Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-20
HlLLMAN POINTS
OUT PRESS DUTY
New COmmandant at Rock Island
Arsenal Urges Newspaper Men
10 Preach Patriotism.

the newspapers OF this Iocallty 10
publish everything which will tend
Do keep the patriotic fires burning
within the hearts OF workmen and
soldiers at Rock Island arsenal ana
To suppress everything that would
have an opposite effect was 81"
suggestion which Colonel Leroy T
Hillman. recently appointed com
mandant at Rock Island aTsena'
made to the members of the Tri-
City Press club at their monthly
session last evening at the Manu-
faCturers' hotel. Moline.
Colonel Hllman. after express
ing his appreciation at being
guest o. the club as he had been
some ten years or more ago. at the
time when ex-president w II,
TAFT. then secretary OF war, was
entertained and also on one othe-
occasion during the time he was
formerly stationed at the arsenal.
said that the government plant here
is now the largest in the United
States and that when the shops
now under construction are coin
pleted. it will be the largest in the
world. Not only in point Of equip
ment and in buildings but in the
character of the work turned out,
Ii viii far surpass anything OF the
kind which either England o.
France has. he said, and he is in
a position TO know by reason OF
his visit 10 Europe on tour Of in
spection within the last year.
THE big problem is that Of
housing" ne declared. There
never has been = time when It
seemed 10 me the tri-cities had
sufficient homes to properly care
for its workers. The government
is seeking efficiency 1t is impera-
tive that Ia order to secure this,
il have men who are cOntented AMI
happy and they cannot be in thla
frame of mind unless they are
housed in a satisfactory manner
This country is attempting to
carry out an ambitious program
this year. much larger than that
proposed by England in COnsid-
era ply longer time. We must WIN
the war and in order TO do it, We
must equip our army rapidly. Our
arsenal employees must be always
made 10 feel they are working on a
patriotic basis and TO keep ALIVE
this spirit is the special province
OF the press OF the tri-cities.'
This was the first opportunity
many members OF the club had had
10 meet the successor OF Colonel
George " Burr. recently as
signed 10 other duties, and they
appreciated the chance OF greeting
the man who il at the head OF the
important national industry here.
Colonel Hiliman proved in his in
formal talk TO be o. the pleasing,
appzoa-hable type which quickly
wins and retains friendships.
United States Marshal Y. Y. Dali
man. Springfield who has estaD-
Hshed ON ces in Rock island for tie
purpose or seeing that dry and vice
zone regulations Of Uncle Sam are
observed. was also d guest of tie
evening Marshal Dallman is for
mer managing editor Of the Spring
field State Register and d veteran
in the newspaper game despite his
boyfsEness Of spirit and looks. lie
said thai he was not quite sure
whether ne had gone up or down
in the scale OF human endeavor f.
accepting d Job as a cop and
dropping that of scribe, but that
he was sure Of one hing that The
excitement incident to the 'clea4-
up" Uf Rock Island was nothing in
comparison 10 his stormy old re-
pOrtoElal days. when within one
W6ess aS was "chOkad" as he
walked the streets Of EpTingneld
by tbs chairman of tbs Democratic
committee. showing that he played
no f4g0ElteS. He told q number of
amusing stories, demonstrating
that, although a stern officer OF the
law, he Is also an all around prince
o. 2 good fellow.
Accompanying Colonel Hii1man
were tV0 members OF his staff,
C&Dtzl4 y. A VanBeJ eF and Cap
tain i, u. Gilbert, both Of whom
Wefe called on for talks. The for
nleT emphasized the fact that civil
.ans as well as men Id khaki were
soldiers and part OF the great army
which Is going to put over the
wa, Captain Gilbert FeCounted
some q his experiences il Europe
and IT, sd the utmost unity on be
half q he American people in the
present crisis.
Others 10 make brief talks were
y 9
who made il perfectly clear that
his Office was ready TO co-0pera =
10 the limit with the government
IN any measures which Uacle Sam I
thinks necessary To improve con- !
ditlOns surrounding the arsenal and /
DR. l.. G ABfahamson. editor OF I
The AugHstaHa, who said ISL stu
dents Of Augustana college had en- (
listed Repeated calls for l. r. .
Blackman, efficient chairman of the +
Moline e. eFtaiumeut committee
forced that worthy to bow his ac- I
knowled gmeBt.
Al the business session John W.
Potter Of The Argus was proposed Z
Tor membership and an application
Tor reinstatement was made Nv
Grant HultbeTg, one OF the early
members OF the press club. Men
ton Of the death OF Robert Gard /
ner, popular reporter Tor the Dav-
export Democrat vas made. ami
President Joe tarmichae! named a
committee 10 draft suitable resolu-
lions. y =. MGusDn. the secretary.
tas also authorized To prepare an
honor FOIL Of the organization.
showing the names Of members
now IL the service Of the United
States. A tempting menu which
even ven 50 Tar as to include
straw berry snort cake and every
thing served 10 put the members