Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-15
ELKS IN TRIBUTE
TO NATIONS FLAG
impressive Exercises Are Conducted
in High School Auditorium Before
Interested Crowd.
PATRIOTIC BODIES ATTEND
Charles erik Reminds His Hearers
How Thankful They Should BE
for Being Americans.

If the attendance at the Flag day
exercises in the high school auditor
ium last evening. conducted by the Mo-
line lodge of Elks. was not such as
was justified by the occasion and eX-
cellent program offered, at least there
was no lack Of enthusiasm on the part
of those who were there. Patriotic or
canjzations were well represented and
their hearty enjoyment of every num-
her of the program was ample reward
for the committee which WORKED IN
riringlv to make the undertaking
success.
II was a meeting which instilled
new and better sense of patriotism IN
those whose good fortune it was to be
nresent and there was not man,
woman or child who left the hall but
what had rededicated themselves TO
their country.
1t was a sight that thrilled when the
veterans, members of the local post OF
the G.. A. r.. and the women, repre-
senting auxiliary organizations, waved
their flags in silent eCstaCy as the Svea
Male chorus sang The Star Spangled
Banner"
1t was with a feeling OF reverence
that the audience at the close OF the
meeting repeated the pledge:
Il pledge allegiance to the Stars and
Stripes and the Republic for which
they stand-one language, one coun-
try and one flag"
If there was an attitude Of lndlffer-
ence on the part Of the public towards
such a patriotic gathering it was prob
ably because the present Importance
of Flag day as a national occasion IS
not generally understood, and not be
cause the people of Moline are lack
ing in a sense of patriotism. 1t would
appear that little publicity has been
given to the fact that President Wood
row Wilson, the first president OF the
nation to take such action, had in a
proclamation called upon the people
to pay tribute to the flag and to rededl-
cate themselves to the nation.
Other holidays, with their traditions
and which in the minds of many are
linked with the memories of child
hood. for it would seem that the great
American holidays were occasions OF
no greater moment than in the days OF
our youth, need no mphasis laid upon
their importance.
Opportunity for Order.
And so there lies before the people
Of Moline a great work, that of max
ing Flag day an occasion when al
shall be filled with new sense of ap-
probation for the many benefits that
citizenship in the United States has to
offer And to the Elks of Moline, who
have undertaken to lead in such a
movement, great opportunity has
presented itself to render service tC
the country.
The address of Charles erik Of Dav-
export was masterful He left his
audience filled with the thankfulness
that they were Americans. Mr.. Grilk
has Travelled extensively and he was
we'll able to draw a contract between
the liberties, both civil and social. en-
jOyed by the American citizen in COM
parisOn to those allotted to the people
Of many foreign countries.
In the main his theme had to do with
what constitutes the power of a ma,
ton. He said that if a great navy
made for power, then Spain. once the
mistress of the seas, would not have
sunk into its present state of nationa
t4l4444 ltOl LcI!At VI II pOpuldliOH VI
fered national greatness then China
and India, Mr.. erik said, would dom
mate the world. for in those two c0un-
tries, swept with trouble innumerable
are more than half the people of the
world. Thus the speaker went on tt
show that such possessions and theil
like do not maintain the power per
manently of any nation.
Turning to those attribl which
have made the United State What i
is today and which must be retained
if this nation would hold its present
position among the worlds powers, ht
said that social justice, religious free
dom, civil liberty and democracy are
the things which make for nationa
greatness. The value of these pos
sessions he explained in detail. Dur.
ing course of his remarks he placed
himself on record as favoring prepar
edness and said pointed things abou
real patriotism. It was an address
that left one in earnest thought.
Fine Music Given.
Not complete would have been the
program without the music furnished
by Professor Note and his musicians
Their playing would reflect credit or
any instrumental organization.
Miss GOldie Weinrott gave an inter
esting account of the history of the
flag. Mayor NJ r. Carlson paid 4
glowing tribute TO Old Glory and ir
response TO an encore the Svea Male
chorus sang Illinois" Prayer was of
fered by Rev. ]. E. Conner.
1t remained for Clayton Olney, bal
years OF age, to provoke the most en-
thusiast1c applause of the evening. The
little fellow plays a drum like a vet
eran and only after he had PLAYED a
third selection was the audience sat
lshed to permit him to withdraw from
the platform.
Ritual exercises were conducted by
0. E Child, exalted ruler of Moline
lodge of Elks. who also was in charge
Of the meeting.