proposed by President W. \. ROsen-
field and drank. The banquet hall was
appropriately decorated in flags and
pictures OF Lincoln were suspended
on the walls among the intertwined
flags. The tables were arranged in the
form OF an l.
Rock Island Arsenal.
Beginning in LincOln's administra-
ticn an act designed to establish a
United States arsenal at Rock Island
was passed" said Commander Burr in
opening his address. The cornerstone
OF the arsenal was subsequently laid {
sept 20. 1864 The half century of its (
progress Colonel Burr referred TO as
marvellous. An aggregate OF S12.OOOOO0
has been spent in permanent improve {
ment at the arsenal. including roads. :
bridges. water power and various
buildings. The realty ~ the arsenal
g. valued at 81 900 600. Boosters say
II IS worth S2.OOO.OOO.' said Colonel .
Burr The value OF the water power !
Is placed at $4,000. 900 and the bridges.
the speaker said. were a great asset.
Bridges connecting Rock Island with !
Davenport cost a half million dollars
and Rock Island derives considerable
value from these bridges. The bridges ,
are worth 100000 annually TO the tri- ..
cities. the speaker stated. Disburse-
ments at the arsenal aggregate more
than million dollars annually. IN ,
so years. Colonel Burr said. $4,000. 900 a,
had been spent for labor.
The Wage Situation.
we pay the prevailing wage OF the S
community at the arsenal and require {
our men 10 work eight hours a day" T
sid Colonel Burr. Arsenal employees 1
are also paid for seven legal holidays +
and 15-day leave OF absence on full /
pay is allowed. We pay money TO r
more than 1900 breadwinners, which {
represent population Of 5000 people" d
said the speaker. Colonel Burr said i
there We're TO panics al the arsenal I
and no cessation OF trade War only 7
quickens the activity u the arsenal .
instead Of paralyzing industry as in '
most cases. IL
That the arsenal turns out work a
cheaper than the government can get i
Il from the contractor Was the graft h
fying statement OF Colonel Burr Great J
strides. he said. had been made in ef- I
ficieucy and economy in manufacture b
Allowances are made for cut in capi- b
tsi. insurance. and the depreciation in q
the plant. Colonel Burr continued He n
pointed 10 the great advantage the ar
ssnaI had over the contractor m the S
water power. r
Says Men Are Co1tented. S
Employees at the arsenal are salts 4
aed with their work and many men n
who began work in the SOS are still e
employed at the plant Many came il
TO us during the Spanish-American war c
ard We ask you TO make an investiga- a
ton as to conditions OF the employees Y
Al any time" asserted the speaker 7
The interests OF the arsenal heads are
for the workmen the same as for the v
federal government. Colonel Burr stat Il
ed and he said there was always v
mutual understanding between the q
men a
Disability compensation for en- .
ployes was related and a system Of i
awards for suggestions from employees q
with a view TO more economical OPP u
Grafton OF the arsenal. II was explain q
ed. were given. The men are protect, c.
ell by the civil service laE, the most p
efficient men always gaining promo q
ton first. Men are not discharged n
without a hearing OF the merits of 81
the case. n
No political pull. race or religion fig N
ures in the employment OF men Labor "