Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-31
ARSENAL Chief
UPHOLDS FLAG
Says Movement Started With the
United States Shipping Beard
in Washington.
WRITES TO DEFENSE COUNCIL
Follows Complaints Made b. PeO-
pie Who Allege Banners Are
for Military On'y.

Colonel Leroy T. Hillman, com
mandant at Rock Island arsenal, is
a strong champion of the arsenal
service flags, which now adOrn the
windows OF thousands of homes in
the tri-cities
Of late there has been some OBJ
lection relative TO these flags, the
compiainants alleging that the
service flag was originally Intended
for the men who have joined the
lighting forces of the United States
army and that the working en-
ployes' service flag detracted from
its merit
The matter wasa taken up with
Colonel Hillman by the Scott Coun-
ty council OF defense several DAYS
ago. At that time Colonel Hillman
agreed to present his views in writ
ing to the council. This he has
done. The substance of his letter
to the council follows:
In regard TO the interview the
writer had with your committee a
few days ago regarding the above
subject, | beg to present in writing
some Of our reasons for giving the
employees of this arsenal service
flags to be displayed in their places
OF residence.
This suggestion came to US first
upon learning that the shipping
board was presenting service flags
to their employees. We secured one
of their service flags, which is the
same as the one We adopted, ex-
cepting the wording is as follows:
Z. S. Shipping Board at the top,
and War Service at the bottom.
We requested the ordnance depart
ment to permit US to adopt a sim
liar flag and received the following
reply:
The plan of furnishing a ser
vice flag to all regular employees OF
the arsenal or to such as be
desired by the commanding officer.
Is strongly approved. He is au-
thorized to prepare a suitable de-
sign and TO issue such flags without
further reference to this office. AS
soon as the plan has been put in
force at Rock Island, he is author
lied to furnish this Office with SUI
ficient copies to the design. or flags.
together with d description Of the
method used in circulating them.
to enable this Office to properly in
struct the other arsenaIs. proving
grounds and ordnance establish
ments in the use thereof.
Refers to President,
In further justification we re-
spectfully refer you to the follow
ing statement made by our dis
tinguished president, Woodrow Will
son:
Industry plays as essential and
honorable a role in this great
struggle as do our military arma-
merts. We all recognize the truth
OF this, but We must see its impli-
cations, namely. that industry do
ing vital task of the nation must
receive the support and assistance
of the nation.
If the above statement means
what 1t says, and l have no doubt
but that you believe it does. ii is
then very apparent that the men
and women working at the arse
nal, either on direct production of
mum ions or indirectly, are play
ing Just as essential a part of our
great military program as if they
were in the trenches in France.
The statement made that after
a certain length of service a gold
star is 10 be given is Incorrect.
Respectfully.
L. T. HILLNAN.
Colonel, Ord. Dept, L. S. A.
BY /. G.. McCrum
IL CnI nrI