Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-19
CITY STAGCERS
over THREATS,
THEN RECEIVERS
Chamber Of Commerce Directors
Meet 10 Consider Action 10
BE Taken.
MAYOR Is HIGHLY ANGERED
General Public Thinks Government
Neuld Hesitate Long Before
Removing Arsenal.

Rocg Islands pulse Quickenet
today Ia the excitement Occasionet
by the publication OF a letter yes
xeraay purpoy<ing 70 have been SEN
Ay Secretary OF Nax Baker to Gov,
erRoT LowdeE- threatening TO re
zsove the arsenal unless alleged
E$oe conditions in this city are re
moved.
The directors Of the Chamber
OF Commerce, acting upon the
suggestion made in The Argus
vest rday, me9 al the Rock Is
land club at noon today 10 con-
slider what it can DO in the way
of pT6se<Ting tbs government
plant
The directors decided 10 hold
a public meeting and invite
Governor Lowden, Attorney
General Bvundsge OF the state,
and Uaited States Marshal Y,
\. Dallman and United States
District Attorney + Y, Knots
Of Springfield TO address it
Mayor AcConochie, angered
over the continuous and I'M
warranted defamation OF the
city" by what he terms "a GER
tain class" announced that at
his leisure he will write
10 Governor Lowden a lengthy
letter thoroughly explaining
the situaEoa to the states
executive
Public opinion N Rock Is
land seems 10 be unanimous
that the government would not
remove the arsenal. inasmuch
as II possesses the means OF
making the cities surrounding
the arsenal just as it would
have them and that the idea OF
transferring the plant IN the
middle OF the greatest war IN
history Wonld hardly seem TO
be keeping with q policy of
good Judgment
The directors of the Chamber o
Commerce when they went int
Esssinn al the Rock Island club, in
vited United States Marshal V Y
DaIlman TO address them upon tn
matter of conditions here Mr.
DaIlmau, however advised them Il
call upon United States Attorne.
L. c. Knots of Springfield. who il
here with other government Off
Gals
Makes Address.
Mr. Knots addressed the dITec
tors after which they decided Il
hold a public meeting and inyit'
Governor Lowden. Attorney Gen
eraI Brundage. Marshal Dallmal
and United States Attorney Knott
10 address it The directors antici
pate keeping in close touch wit
the situation and desire to shoy
the government that the bushes
Een OF the city will coOperat
fully with federal agents here.
Mayor McConochie was highl.
augered when he read the lette
published yesterday He refused u
give, a statement of any length con
corning his views but announces
that AT his leisure he would Civ
cut d4stailed statement concerning
Rock Island and the attitude o
the CITY commission He said tn
Letter would be offered the lOca
press for publication The mayo
did say that the city has been sub
ject 10 continuous and unwar
rRnted defapa1ion through tn
auspices of a certain class o
people in the city"
Il is the mayors opinion that tn
government possesses no intention
OF removing the arsenal He sal
the government plant has beel
here for ND re than fifty years an
its admirable location is a guar
against its being removed
Millions Invested.
Opinion in general IN Rocl
Island today vas that the govern
ment authorities would hesitate t,
commit such a hasty move as I,
transfer the arsenal 1t was pointet
Du1 that mil lions of dollars hay,
been invested by the government OF
ihe island; that ii is admirably 10
rated as the letter OF Secretary
Baker 10 Governor Lowden said
and that If would be waste of val
liable time at this date TO attemp
10 transfer il when the government
Il DESTROYS OF producing as mucI
as possible. But the point
the public in general seemed tC
tifnk made the proposition of re
moving the arsenal most inadyis-
Bble. is that such q step is unneces-
sary since the government pos
: G-zeE Tho rraarz NJ m q 1xiny fha af+