Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-21

will be needed to finance the campaign.
and though the general committee mas
power TO act in the entire matter If
was suggested and it is probable that
/ the suggestion will be carried out
that each city be assessed one cent on
a basis Of population given in 1910 fed
ersl figures This roughly. would make
IDavenport's assessment $3.50. Rock Is
lands s2So, Moline's $3.50. and East
Moline and Bettendorf being called on
/ for the smaller amounts.
4. F. Dawson Presides.
Former Congressman 4. F. Dawson
presided at the meeting and after
splendid banquet he wsded promptly
( into the business at hand He declared
that on basis of economy and effct-
eucy the arsenal here is the logical
one for which to vote additional aDpro-
/ priauons. From the military stand
point also If has claims that can he
/ advanced over any Of the military sta
lions Of the country. Il has buildings
already erected that could be turned
TO manufacturing purposes as quickly
as they could be equipped with ma
chinery. and there should be no diff
Guilty in securing increased appr0pria-
tons in the face of these advantages.
But It IS not always logic that car
ries things through, declared the
speaker. 1t is a matter of votes. We
must get to work if We are to get what
rightfullv belongs TO US. We must con
duct a campaign of education SO that
others will see the situation as clearly
( as We do
Congressman Tayenner Talks.
/ Clyde H. Tavenner. congressman
from the Fourteenth Illinois district.
( first speaker introduced by Mr.. Daw-
son, plunged at once into figures to
/ prove that the United States can man
ufacture munitions Of war for IS per
/ cent of their present cost to the gov
eminent through purchase from pri-
vate manufacturers From $40 GOO 600
. to $50 100000 worth Of war materials
/ are bought by Uncle Sam. he said, at
/ prices 81 per cent higher than it would
I cost the government to manufacture
/ Armor plate, for which the govern
ment pays S440 a ton can be manufac-
Itured in government plants for s23S
a ton powder bought at rs cents a
pound can be made for IS cents.
Mr.. Tavenuer cited efforts which he
+ put forth during the last congress TO
halt the letting Of war contracts to
private manufacturers and to turn this
+ business to the arsenal here. and
i traced the steps that lead to the. ulti-
mated defeat Of his bills after they had
. passed second reading He promised,
with the aid Of the local committee. 20
. resume the fight when the next con-
+ Eress convenes- He also declared his
belief that the letters which he has
+ been supplying TO 1900 weeklv. papers
throughout the country on the sub
{ ject OF government manufacture of
munitions Of war and laying particular
stress on the advantages Of Rock Is
land arsenal. will have their ultimate
+ effect Organization and publicity. he
said would accomplish the end and ne
pledged every ounce of his energy and
every minute of his time 20 the cause.
+ Congressman Hull Is Heard.
/ Organization and publicity are
needed in this campaign" This was
the declaration Of Harry E. Hull. new
II elected congressman from the See
0nd Iowa district. who is heart and
soul in the battle to win increased ap-
preparations for the arsenal here He
cited the fact that there are four other
arsenals in the country Watervlsit.
+ WATERFOWL. Springfield and Frankfort
all along the Atlantic seaooast and
subject to attack should a hostile ma
ton ever invade this land OF the four
eastern arsenaIs WatervIeit and Wa
tertown arsenaIs turn ouJ large ord
nance. the other two field artillery and
various war materials similar to the
Rock island arsenal output
Rock Island arsenal is superior to
J those an Springfield and Frankfort
however. in geogra pblc location. ia
waterpower. in land area and in build
ings already available for use.
F. J. Clendenin for the East Moline
Commercial club. j. vs.. Bettend0rf for
Bettendorf. c. f. Sharpe for tine Rock
Island club. H. A. Jansen of the Great
ct Moline committee. and J. O. Nor
wood of the Greater Davenport COM
naittee. all declared the organizations
which they represent can be counted
on to give every possible aid i'm the
campaign.