Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-09-04
UNDERGRADUATES
REGISTERED MEN
AREpAID TRIBUTE
Patriotic Day Addresses Held Xester-
day at County Fair Grounds
Near AIedo.
MOTIVE or NATIos Is LACDED
Orators Emphasize That United States
Wut Be Deciding Factor in
Conflict.

Aledo. III. Sept. 4--IEeavy rain and
muddy roads yesterday morning cur
the crowd which would have attended
Mercer. couuty's patriotic celebration
10 haIf the estimated number bat the
amp3theatre was overlooking in the at
texuoor 10 hear the program
Because Of the heavy rains IN the
morning all scheduled events we're
called off and the entire list Of adj
dresses were given 3u the afternoon
The parade, set fer 20 o'clock. was
abandoned. and fae only morning ac-
tfvity was the registering Of the hon
ored men by the Red Cross.
NIIiersburE township was awarded
the flag for having the largest per
oanfaRe Of registered men present
Mercer fAledo9 township was eS-
ended from the competition because
Of the ease with which the local men
could ne brought together The flag
was presented by the county var work
council
Captain o f Carlstrom Of Com
panv Fl opened the afternoon program
with an address. The autocTacy Of
Germany. which has been so brutal
and unmerciIesa, IS doomed" he said.
and the United States is to have
big part in its destruction"
7 feel proud and we ali should feel
honored that we can take such an &C
tive part IN this war" he went on to
say. and send kajserism To desrruc~
ton and free the world OF monaTchs
and kings"
Captain Carlstrom stated that he
thought thai the United States was
destined to play d big part In this war
and carried the thought through lis
entire address that the work of the
United States would be the deciding
factor in the war. He was optimistic
over the outcome and pointed To Ger
tain victory for the allied powers, with
tina new spirit of the "Sammjes" urg-
ing the veterans 10 greater efforts.
Top Sergeant Dexter and Is mem
bers Of Company 3, Mercer couHty's
company inthe One Hundred Forty
fourth United States infantry. gave a
short arms drill ou the platform fol-
lowing Captain CarIstrom' address
Although many people claim send
Ing an army 10 France is unc0nstitu-
tional.' said Hon. William n Gem
mill in his address, this is NOS true
II Is not a new step but one that has
been practiced since the days Of
Washington"
He went on 70 state further that
Washington sent John Paul Jones out
to raid the coast OF England and that
later our feet went 20 the Barbary
states in Africa. He only pointed ont
these as instances Of the policy Of the
United States In former years to Sc
cure freedom to the world
In speaking o. 2 letter from his son.
who is driving an ambulance in
pc 20 II g-F1 se@ Il
how many soldiers would he IN France
by New. I, but that there would be q
million there by spring
Following Judge GemmiI1. Hon. "
j. Graham Of This city addressed the
audience. Mr.. Graham made a basty
sketch of the events leading up 10 the
war and the preparations made by
Germany prior 80 the war for mobiliza-
ton. Mr.. Graham traced Il few Of the
dastardly acts which Germany has
perpetrated and 6naIiy brought his at
tention to the United States and the
situation here.
One man talking on the street cor
naF crttieizlns the government and its
actions and the steps it is taking said
IF, Graham. rs doing more damage to
the country than 100 German soldiers
with guns. The country is overrun
with spies. and any demonstration like
that quickly fs forwarded to the kaiser
and spread among the German people
This encourages the German people
and Increase the difficulty Of the task
for the United States army and navy.
Mr.. Graham went on to state that
there was no political fights as for
meriY hut that there was only TWO par
ties In the country one a party for the
government and one against the gov
eminent.
Hon. Richard Yates. former gov
ernor Of Illinois made the closing adj i
dress Of the afternoon and spoke In
the interest Of the Red Cross
7 do not know Of any greater honor
Tor anyone to have than 10 be a mem
ner Of the Red Cross" said ex~Cov~
egnor Yates. 1T is not q fraternity
but is the biggest organization IN the
country. and every one should feel
proud 70 wear its emblem -"
Although a large parade was plan
ned fer the morning II had to be called
off because Of the rain. The morning
addresses had to he postponed until
Afternoon sand this made # necessary
10 cut the program short IN the af1ee
noon. All music was dispensed with
exception Of two band selections
Five bands were present bur did nor
have an opportunity TO play because Of
fhe crowded list M tire program r.
large chorus Of voices was present but
rad to be dispensed with because II
the contracted program
with favorable weather and good
roads the fair grounds would have
hesn packed but IN view ~ the fast
that mary were kept at home because
Of tbs weather It was the largest (
crowd ever Assem- bled IN Atedo with +
the exception Of the county fair.
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