Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02

Z death: a service whose victorie, D.
I the freedom OF the seas, the rigbts ~
/ neutral life, the protection OF Arnsr,
can citizens and American rIobt.
/ stands respIendent In the Worlds \.
! ternational law and IN the eartb's IA
/ piomacy. This great triumph V,bics
! you achieved for America and ~
/ world gave protection 70 non-combe,.
ants and neutrals that war-maA Co..
! tries must respect, and this diplomat
( ic achievement will be the guidIng
protecting precedent 70 miIliona -
! lives OF the innocent and unorend,ns
long after you are gone This trs
umph OF yours will not be- told In ~
tory by a great war debt. a namoo,h
( pension roll, vacant chairs at unhanrr
( hresides, and Decoration day servics.
TO place flowers upon the mounds ~
those who achieved It, but II win Ia
told in the victory Of matchlegs al
I plomacy and OF irresistible logic. nre-
. senting in an unequaled manner the
/ everlasting principle OF justice.
Under your unrivaled and fearless
/ leadership you have rescued the M.
/ tie children Of America-the futurs
fathers and mothers Of our race.
/ from the grinding slavery OF the
sweatshop and the factory. No dlvi-
! dends or fortunes in the future win
bear the stain Of their toll and tears.
their youthful days will be spent N
Il the fresh air Of growing life and n
4 the school rooms Of the land. whers
they will be properly prepared N
strength and mind 70 become the m
ture citizens of great, humane and
] free republic.
You behold your country after
three and half years Of your admin.
istration more prosperous than ever
in it's history. The earnings OF the
/ laborers OF America exceed by three
billion dollars their earnings under
/ four years of the administration az
your predecessor; the savings OF the
people deposited in the banks OF our
country amount TO six billion dollars
more than was deposited under the
four years of the administration OF Mr..
Taft.
Our exports for the first time in our
history lead the world; our farmers
are more prosperous than ever; bust
ness is free; individual endeavor ia
no longer denied its reward. The IN
crease in the business of the CONNER
cial world is so great that Ii almost
staggers the mind 10 contemplate Il,
Notwithstanding a worlds war has
called for legislation 10 stay the pro-
cess of the courts in debt collections
in all the neutral countries OF the
| world except here, where plenty
blesses and prospers our people. Your
beloved country marches forward to
a prosperity never dreamed Of Your
! opponents are unwillingly forced 70
admit this unhappy condition OF our
people, which they say is not perma-
nent, but they shall be no more re-
garded as prophets now than they
were when they said 1t could not
come.
-Four years ago, in accepting the
nomination of the democratic party
for the presidency, you stated that you
| would seek advice and counsel Wher-
ever you could obtain il upon free
| terms; this you have done. You uL-
covered and drove a mighty lobby OFT
( of the capitol and invited Americans
| of all stations 10 come and counsel
with you. The laborer with his grimy
! hand, the farmer with the tan OF the
blazing sun upon his face, the rail-
road men who hold the throttle, swing
the lantern and direct the rolling
wheels of commerce, the toiler from
the damp and darkness of mine, from
the shop, the mill and the factory; the
business men from their Offices, clerk
! from the counter, the banker, the arti-
I san, the lawyers and the doctors have
come and found welcome and shared
counsel with you. They knew you
were free 10 serve, that you were IN
bossed, unowned. and unafraid. They
knew you only sought the truth, and
when you found it you were ready to
challenge all of its adyersaries to any
conflict.
Foremost Place in History.
when peace shall spread her white
wings over a charred and bloody
| world. in the quiet of the chamber OF
the just historian, when the din and
roar of political antagonism shall have
ceased, when the prejudice and pas
sion OF partisanship shall have dlea
away, when principle shall actuae
men and parties rather than appetite
! when ambition shall no longer lure
men and parties TO unjust attack, the
historian will accord 10 you and your
administration a foremost place IN the
republics life.
Americans are not ungrateful; the
people are not unpatriotic; they rec
ogniZe the thousands Of difficulties
! that no man could foresee that you
have encountered and mastered. IheH
verdict is already written, Il has beeh
| agreed upon at the firesdes OF the
land and has been nodded into the
school houses, the places OF worship
and wherever Americans meet 70 lalA
over the affairs and good OF thelI
country. That verdict leaps lof.u
from almost every American heart 10
undying gratitude TO you for the ser
vice you have rendered, for the peace
! prosperity and happiness your leader
ship has given, and ! bat voice thi'
! day the overwhelming wish OF Autil.
cans everywhere for your triumpRaAl
/ reelection.
This great convention which nom
mated you was neither controlled hol
intimidated by any un-Americah "
foreign influence. II had the near,
beat and spoke the true sentiment "
| our country
"A committee, composed Of the PEI.
manent chairman OF the conVeh1os
n a ola "a