Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-05-02

the federal government
had heard 100000 tons of
shipping had been sunk in
the last week by German
submarines.
The destruction. Secretary Lane
said. was not only threatening the ex-
istence of England and France. but
was alarming the United States.
Study Of inventions 10 combat the sub
marine menace is being diligently pur-
sued in the interior department. he
said
The United States must build ships
as rapidly as possible, ne told the
delegates.
III we don't fight the war on the
other side" he said. I'VE shall have to
fight ii on this side of the Atlantic
Secretary Lane declared he believed.
the war would last several years and
that every resource of the country
must be brought into play 70 bring IL
to a successful conclusion.
war mag Last R0E , ears
Many persons thought" said secre-
tary Lane, that all We had to do was
to issue bonds and that Germany
would bow her head in submission.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth We do not know when this
war viii end. 1t may not be a one
year war Personally I believe IT viii
last several years. Herbert G Hoover
has informed this government that
Germany has food enough to last two
years, perhaps longer.
Germany has pat up the greatest
fight OF history and she has the ad-
vantage of now lighting a defensive
warfare Don't 90 back home and i'm
spire your people with the thought that
immediate action can bring this war
to an immediate end, Your people
must look to this years crop and next
years crop and the next after that
We can't afford to fail in this war.
Every man in this country ls involved
in this work and every man in the
country is O. soldier. The French hope
20 break down the morale of the Ger
man armies. Our concern is TO see
to il that our own morale rises
Beside Secretary Lane the state rep
resentatives heard Secretaries Baker
and Daniels. Adjutant General AIcKaiu
and Judge Advocate General CrOwder
OF the army. Later they we're re-
Ceived by President Wilson
The three secretaries declared the
one need Of America and the allies
now is ships
Warns Against Discomfort
Secretary Lane warned his hearers
against discomfort and attack ON the
government. Always. he said. there
was dissatisfaction with those who are
directing war and he urged his hear
ers 90 base their criticism on facts
and not On rum0r-
Secretary Baker asked the state rep
resentatiFes 10 cooperate with the
government iu putting into operation
the army draft law. He told military
and industrial preparations and de-
scribed difficulties the government
faces.
Secretary Baker said nothing direct
Iy concerning am early eHpedlu0uary
force abroad. but declared that the
American military policy was subject
TO change at short notice.
President Meets Governors.
The state representatives, more than
one hundred strong were accompanied
TO the White house by Secretaries
Baker and Daniels. Lane and Redheld.
President Wilson told the delega-
United States to coordinate its en-
ergies so democracy shall be vindi-
Gated and the world shown that the
American government does not live
in vain. He declared that every force
in the United States should be turned
toward the supreme effort Of win
ming the war.
4 have no homiIy To deliver 10 Won"
said President Wilson MY function.
therefore today is the very present
function of saving how much obliged
10 you I ana for having come here and
associated yourself with us in the
great task Of making good what The
nation has promised to do-g0 to the
defense and vindicatiOn of the rights
Of people everywhere to live as they
have a right 10 live under The very
principles of our nation
Sub Situation Serious.
Later ar the state department Sec
rotary Lansing in response to i'm
quiries said
1T may as well be recognized that
the submarine situation is very seri-
Gus