Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-15
new CLUBROOMSI
Are DEDICATED
Rock Island Arsenal Workers Cele-
brate Formal Opening Quar-
tiers Saturday Night.
SLOGAN GOOD SAYS HILLMAN
"WOrk viii Win the War. is Truth
Asserts Commandant; Likes
Name Selected.


organized Rock Island Arsenal
Workers club at Armory hall build
ing in this city Saturday night.
Il am glad to see that arsenal
men have organized and established
recreational clubrooms," declared
Colonel Leroy T. Hillman, arsenal
commandant. in a brief talk before
approximately 400 men and their
families who crowded the auditor
ium on the main floor. 81 like the
name Workers club Its spirit is
good. And nothing is more true than
your slogan, Work will win the
war With labor adopting this
slogan, we are bound to come out
on top. But labor should be pro-
vided for. The workers should
have the ways and means to become
better acquainted. They should
have other places of amusement
than the four walls of their rooms,
or perhaps the movie show. A place
should be provided enabling the
workers to sit down and enjoy
themselves, play a game of billiards,
read a favorite book, play a game
OF cards, a place where they may
exchange views unhindered.
Thus when representative of
the war camp community service
came to me and desired to know Of
some way that the men employed
on the arsenal, and we have a. vast
number, might be benefited, l sug-
81 nf
cation for recreational purposes be
placed before the men. They We're
assured of aid, and the result of
their initiative is the club we are
opening this evening.
Il am glad that Rock Island Ar
senaP is a part of the name for this
organization. l want the men to
feel proud of the fact that they are
working on the arsenal, one of the
largest in the world. 1 want them
to feel proud that they are
helping to make possible the ship
ping of 100000 fighting men to
France every month.
But although labor is doing
much, it will have to do more and
more in order that we may win a
decisive victory. Orders approx
imating $7O,O0O,0O0 in value are
being taken care of at the Rock Is
land arsenal at the present time,
and orders are multiplying rapidly.
We have 10000 men employed now,
and are attempting to get more.
Sentiment of the workers through
out the nation is that our soldiers
are going to be well equipped in
every way. Our troops are to be
| fitted the equal and superior of the
enemy: not like the Russians, who
were forced to use the most crude
weapons against the high powered
| shells and rifles of the Germans.
! United States workmen will back
! to the limit their fellow workers in
the trenches, and continue to do so
until this struggle has been fought
| 10 the bitter end.
Thus it is that I am glad to see
anything that will cOnduce the
| pleasure and contentment OF the
| home soldiers established. Such
an organization augments etflc-
/ ieney in accomplishment by offer
| ing a center of recreation TO the
worker and his family. To the ar
! senaI workers 1 want to express the
| earnest wish and hope that fullest
/ enjoyment be obtained from this
/ source. If in any way l can be OF
/ service, I, and those associated
with me, will be glad to cooperate
with you in every way"
! Colonel Hillman's remarks re
ceived much applause. R. l.
| Schwaegerle of Rock Island, pres
/ ident of the club, acting as chair
man during the evening, then in
/ troduced Colonel \. F. Ramsay
/ also of the arsenal. In short talk
| Colonel Ramsay said;
1T has been said that a man is
Judged by his leisure moments
That is. his mode of spending them
and it is the truth. That IS why the
secretary of war has provided clean
entertainment for the soldiers and
sailors in every camp and canton
| ment. And this should include
those of the second line of defense
the man behind the gun,-the work
err That such recreation is import
ant goes without saying. This worn
has been carried on very well here
| indeed. l want to extend the
| heartiest Of wishes for the success
| Of the club, and wish to emphasize
| Colonel HiIlman's statement con
corning our readiness to cooperate
insofar as possible, in making it
success"
Following the talks, Mr.. and Mrs
r. c. Lyans favored with a cello
and piano selection, while two voca
| numbers by Miss Esther Malmrose
| were well received. Mrs. Faye
Hough Mccarthy won much ap
pIause by giving several excellen'
readings.
Lads Feature.
Easily the feature of the program
was the performance of Jack anc
Sam Shumate, 1927 Harrison street
aged 10 and s years respectively
; The little lads, attractively attireC
| in jackie uniforms, sang severa
| of the latest popular military com
| positions. They were accompanied
at the piano by their mother. The
( wee sailor lads exhibited no signs
! of nervousness or embarrassment
upon appearing before a large
crowd and performed like veterans
without once losing or straying
| from the tune. The crowd voiced
it's approval by calling them back
time after time and according them
| thunderous applause.
Following the lads numbers. Mr.
| and Mrs. X. c. Lyans rendered an
other cello piano selection, while
! Mrs. Mccarthy followed with sew