Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-09
Any TO ENDORSE
NATIONAL POLICY
;, Island VIII Officially Enter the
vo,ement to Promote Pre-
paredness Program.
.,,oR TO APPOINT COMMITTEE
,..,rti,e VIII Head Delegation Which
viii Attend Conference Which
viii Be Held in St Louis.

os.,slly the city of Rock Island
:, snter into an organized movement
V" .-aad far and wide the policies of
Preparedness.
uaror McConochie today announc-
hat he would appoint a committee
a, least 20 delegates to attend a
..s.rence Of mayors which is to be
I'D in St. Louis March and A. He
~ head the delegation.
N.vors of II large cities in the
r,,,ed States have formed COM
-s,se and have called the meeting
der the title of the National Con-
..-.nce of Mayors" The sole pur-
Ia Of the session will be to promote
:. preparedness policies and to
,.,ose the people of this nation to re-
'sza the need of better defense and
.ans hasten preparedness legislation.
The following letter, asking that the
-.ror take action, was received by
in today;
Dear Mr.. Mayor:
ASA nation We are not adequately
rspsred for successful defense in
ase Of attack.
TO assist in expressing the senti
~spt of the country in favor of ma
aonal defense, the undersigned are
slHng a meeting Of the mayors and
he mayors national defense commit
,As Of the cities OF the United States
n meet in conference at st. Louis
March and 4.
We ask your cooperation in this
noyement. If you have not done so,
"a suggest that you appoint a nation
Il defense committee of citizens to
IKE prompt action on this vital ques-
ion and that you urge such commit
tse as far as possible to attend the St.
Louis conference.
Vary in Size.
These committees vary in size in
the different cities from 90 TO 100 cit
j,sns, except New York City, which
las committee of 1000.
Let US make this conference thor
oughly representative of the patriotic
sentiment OF the citizenship of this ma
don. We need to arouse the public
10 secure results. Delay at this crit
ial period of our national life may
spell disaster.
Concerted action will hasten pre-
yafedness legislation, which we need
EoF.
The patriotic motives prompting
his nationwide movement warrant
lie largest possible attendance at St.
louis, and We hope you may be able
n head the delegation from your city
TO this conference.
When you have appointed such
oommittee kindly forward the list
promptly to Mayor John Purroy Nit
chel. Please call a meeting of your
committee as soon after appointment
as possible and notify US how many
delegates will attend the conference.
Our foreign policies are only as
strong as our ability to enforce them.
Our security is only as strong as our
defenses are strong. The better able
We are to defend ourselves, the less
liable we are to be called upon to do
50, Therefore, let us perfect our de-
lenses and thus preserve and perpetu-
ate our free institutions, our liber-
ties and our national life.
Yours very truly,
HENRY ". KEEL,
Mayor Of St Louis.
JAMES NJ. CURLEY,
Mayor of Boston.
WILLIAM H. THOMPSON,
Mayor CT Chicago.
JAMES c. WOODWARD,
Mayor of Atlanta.
&C. E. SEBASTIAN,
Mayor of Los Angeles.
GERHARD 4. BADING,
Mayer of Milwaukee.
MARTIN BEHRMAN,
Mayor of New Orleans.
H r ALBEE,
Mayor Of Portland.
HENRY D. LINDSLEY,
Mayor of Dallas.
JAMES c. DAHLMAN,
Mayor Of Omaha.
JOHN P. mitchell,
Mayor of New York"
"illie-Man, may I have Tommy