Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-31
-ACuE is BIC
I'D TO NATION
+ OF Defense Vehicle for Co.
mating Voluntary War
Activities.
BY Z. W. REAnFR

a fSAANtt AOt COOf ulIaJuS all or
various war activities which
re dependent upon voluntary
sort for their effectiveness. The
neil Of defense was an instru-
\ OF state and national scope,
IL Y ng its foundation IN state and
4 a eraI legislative enactmeuts and
ii nile restricted in power was new
N rtheless the most potent force in
xistence during the entire war in
Y he matter of handling all prob
ems OF war that came IN close
i ouch and often in conflict with the
81 laEits, customs and desires OF the
1 people.
The council of defense was or
I gained in some branches late in
81 but did not really function un-
ii the latter part OF January, 1918.
With the appointment of II. H
leaveland as chairman for the
ounty, 1t began 10 make its weight
| IL and by the middle Of February
committees were organized and
s operation
Finance Committee First
One of the first committees or
anized was the county finance
'4A@AA4NNNC. LIS " d lLa1hS up Ot
4 persons each from Rock Island
& Id Moline and three from each
II lwnship in the county. The fin
nee committee was charged with
he responsibility for the raising of
Rock Island county's portion OF all
FUNDS required by the government
and its portion Of those war chart
@nes which were given federal en-
q dOrsement. It was given power to
& license the raising of funds and TO
Aprevent the fraudulent solicitation
bf funds for questionable war en-
erprises.
The following committees func-
5oned under the direction of the
buncil:
81 Finance Committee R. B. Lourie
nd c. R N0urse. Chairmen
Neigh boThood- a Stephens
4 nd J T Marion
Food ProductiOn-Palm r. Ed
4 Eerton, chairman.
4 Women 's-Mrs. H a. Weld and
Mrs. T. T. DufYa
-Four Minute Men-E. H Stat I
ford.
l League Advisory Board-N. A. .
4Larson and G. 0. Deitz
\ Fuel Administrator A Clev-
enstine.
Food Administrator E. Tay-
Tor and Nj o. GriswOld
County Auxiliary-H. H Cleave- .
ano. chairman, A. z. Olson. secy. +
The county auxiliary committee .
was made up of the Chairmen of
all Committees and was the eXecu- (
tive body controlling the organiza- .
ton,
Covered Wide Field.
he council of defense handled .
the third and fourth loans. war
savings stamp drives, put through
the war chest drives in Rock Is
and and Moline. handled under the
Is. housing registration bureau
.ht question of rentals and prof.
teeing. carried on Americauiza-
ion work and war educational
Propaganda through the neighbor-
hom committee; maintained a list
Of ubscTibeTs to all war charities
and to Liberty loans: organized q
Libsrty loan court through which
recalcitrants were made to do their
tull share in supporting the war
ioals; increased food and stock
PANAALA4DAA AZ ALC ] q ~ A-5A44ALl u HI
les and initiate a program to elm
mate waste in threshing; was the
clearing house for reports from
members and others on cases Of
1ro-Germanism handled many pro-
German sympathizeTs and loan and
va charity obstTuCtiCuists il
backed up the work of the fuel and
food administration and at the close
Of he war had in force q commit
tee on retail merchant regulation
On hours and delivery.
he council of defense oTganiza-
nol was not a mems Orga niZaUOn.
Tht membership was evenly di-
vlda betw cen men and women and
newcomer of the community pra-
nclated in practically every
orsch OF the organization work.
Il 1Ould be impOss bile 10 differ
entite between the work done by
lhenen and that done by the wo-
ner SO closely were they united
ID Gerry undertaking
NOmen's Work Important
Q special Importance was the
Eor carried on BY the Womens
committee. which was headed by a.,
Mrs h H. Cleaveland, Miss Lou ,,
Hairs, Mrs. H. A Weld and Mrs !
Duta, of Rock Island. and Mrs.
AHA Miller Of Edgingtou township. ;
Aese women participate active
" handling and directing all the
moey raising campaigns, both as
10 ans 2 nd charities In addition s
ne carr ed out a complete regis Z
Iaon Of the women Of The county, {
setag forth their usefulness in 7
E1work should an extreme crisis /
ana requiring a larger use of wO- [
ne workers. put through a child a
Neare program the results of
RnA are sure to obtain long af- i
terhe war has passed carried on !
eaztio1al work in connection f
WI uses OF substitutes for flour Y
anesugar and conducted c0ntinu- h
0aSeampaigns on the elimination u
VI aste and the saving Of meats 5
andats. o
Lring the last months Of the Il
sAS precinct organ ZsuOn was q
ttoIeo with a chairman and eight S
.s4s In each pTectac- These ?
pienet teams we're made up of o
~ men and women and during is
sourth loan demonstrated their v
s.EVeuess 70 the complete salts U
NASsn Of everyone
.9ruy after the signing Of the te
tlce the local organization e
ssuthorIzed 10 disband as soon u
could conveniently do so after u