Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-14
COUNTY MAKING
SMALL PROGRESS
SAYS C. W. ROSS
East Moline Man Tells 1900
Block Men Better Plan of
Government Needed.
BANQUET AT NEW HARPER
n. A. Jansen Urges Tri-city Fedora
tion Of Business men-Secre-
tsry Makes Report

Declaring that Rock Island county
during the past so years had failed
20 make the progress it should and
that vast sums we're being spent
without tangible Improvements. Geo.
". Ross. banker and advocate of the
borough plan OF government for Rock
Island. Moline and East Moline. made
a striking address before the members
OF $500 Block Merchants club at the
initial banquet OF the year. held last
evening at the New Harper. Tie af-
fair was a big success. An excellent
/ menu had been prepared by Manager
I Carl J. Mueller, and after the spread,
I speeches were made.
Mr.. Ross spoke on What Ought TO
Z be Your Attitude Toward Your Mu-
nicipality." and said. After YOU have
derived the benefit OF cooperation in
| your own organization there ought 10
I be higher ideals in your mind a man
| who IS contented with the standards
{ he possesses Is a biGot. Are YOU con
I tent with Rock island as 70 stands?
I n sou are. YOU need not try 10 learn
what people in other cities are do
ing"
He pointed out conditions In Ger
many I'm the SOS. using the develop
ments in this powerful country as an
example He stated that Germany
+ vas confronted with an Increasing
population and was forced TO work out
q satisfactory solution for handling
lis subjects which 10 did. To-day
Germany Is an excellent example for
the entire world in municipal govern
ment. This great progress was due
solely 90 the plan o. city manage
mcnt pUl into effect in the SOS" he
said. Every city in Germany acts
al q parent 10 its citizens. and looks
after their welfare. showing the Won
derful and beneficial results OF con
structive work"
5lames Politics.
AIr. Ross stated that Rock Island
county was organized IN 1898. Since
that time the property owners hat
been taxed 10 the slmit OF the law.
with t.;ue 20 show for the vast amount
expended Are we proud OF this
record" he asked. Forty years ago
influential men I'm this community de-
industrial center. but constructive
work has. been denied the taxpayers. /
Politics is responsible for this con
dfaou Now an effort is being made I
90 get q plan whereby something VIII I
really be accomplished in this line /
The city government should be placed /
into the hands OF men who are quail ,
fed and experienced 10 handle these /
important affairs - they should be I
handled
These three cities are situated in I
a beautiful country of great natural /
resources. and the Mississippi river /
has its unlimited possibilities. yet we /
have done nothing 10 stimulate water /
traffic. What we need is a larger Wis
ion. we should give up political ex-
pediency for human efficiency
Need Cooperation.
H. "A. Jansen. secretary of the Tri-
City Manufacturers association spoke
on Cooperation and Organization"
Mr. Jansen opened by stating that
since the beginning OF the world or
SANITATION was responsible for our
progress froIs. savagery 10 civilization,
ido'atry TO Christianity and ignorance
TO education. In organization" he
declared. "we learn to know the other
man. to know his faults. and to
create a personal interest in his
methods. In years gone by the bust
ness man believed that the best
course lay in tearing down the efforts
OF others, but today the feeling has
changed and men Save been brought
20 realize that they can benefit by
helping one another"
Though all OF the separate organiza-
tons in this community are doing
much good. Mr.. Jansen was OF the
opinion that one tri-city organization
could do more in this respect and
cited the Tri-city Manufacturers asso-
tiation as an example. The possibili-
ties OF one great body of tri-city in
fuential business men would be al
most unlimited. He advocated the es-
Enlistment OF n central bureau. stat
ing that the information gained would
be more complete in every detail. Such
an organization should shun AFRO
gance. stating that no organization
could exist which did not consider the
rights OF others. He advised the club
not TO advertise with n brass band
but to use quiet and effective meas
Tres
Landlords 70 Aid.
r III. .Guyer responded for the ;
landlords in the block, and informed
the club members that the property
owners would be with them in any I'M .
iertaking the association might plan. ,
n a Clevenstine spoke briefly and
made a motion that the speakers be
given a rising vote OF thanks. which
vas done. r. II. Haege responded
With a few words. stating that in his ,
opinion. the 1900 block had done a ,
World OF good for the merchants. and
IA. the activities OF the club should
10 continued William IB. Mcintyre ,
vas present with his good humor and
ipread a little sunshine over the par
v ". II. Sexton. presiden. OF the
-. ...aa o.. tna I'm sfer- RafMeen