Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-21
Of
ARSENAL URGED
BY BUSINESS MEN
Vote to Invite Entire Illinois and Iowa
Congressional Delegations to
Visit Plant.
HAVE A DINNER AT DAVENPORT
C0ngressme Clyde Fl. Tavenner and
I'll. E. Huh Urge Increased Appro-
priati0ns for Institution.


Business men of Rock Island. Mo
line. Davenport Beuendorf and East
Moline. at a largely attended dinner at
the Davenport Commercial club last
evening. resolved that congress. and
the people Of the country, should be
made better acquainted with Rock Is
land arsenal and the advantages to
which it could be used in developing
the military preparedness of the couE-
try.
Cougressmen Clyde H. Tavenner Of
the Rock Island district, and Harry r.
Huh of the Davenport district were
present and stated their positions,
well known to all. in favor Of fuller de-
velopment Of the governments splen-
did equipment here.
1t was voted that other congress
men. particularly the entire Iowa and
Illinois delega uons, should be invited
to come here as guests of the FIVE
cities and TO inspect the arsenal. a
committee of three members each
from the five commercial bodies rep
resented was provided for. and this
committee is 10 take early action by
issuing this invitation and giving the
movement and the claims of the ar
senal through publicity
A Large Attendance.
There were IS representative bust
ness men I'm she gathering at the club.
three-tourths of them from Moline
Rock Island East Moline and Betten-
dort, as guests Of the Greater Daven-
. port committee.
Ex-Congressmau A. T. Dawson Of
Davenport presided over the after din
ueE deliberations, stating the case
plainly in his introductory remarks.
There are excellent reasons for a
fuller development of Rock Island ar
senaI. said Mr.. Dawson. The military
reason lies ~ it's distance from the
. borders of the country and its safety
from attack. Reasons Of economy are
its 1000 acres Of ground. it's immense
uuoccupied buildings, and its splendid
waterpower. To secure what rightfuily
belongs to Rock Island arsenal il is
necessary that this community conduct
a campaign of education, and arouse
public sentiment until the people see
+ the logic OF the situation.
Il was the opinion of all present
that results can be accomplished
through organization and publicity
Organization is To be perfected with
out delay and publicity win be forth
+ coming ON motion Of DR. W. q. Tay-
los of Moline it was decided that plans
/ for the campaign to win increased ap-
/ preparations and to enlarge the ARISEN
I ~ pIanr-to the benefit OF this entire
community snail be in the hands OF
committee of I6-tbree to represent
: the Greater Davenport committee
three the Rock Island club, three the
+ Greater Moline committee, three the
East Moline Commercial club md
three The Bettendorf booster organiza-
/ item The president OF each orEaniza-
/ tiou TO have representation on the
Icommittee. and viii name the members
from the body of men 0t which he lis
the head
70 invite soIous Here,
+ Hope is to get this committee to-
/ gether the latter part of the present
week All details of the campaign
are left in the hands Of this commit
tee with power TO act. but from last
evenings discussion in the Eet-tozeth-
+ er session it is certain that the gen
eral plan viii he to bring every repre-
sentative iu congress and every United
4 States senator from Iowa and Illinois
here tor a banquet 10 be held prob
ably in the middle of October. After
the feast and o general discussion OF
/ the situation il is proposed 10 turn
these visitors over to COT. George "
I Burr. commandment Of Rock Island ar.
senal. whose good omces viii he solici
+ tied as escort for a thorough inspec
ton of Uncle Sans big military work
shop here.
Nor will the campaign halt here II
( lis proposed in embryo plans, so TAI
but tentatively outlined, to send q del
i egatioD of men to Washington TO see &c
it that bills which viii be Introduce
have a fair hearing and that they &c
to a vote during the same session II
which they are introduced. Il is pro
posed that there shall be no dilly-dal
living. that increased expenditures
here viii be asked. that every possible
effort shall be put forth in support OF
the requests. and that the addtiona
sums wanted to permit Of expansion
shall be won or lost during the coming
session.
It is roughly estimated that $1,000