Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-23

hoplest nag that was ever unfurled to
the breeze.
Hits at Wealth.
Our real danger is in failing to con-
quer ourselves. 1t is burning shame
mat the acquisition of wealth is con-
sidered in some quarters the first re-
quislte for political power. Wealth
wisely used is the force which turns
the wheels of commerce, but corruptly
employed it is the greatest menace
which could face the United States.
America is being crushed between the
neither stones of commercialized ma
uonalism and a hyphenated patriot
ism. Lincoln said this country could
not endure half slave and half free. I
tell you it cannot endure half foreign
and half American"
Mr. Burns drew striking lessons
from the life of Washington. applicable
10 the present hour of crisis. He show
ed how the great soldier in the face of
encouragement and difficulties, saw
further than any one of his times and
ouilded for the future. He quoted sta
tlstics to show the material wealth Of
America and deplored the fact that
while this should be used for nobler
purposes that tonight over the drip
ping battlefelds Of Europe is seen the
nand or commercialized America" He
said this was contrary to the spirit of
10 which gave to the world a new ma
ton dedicated to the principles of
freedom and truth. Mr.. Burns is a twp
zeal Irish orator and his eloquence
was often interrupted with cheers.
Urges Military Training.
Military training in the public
schools was strongly urged by Colonel
e, W. Burr, the other speaker of the
evening who discussed The Ordnance
Department of the Army" He declar-
ed that boy scouts and not boy bandits
were what the country needed and ad-
Vocated installation of military tactics,
especially in the high schools, and
camps for the young soldiers in the
summer.
The per cent of violent crimes is
25 per cent higher in this country
than in Germany and 10 per cent high
er than in Japan and France and this
is due to lack of discipline on the part
OF American young manhood" urged
the speaker.
Colonel Burr spoke of the unusual
interest which is being manifested at
the present time in war topics He said
that Washington was first in peace
and first in the hearts of his country
men because he had been first in war.
He discussed the ordnance department
of the army in Washingtons time and
showed the remarkable advancement
which has been made, although the
speaker was frank in declaring the
country had not learned much in
military way in the past 100 years.
Making Same Mistake.
He said Uncle Sam was making the
same mistakes and quoted from letters
of Washington showing that some Of
the weakness in the country's military
force apparent then are still existing.
He showed how Washington complain
ed about the raw unframed troops
which were given him; how he object
ed to the short terms for which they
were called, some being for two weeks,
two months and three months; lack of
provisions and ammunition
In the year 1875 the continental ar
my reached 10000 soldiers and in 1888
the recruits amounted to but 1900.
due in large measure to the ability
of rich youths to hiEa substitutes, re-
sulting in wholesale assertions.
Colonel Burr quoted from President
Wilson's statement that this country
needed a "citizenry; trained and &C
customed to arms" in which the mass
of the people believes the variance of
opinion coming in the way this idea
should be applied.
Saving By New Methods.
Figures were shown relative to the
amount of sea coast material which
is being manufactured by the ordnance
department, especially the large and
small guns, mortars, automatic guns
and field artillery.
The speaker made a deep thrust at