Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-27

the war departments plans in the
prosecution of the war, and
Whereas the federal government
mas deemed it necessary TO estab-
nsh IN our city representatives of
the department of justice and
through the secretary of war, 10
call upon Governor Lowden to en-
force the law and war regulations.
and
Whereas, all good citizens of our
city must deplore the ugly noto-
riety our city is getting throughout
| the land, and this necessity of fed
eral and state assistance in the
enforcement of the law in our city,
which we as a community through
our local officials should ses U,
and
Whereas we deem it the civic AMI
especially the patriotic duty of ev
cry citizen. in this time OF national
I stress, to render every possible as
slstanCe to redeem our city from
its unenviable reputation. and to
suppress the liquor and vice con-
| dltions in our city. to the end that
the efficiency of the arsenal. its
/ army and industrial forces, shall
/ be increased to the highest point.
Now therefore be it resolved.
| that the Rock Island Chamber Of
Commerce hereby pledges itself
and its mem bership, to assist in the
enforcement of the laws and regu-
( lat-ons of the war department and
the betterment of liquor and vice
conditions in our city; and 10
hearty cooperation with the fed
eral and state authorities in that
behalf. and be it
Further resolved that we call
upon our local officials. county and
city, 20 enforce the law and eradi-
cate the liquor and vice conditions
complained of, and we ask the
press and all citizens of the city
! to lend every assistance and en-
enlargement to such officials, in
so doing, and be it
Further resolved that the chair
man Of this meeting appoint a
committee of five on law enforce
ment, with directions and author
ity to confer and cooperate with
the federal, state and local author
tiles in the enforcement OF the law
and the regulations of the govern
ment, tor the suppression of drunk
-enness and vice and the betterment
of moral conditions, both now and
in the future, and
Be it further resolved that the
secretary of this meeting be in
structed to furnish copies of this
/ resolution to the local press for
publication, and the federal depart
ments of war and justice, the COM
mandant at the arsenal, Governor
Lowden, Attorney General Brund-
age, the states attorney and sher-
I if of the county. and the mayor
and chief of police of the city.
! State Officer Talks.
| Omar H. Wright, state director
<of finance of the state of Illinois,
was the first speaker. After ex-
planning that Governor Lowden was
! taking a rest at his farm and tell
/ ing something of the war work OF
1 the state executive, Mr.. Wright
: went on to discuss the local sit
uation.
{ Il met a number of your men
this afternoon" he stated. and /
have learned that your problems
are on a much better basis than
! they have been. | am sure that
/ if such an organization as this
/ takes hold it can solve any prob
/ lem such as is presented here in
a way that will rebound to the
/ credit of the community. Governor
/ Lowden stands for law enforce
ment You can count on his earn
I est and faithful cooperation in en-
/ forcing the law and n any en-
deayor toward the successful pros
ecution of the war
Mr.: Knots made a most brilliant
address, one that completely moved
his audience His personality
makes him very convincing
speaker. one who can maintain the
interest of his auditors cOntinu-
ously.
The government. has spoken. II
is now up to Rock Island to speak
and act he said in opening his
address. Our presence here
means that the government has
learned to its own satisfaction thai
conditions in Rock Island are not
whatfthey should be. My Office and
the marshals was moved here sc
that the law may be rigidly en-
forced
Il know that some of you are q
little peeved. None of you like 4
have your city pilloried from coast
TO coast. Your mayor is quoted in
a Chicago paper as having taken
the stand that the government has
interfered here. so now it is up &c
the government TO go ahead. | wish
the mayor were here tonight.
Mould lilo fo lecture him a lift 1f
bit. The government has not inter
fered We came acting upon or
ders to do our duty. If we find any
thing to do here. Rock Island
should help to do 1t. No citizen
has the right to say that the gov
eminent should go ahead, merely
passiyeIy looking on. but the citi-
4 zens should be active in their help
Quit pouting and become rea.
patriots.
Are War Measures.
These are war measures. They
are for no patriot TO question but
to obey. Some citizens do not ap-
preciate the importance of the de
mands of the government. You are
not the only pebble on the beach
Cities near other camps and other
cantonments have been made Clean
1t is not for me 70 say if this city
is worse than any other. 1t is suf-
( ficient fer Uncle Sam to say tt
clean up. 1t is for you. you, the
mayor and all officials TO bind your
| selves together so as TO do that
and keep It that way until the enc
of he war.