Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-02
HOLDS FRANKLIN
INITIAL ADVOCATE
REPAREDNESS
Charles erik Addresses Tri.City Ty-
pothetae Club at Blackhawk
Hotel.
,OR RICHARDS PLATFORM
Shows Printer. Philosopher Would
Have Favored Plan for Nation.
al Defense.

"The president of the United States
has been here for few minutes today
to talk about Preparedness But
Franklin was the original advocate OF
preparedness in this country. In 1746
he published a pamphlet Plain Truth
on the necessity for disciplined de-
Tense and organized military COM
pany On being chosen colonel he de-
clined because he lacked the necessary
knowledge of military affairs, but dur
ing the war scare he took his turn
nights as a common soldier on guard,
asserted Charles erik, Davenport at
torney, in his address at the annual
banquet of the Tri-City Typothetae
Franklin club held last evening at Z
o'clock at the Blackhawk hotel, DAY.
export.
Later in 1856 he pledged his per-
sonel- property in order that supplies
might be raised for Braddock's army
and carried a bill through the assem-
bly, establishing voluntary militia,
was appointed colonel and took the
field. So logical was his reasoning that
not even the Quakers opposed his pro-
posals.
Franklin's Platform.
Later he sat in the continental con-
gress, was on the committee to draft
the Declaration of independence. and
exercised great influence in the con-
stitutional convention.
Surely it is interesting to speculate
for a little while tonight as to how a
man of his superlative common-sense
and practical genius for public affairs
would view the necessities of our day.
If he were here tonight he wouldn't
| talk politics; he wouldn't speak as a
republican or as democrat; he dis
liked controversy. He would, as il
seems to me, in his broad. thorough
common-sense way, build up as essen
tial for our present guidance, a con-
on which all patriotic citizens could
agree.
Trying to see our present prob
lens through his clear eyes and with
the plain logic of Poor Richard,
think he would say that the planks OF
such national platform would de.
mand these five essentials for the
good of the nation: national respect
national sufficiency; national control
national defense; national loyalty"
In commenting on military prepar
edness he declared in his opinion ma
tional defense should not be for con
quest but just the ever presen
strength to win us the respect tina
shall make war unnecessary and whel
unbidden war does come, the power
to win quickest and at least cost in tn,
fight.
Relative to national loyalty, he de
clared that patriotism should b.
taught to the children at school il
song and heroic story.
Need of Patriotism.
, When the Sac and Fox Indians VIII
, had been removed to the Indian terri
t tory by our government were finall,
at their entreaty brought back to thei
= old home in Iowa, they fell on thei
, knees and kissed the soil because the,
loved it So" the speaker continued.
when | was talking to a Spaniar
= on rocky farm near Madrid, tryin
to tell him about our wonderful coun
9 try, he Strengthened up and replied
= Sir, this is the grandest country tn
: sun shines upon
"If the conquered Indian and tn
impoverished Spaniard could be S
: patriotic, what of us? 1t need not b
said that we ought to be the most pa
triotic people on earth. Just now man
men profess to question the loyalty c
at least a large portion of our fol
eign born citizens. Doubtless many
man past the prime of life, remember
ing as old men do with greater clear
ness the events Of youth than the har
penings of maturer years, forgettin
the causes of separation from tn
mother country, or the fatherland, i
the heat of argument, INDUCES in III
terances and expressions of symps
thies that might in normal times caus
grave concern.
"If we keep our sanity it will say
us many fears. The love of the natiy
land and of brothers and sisters an
parents left behind, make the emigra
ed brother look with horror upon I'll
possible thought of his killing or IL
juring them. 1t was so in every wa
But, the wife and the children an
the home are here.
1.-THE positive assurance is found
the attitude of the sons of the foreie
born. Look at and learn PATRIOTS
from the children in the public schoo
OF the Italian district of Boston. Cha
lenge, if you dare, the Americanism
the young men with Scandinavia
names in Minnesota and the mort
west. Compare the love of the fIs
OF the Chinese and Japanese childrt
in Hawaii with that of the childr,
OF the native born anywhere in O,
land. Nor can any of these nor all
them combined excel in patriotic fe
Vor the devotion to the flag of the sol
nf the Gorr,op horn