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

individualism to the highest degree.
They cannot understand how people
in this country are at liberty to do
things unofficially. They believe in
kings, who do their thinking for them.
"On our trip through Germany our
party was treated with the utmost con-
sideration At one station lieuten-
ant in the army opened the door of
our compartment and asked in excel
lent English ii we could speak Ger
man. Without collecting our wits we
answered yes, when three out of four
of our party could not. Luckily the
fourth man was able to speak German
and we were saved from lie. The
lieutenant carried an iron cross. l
asked to examine it, which he permit
ted me TO do. He earned this cross by
serving at the front until he was I'M
fit for active service. He had lost three
sons in the war, and had one left, who
was too young to enlist. His wife and
daughter and sister were at the front
in the Red Cross service and he stated
that he was glad to pay this price for
the Fatherland. How many mothers
and fathers here would do the same?
Not many, I venture to say. In my
estimation the majority Of mothers are
not rearing their boys to be towards
nor soldiers, but to be lovers Of peace.
Our Christian duty is to believe, to
I'D fn nd a
time"
Following his address Mr.. Van Gald-
er explained to a representative Of The
Argus that Mr. Ford had several other
undertakings on foot that had not been
made generally known as yet. He
stated that he along with H. c. Evans
of Des Moines, representing the Yeo-
men, had been asked by Mr.. Ford to
make an extra trip through Germany
and Belgium and learn the real senti-
ment of the people at large with re-
CARDS to the war Mr. Van Calder de-
clined on account of stress of bust
ness, but Mr.. Evans will make the trip
and report to Mr.. Ford.
Lindsey on Special Mission.
Judge Lindsey of the Denver Juvenile
court was sent on a special mission
through Belgium by Mr.. Ford to learn
the needs of the people and especially
/ the children. Following his investi-
cation Judge Lindsey will report to Mr.
Ford and a relief expedition will be
/ started for the little tots.
! Mr. Van Calder added that one OF
! the pleasantest incidents of his 5000
mile iaunt was the renewal of &C
quaintances of So years ago with H. n
Wheeler, editor of the Quincy Journal
and Forrest Crissey, now connected
with the Saturday Evening Post. Mr.
Crissey and Mr. Van Calder worked as
cub reporters on Chicago dailies an(
Mr.. Wheeler was editor of a st. Charles
paper at that time. This was theil
first get-together meeting in IS years.
Mr.. Van Calder was highly pleased
with the reception rendered him at thu
church last night. Several hundred
were present and a supper was servet
in the basement of the Sunday schoo
building at $50. The cadet boys o
the church gave three rousing cheer
for their guest of honor and the entir
gathering sang Home. Sweet Home
and Mr.. Van Calder was deeply touch
ed. Rev. o. T. Dwinell presided at tn
meeting. Following Mr.. Van Calder
talk a mock trial was held in tn
auditorium. F. X. Rhoads was tn
prisoner at the bar, Judge W. 7
Church presiding on the bench, wit,
j. G. Miller as sheriff and Edwin Die
the clerk. The attorneys to defen
and prosecute were c. L. Walker, N
E. Sweeney, ]. F. Witter and 0. I
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