Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-02

huge searehlight. the glare of which !
zen upon large reproduction of TIE |
Goddess OF Liberty at one end of the |
room, A wireless outfit was rugged up
on the vessel. She carried red and
green lights and from cranes on her
deck were suspended small automo-
plies to represent the Ford.
To Paul Hinze and Martin McNealey
and the NJ. Y F. Electric company
credit belongs for the shipbuilding.
They rugged it up and wired it. Others
who provided material for the ship
are Young & McCombs. McCabe's,
horst and Strieter. the Bijou and Tot
ten Auto company.
MembCrs of the club had not been
seated ling before the messages be,
gan pc~ring in over the wires. They
were humorous and brought much
to make the occasion mirthful one
for the president.
But Mr.. Van Calder was not per-
mitted to taste his bouillon, not until
the Official taster," Paul Kersch, had
first tested it to determine whether or
not 1t was poisoned. The press club
was careful for its president, for it
did not care to have repeated the in,
cident at the Chicago banquet two
weeks ago.
Much fun grew out of the incident
OF Mr.. Van Galder's bath in Stock.
holm. He was presented with a cake OF
soap weighing % pounds 1t was made
especially for the club and donated by
Warnock & Ralston. soap manufac-
turers OF this city. 1t was inscribed:
10 F. 0. Van Calder from the Tri-
City Press club, March 1, 1876
Have Entertainment.
Miss Maureen Englin staged an
appropriate comedy stunt, based on
one of the humorous incidents of Mr..
Van Galder's trip. Miss Englin also
entertained with songs during the
evening. The Rialto quartet, which en-
tertains in the New Harper cafe. and
Mrs. Mae Richards Casey, rendered
several numbers. Mr. Mcdonald, a
member OF the quartet, and former
newspaper man, sang two special Sc
/ lections. A trio, Jack Pardon, Charles
Correll and NJ. H. Sexton, Jr., was
warmly applauded for selections CIV
en- during the dinner.
| The hotel management extended
every courtesy to the club and made
special effort to assist in carrying out
the plans Of the committee in making
/ the event memorable one. The menu
was elaborate.
E. P. Adler, vice president of the
club, presided gracefully as master
! of ceremonies and did much
TO keep the evening lively When. the
wireless Office closed, and the stream
of messages ended, he introduced Mr..
+ Van Calder.
! The president of the club told many
| incidents of his trip, in the lighter
! vein, but before he closed he spoke
seriously for a few moments, explain
ing Mr.. Ford's idea in the expedition
and stating that there is every reason
to believe that there will yet come
vindication for the undertaking.
Mr.. Van Calder answered the re-
marks made by Colonel G. W. Burr,
commandment at Rock Island arsenal,
in his address at the Rock Island club,
at the Washington day banquet.
Colonel Burr ridiculed Bryan's
statements that a million men would
spring to arms within two days" Mr..
Van Calder said. HE also raped the
Ford peace expedition But Colonel
Burr only told one side of it and |
think that he knew more than he told
In his preparedness plea he spoke of
necessity of armfng these men.
Two years ago the United States
had a surplus of 100000 stands OF
arms. The government arsenals can
manufacture 1900 stands day alone
not considering the large amount
private plants could turn out Why
doesn't Colonel Burr tell us how mucil
surplus stock there is on hand?
True. the million of men who
would spring to arms would not be
fully trained, but the armies of Europe
have not all trained troops. The
trained were killed early in the war
Some Of them are proficient now, af-
ter a years fighting"
Tells of Committee.
Mr.. Van Calder told of the perma-
nent peace. committee named during
the expedition, which has headquar-
tiers in Stockholm. He also spoke of a
resolution introduced in the Swedish
parliament asking that the Swedish
government call conference of neu.
trail nations to consider intervention
in behalf of peace He said that these