Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-09
PREPAREDNESSIS
CALLED ATTEMPT
TO LOWER IDEALS
William Jennings Bryan in Address
Before After.Dinner Club, Mo-
line, Hits Militaris:s.
TERMS PROPAGANDA CONSPIRACY
Former Secretary OF State Declares
Ammunition Ring is Behind
the Campaign.

Characterizing the preparedness
program which is being advocated in
the United States as a dark hued con-
spiracy fostered by the ammunition
ring and professional militariSts and
declaring that deliberate attempt is
being made by this small coterie to
change the policy of this government
from that of the greatest peace advo-
cate to the doctrine of terrorism as
taught in European countries, William
Jennings Bryan, America S great paci-
fist, thrilled an audience of about 400
when he spoke upon the theme The
American Spirit" at the After-Dinner
club, Moline, last evening.
Those who have heard the former
secretary of state before are of the
opinion that his effort of last evening.
in which he outlined his well known
peace ideas, greatly excelled his po-
litical and ChautauQua addresses ii
the past. Brimful of his subject, and
putting into his utterances that in
tangible but compelling personal
magnetism which has made him one
of the most remarkable orators this
country has produced, Bryan carried
his audience with him and created a
profound impression, even among
those who have radically different
ideas on the national problems which
he so f1uently and eloquently discus
sed
Given Grape Juice.
All of the available space in the
big dining room of the Moline Com
mercial club was taken for the ban
quet, which was the last of the year
for the club. During the meal, Mr.
Bryan with that delightful spirit OF
comradeship which is so characters
tic of him, chatted and laughed and
joked in a most happy frame of mind
and at an opportune time someone pre-
scented him with bottle of grape juice
which seemed to amuse the commoner
very much. At the guest table with
him was F. o. Van Calder, president
of the Tri-City Press club, and other
members of the same organization
Mr.. BRYAN is an honorary member.
T. L. Morgan. president of the club
introduced Bryan as the greatest liv.
ing orator, who had talked to more
people than any orator now living o,
who would live. This extravaganr
praise caused the Nebraskan muc!
merriment.
Gets Big Ovation.
When he arose to speak Mr.. Bryan
was given d wonderful ovation which
lasted several minutes. the audience
standing to its feet and cheering wild
~ and waving handkerchiefs and the
same demonstration occurred when he
finished. 1t was like the Bryan OF
old" times and displayed the excep-
tional hold which he still retains or
the affections of the American people
regardless of conflicting political
views.
Like all truly great orators, Mr.
Bryan retains his love of humor and
facetiously referred to the fact that
for 50 years he had been in politica
life and that the only peace he ever
had was in 1898 when he joined the
army. Hardly had the laughter died
down before he launched into his def
milton of THE American Spirit" and
explained with the faultless die
ton of the born orator, why the pre-
paredness propaganda is false doc
strine that is bound 10 lead this coun-
try into the very thing which it seeks
to avold-war.
The American Spirit.
I'VE hear great deal now about
Americanism and the American spirit.
Let me first remind you that the spir-
it of a nation is determined by the
people of the nation. just as the des-
tination of nation is in its own hands,
declared Mr.. Bryan in his Introductory
remarks.
Just at this time I want to cali
your attention to two kinds Of spirit
that are being presented as the Amer
lean spirit. Just now an effort Is be-
ing made to transform our national
policies, and with it our national char
acter. for the character of a nation
will be just what its settled policies
indicate and make necessary.
AN effort is being made to trans
form this nation from the foremost
advocate of peace to the ideals of the
old world, and ! feel | render you no
greater service than TO present these