Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-02-26
9Essstsssts<ssFstg<5% tsNssstsaS.3%sss -
H Q r D
az q -
DISCORDo
SPRING IS HERE.

i on the beginning Of the seasons the
/ appearance Of the first robin is relig-
|iously accepted as presaging the early
coming of spring but TO the writer,
while he does not discredit the robin
theory, the arrival Of J. Neverwork
/ Burlalgh is a sign that has not failed
( vet to register spring time.
J. y. reached the city on Sabbath
afternoon He was met by the re-
porter as he stepped from his private
car IN the Burlington Yards. Brushing
+ the straw from his coat he removed
the sock from his right hand and
graspec us with warmth that showed
not alone the earnestuess OF his greet
+ Ing but also the joy he felt al landing
once more in the town where he has
passed SO many pleasant seasons.
Walking toward the station-not the
police station. but the depot-Our Wis
it0r drew forth his large goggles 10
COunteract the effect of the sun. It
was the first sun he had seen in four
DAYS his car having become mislaid in
I the confusion due to the congestion in
traffic, 0ccasjouing him no end Of per
sOual inconvenience. although he did
not suffer through lack Of food, hav-
ing loaded up with sandwiches when
he had entered complaint with the rail-
road companies but he said that he
had not as yet, and probably would
not do so, iuasmuch AS our tr8uspor-
t8tiou generals are having so many
troubles just now that he didn't feel
that It would be just right for him to
butt in on them with such an uncon-
sequentiaI grievance such as his is.
"Of course if they had failed to deliver
me to my destination, or ] had persisted
because of lack of provisions. there
would have been different situation
TO deal with In that event. Of course
settlement would have 70 have been
effected with nay estate
There was q row of autos lining the
curb as we walked from under the
train sheds. We asked j. Neverwork
# it we're his intention 10 take cab.
NO / guess not be repiI led. II took
one 10 Omaha several mon rs ago
tLat Is I didn't exactly. B8t 7 was R-lfh
q fellow who suggested that we do
that little thing Well + was fae guest
OF the sheriff for close to go DAYS. My
companion was the son of an old WON
an who keeps her family by scrubbing
che CRY hall and he was let off with q
lecture by the magistrate, who was
impLored by the mother not TO send
her boy 10 prison because he was on
the verge Of getting work.
The last time he came 10 the city,
Mr. Burleigh explained. there was an
auto TO meet him. He had not called
it and had no friends here who were
expecting him thar he knew OF. just
the same the car was on hand accom-
panied by two uniformed men. one q
driver and The other the reception
committee. The auto had limousine
body. he said but there we're no win
dows. Well sir. do y0u know" said
our visitor. those boys took me to
your city hall. provided me with lodE-
ing and breakfast. and had me meet
several of YOUR officials. one of whom
was so glad to see me that he insisted
ON my remaining Tor at least 10 days.
7 shall never forget the manner in
which I was treated
We asked =. Naverwork as 10 the
labor situation over the country.
Very discouraEiug, he said. These
free employment bureaus are posi-
tive nuisance. 7 don't know what our
states are coming TO locating Offices in I
our cities with sleU1hs in control Of them
to search out jobs for those Of us who
are not looking for work. IN IS an in
reference with our personal liberties
Nowadays when use give the distress
signal at the kitchen door and the
lady - the house comes and bids MS
the time Of day the first thing she re-
members IS the telephone number of
the Tree employment bureau main
tanned oE your state and for the up
keep of which You and every other
property owner is paying over your
good money Sir protest iu the name
of American freedom and iudepend-
ence. as guaranteed 10 us i'm the con
stitutfou. against this invasion OF the
rights of wa free men. Only a week
ago in Peoria i'm taking my q. m bracer
-lt was beautiful day. the air rich
JIM its crispiness-I was haunted by
bouquet Of bacon I followed the trail
20 the door Of prosperous LOOKING
nome. tapped gently. The lady APP
peared. / was hungry. ] told her She
wanted TO know why I didn't work for
my keep. / explained that I was
promised place ON the morrow. She
asked me TO step i'm the storm en-
trance She told me 90 wait a minute. /
! did so When she came back she
told me she had a job for me-that an
mad to do was to walk nine blocks
10 the employment office and tell the
man In charge that she had sent me. .
III ] would go Immediately and return
with card from the Office showing .
that i had obtained a job she would I
4 q
the danger. I thanked the good WON
an for her interest i'm me. but 7 lost
my way and could not locate the en- /
ployuent Office OF course when We
get in towns where there are no en- I
ploymeut agencies different situa-
ton is found Food has become so ex- /
pensIve that in most instances a house /
wife is ashamed TO offer one the same
apporuoumeut that is allotted to each /
member Of her own family and in lien /
of same she kicks In with cash. Pick /
ing as result has been comparatively
good for me thus far this present win /
ter"
You have come to remain through /
the sumner we inquired.
Yes, and no. said J. Neyerwork. !
Your beautiful city Impresses me. the /
more with each successive visit. OIL
course my first duty is to my country
have here q letter from Colonel Z