Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-27
FIFTY SETTLERS
GATHER FOR DAY
Rock Island County Association in
Joint Session mt Watch
Tower.
ASH CENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE
VI. J. McEniry of Moline Appeals to
Members to Induce County to
Hold Fitting Ceremony.

county ndQ registered at noon To-
day at the Watch Tower where the
| association is holding its annual
| session jointly with the Rock Island
| County Historical society.
NJ. ]. McEniry of Moline made the
| opening address of the day in which
lhe appealed to the members to see
that Rock Island county does not
let the year pass without first OBJ
serving in some manner the state
centennial celebration that has just
been concluded in numerous Hi
nois cities.
Because of it's historic fame
Rock Island county should take
part in the observance of the
states centennial" Mr.. McEniry
said. Rock Islanders are neglect
ing to make arrangements for an
Observance. Action should be start
ed at once. 1t is not necessary for
the people to arrange any NAM
moth celebration but let us have
Rock Island county do its share
he concluded.
But minor business was transacted
during the morning session. Ad-
dresses of welcome were given and
responses were made to these A
nominating committee for the cleo
ton of officers was chosen. The
election was scheduled to take
place during the afternoon session.
Wenger Speaks.
George c. Wenger, a member of
the association, made the principal
address of the day. He paid trib-
II u n q 7 lrin ~
Edwards, who before entering the
military service, was with Mr.. Wen
ger in his law office in Rock Island.
Mr.. Wenger tells of a letter that
was received by him which was
written by Lieutenant Edwards be-
fore he died while serving in
FRANCE. THE letter." Mr.. Wenger
said, was received by me after he
had given his life"
Mr.. Wenger's speech as given be-
fore the Old Settlers association is
appended:
Three hundred years ago, when
the first colonies of our country
began to grow in population, the
New England colonists were taught
that he, who will not work, should
not eat a correct doctrine was
then announced for all ages. While
this rule was easily enforced in
the early history of this nation, it
never has successfully been urged
in older and thickly settled com
munitieS, where industrial condi-
items have become complex In
colonial times, every man was
wealth producer and most of them
raised and made what he needed
for food and wore as clothing. In
later times part of the people pro-
uuCeG the neceSSarieS of life and
the others without any labor
on their part, helped consume the
products so raised. This condition
brought forth problem which has
been discussed and debated for
generations past, commonly called
capital and labor 1t is too diff
cult and complex a problem for
US to spend much time on today,
gathered as you are in a picnic for
old settlers, as that problem is
part of your thoughts at most
times and enters largely into your
daily discussions, and perhaps
there are a few of us who prefer
to pass the question lightly by, and
leave it, as the man, who, when
asked by another to explain the
said, IF l loan you
dollar, that is capital. and when
| try to get you to repay it, that is
labor
To-day, however, when the war
cloud hangs over our whole ma
ton, and our boys are willingly
all they have in this
world we found there were many
who still were engaged in non-es-
5ential occupations, or were not !
working at all, and therefore |
guilty of the same wrong that some /
Of the early settlers in those New !
England colonies were, when the I
mandate went out, to go to work /
And today in spite of our sober |
thoughts, We cannot help but fec! !
that the political parties /
II cur country are united and
stand back of our commander in /
'hief OF our army and navy. the
president of the United States. to I
enforce the rule for all able bodied
people TO go TO work And when
he rule finally gets down TO
complete basis, there will be no
lappier people than the very ones
Who heretofore were avoiding it.
Patriotism Chief Theme.
Thus, patriotism, apparently
ormant for some years in this
Ountry, we hope not intentional
Y, has become the chief theme
I our people, even if it did become
indled by the outrages committed
n helpless and unprepared ma
ions, and famed into a flame by
he almost unbelievable crimes
ommitted on our own people, by
ne war lords and the kaiser of the
-erman empire. And now the
lame of patriotism has reached
throughout every state and terri
Dry of our country, and today we
tand back of million and a half
our own blood, who have gone
verseas TO wipe out and DESTROY
he attempt to revive human sIay-
~. Many of you assembled here
elped settle that question in ou-
wn borders, over fifty years ago.
list as many of you who have sons,
ave bid them farewell and silent
admonished them TO come back
eroes, If fortunate enough to be
nong the 80 per cent or more
lat We feel sure will come back.
Ome have already become enroll
in the honor list. Some more
Ill have to join them, as the great
ice for the most noble purpose
at an army ever embarked in