Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-20
CHICAGO NEWSPAPER MAN SAYS THERE
ARE NO OPEN VICE RESORTS IN ROCK
ISLAND THAT HE is ABLE TO LOCATE

Oscar f. Hewitt. staff writer for
the Chicago Herald. was in Rock
Island yesterday. having been sent
by his paper to this city TO investi-
gate conditions in Rock Island, the
reports having reached Chicago
that this city was in a high state
of disorder due to vice
Mr.. Hewitt before leaving Rock
Island today expressed his person
al opinion to an Argus reporter
concerning his Investigations.
Il found Rock Island was not
as it has been painted abroad l
was not aCcosted by any women
of the street and l was unable 10
find any open vice resorts. The
only flirting l saw was from sew
eral young girls looking around
for some one to purchase them ice
cream sodas, / suppose"
Mr.. Hewitt's story under the cap
ton of Citizens Pledge Active
Cleanup in Rock Island is ap-
pended:
The publication Of Secretary of
+ War Bakers implied threat to dis
continue work at the island arse
nal because of liquor and vice con-
ditions in Rock Island aroused To-
day its substantial citizens.
At a special meeting the Cham
Der Of Commerce agreed to coop
crate with the government actively,
openly and permanently.
Next Saturday or Tuesday the
Chamber viii have a mass meeting
of its 1000 members and citizens
to which will be invited Governor
Lowden. Attorney General Brun-
dage. r. {. Knots, federal district
attorney, and V. y. Dallman, United
States marshal for the Illinois
southern district
They will be asked what they
want done. when they want it done,
and the Chamber will attempt 10
see that every requirement and re-
strictiOn is put into effect.
{ The business men are jealous of
+ the reputation OF Rock Island.
+ They don't want the rose painted
redder than it is.
Conditions Improved.
I They insist that local conditions
/ have been materially improved
/ since the secretary wrote his lec-
/ ter. Feb. %. Then liquor was sold
/ within a few feet of the govern
/ ment bridge over to the island. a
haIf-mile dry zone has since been
F established by the government.
! That put 81 saloons and "a whole
/ sale liquor houses out of business
+ District Attorney Knots Of
/ Springfield has opened a perma-
nent office here. District Marshal
Dallman has followed suit, bring
ing in and appointing "a cOnsid-
cradle number of deputies"
In Dallmans office is stacked
away about $1,000 worth of cor
nsCated whisky, beer and other in.
toXic%nts.
A United States commissions!
has been appointed for Rock Is
land, and yesterday and today he
handled % arrests. letting some out
on bonds and holding others to the
grand jury. Three other alleged
violators, including one woman
+ were arrested today.
Putting on the Lid.
A five-mile zone in which vice is
prohibited has been established by
the government All Of the open
vice resorts have been closed and
several street walkers have been
arrested by the police. They have
been getting a fine of $50. theil
photograph taken. ordered to leave
Rock Island, and the postmaster
notified of the town to which they
have deDarted
Add TO these happenings a fight
between the vets and drys on April
>. an investigation of vice and
liquor conditions by an assistant
of Attorney General Brundage. an
other by Assistant United States
Attorney General ID. II. Limbaugh
another inquiry by Lieutenant +
. r. Beckwith of Chicago, the ap-
pOintment of a new commandani
in Colonel Leroy T. Hillman of the
arsenal. and some idea is gained
OF the conflicting viewpoints en-
( cOuntered in this little city of 3d.
600 inhabitants.
/ Official Statements.
Mayor William McConochtJ
opined 4 have nothing to say"
Police Chief Phil Miller dared
anyone TO find a woman of the
town He added
I'm with the government
through thick and thin. If the gov
eminent thinks that booze inter