Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-21
TREAT ARSENAL
WORKERS WELL
And HELP CITY
such II Word Given by Brigadier
General John 7. Thompson in
EocE Island CSterday.
PRAISES ISLAND EMPLOYEES
Comments on Production Made Pos
siale 10y Undivided LOyalty Of
These in Shops.

4-..e f~It-. people III re- 4dLihS
g. timely problem IN the housing
n-dpusH ou.5 Brigadier General
John T. Thompson, director Of the
arsCuass In the United States said
To an Argus representative yester-
DAY
lt IS NIP 20 the people 70 make
them feel III home not only for what
they are doing for the government
during The time Of war, but for what
they viii mean to the community
after the war is won. These people,
who have come to Rock Island to
make their homes while employed
at Rock Island arsenal. will be very
apt 10 stay here indefinitely if they
feel that Rock Island residents are
taking an interest IN their welfare
and comfort
What these people want are
homes. They DO not enjoy living
in craupe1 quarters. These men,
who have come here to work in the
maniGon shops, should not be con
sidered as transients for they are
not. They viii make Rock Island
one Of the greatest industrial cen
ters in the world not only during
the war. but after the war,
providing they are treated as per-
manent citizens and are given full
privileges as are Rock Island
people
General Thompson continued to
speak on the housing proposition,
stating that it is an entirely new
matter to the government, but that
"a aE ~ an
from time TO time are now being
removed making it possible for the
proposition to proceed with the nee
essary rapidity. The idea advanced
by the general was that the aim
should be to make the arsenal
workmen 100 per cent efficient by
giving him cOnteu tment, such as
only comfortable home enviTOns
Will insure, and then by attention
to the. things that contribute to his
happiness and the happiness of his
family have him 50 pleased with
Rock Island that he will want to
make i his permanent home.
The government is to erect hun
dreds of houses here. but these will
not be sufficient" said the general,
private enterprise should build as
many more
Rock Island arsenal is ever the
center in General Thompson's
thoughts as is Colonel Leroy T.
Hilluan. cOmmandant, whom the
general could not praise too highly.
Colonel Hillman is one of the
best commanding officers in the ord
nance department" General SThOmp-
son said in paying a tribute to the
arsenal chief. He served efficient
" and remarkably well at Water
vliet. \. Y, prior to coming here.
His experience overseas since the
outbreak Of war has also helped to
Ill him for the position as director
OF Rock Island arsenal"
Praises Workers..
Workers employed at the arsenal
came in Tor a great part of praise
paid by General Thompson, who
said, Greater loyalty I have never
seen on the part of workers who
are helping the United States in this
great conflict. Their efforts are
helping the country in ways i'm
measurably. Their real patriotism
is conferred in the work they are
doing and they are doing it admir-
ably well.
In the arnory at the arsenal
have seen demonstrations of this
loyalty On the part of the workers /
The aruGrv is one or the finest
shops I believe ! have ever seen. (
The machinery is very good and no
better spirit on the part Of the en-
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