Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-21
men TO
WAR ON VICE IN
THE -FOUR CITIES
Not Only Rock Island, But Moline
East Moline and Davenport To Be
Rendered Clean.
CAMPAIGN On DIVES IS PLANNED
City Commission Promises To Coop.
crate With Army and Government
Agents in the Work.

Plans for a complete cleanup OF
Rock Island, Moline, East Moline. Dav-
export and adjacent territory were
outlined before the Rock Island mu-
nicipal commission this morning.
d. H. Limbaugh, special assistant
United States attorney general, and
Lieutenant E. R. Beckwith of the Unit
ed States sanitary corps, asked 90
operation Of the municipal govern
ment In cleaning out dives and rid
ding cities Of the women OF the street.
Lieutenant Beckwith in an address
declared that the army is Kidding men
of social diseases, pointing out that Of
fetal records show that national army
men who five months ago were VIC
tins of these diseases to the number
of 800 of each 1000 men per year, and
that the army surgeons and suppress
sion of vice near cantOnments has re-
duced the<nurnber to less than seventy
men per 1000 per year.
Now In Limenght.
He declared that the object OF the
government is to- have the surround
ings of all army camps and posts i'm
maculately clean and that It is the
intention of the war department to
render the tri-cities as clean as those
near cantonments now are and said
that cooperation On the part OF city
governments is always appreciated
and always expected. He pointed out
that the army has brought to the at
| tention of the people Of the country
more than ever before the necessity OF
cleanliness as an aid to efficiency and
declared it the patriotic duty Of all to
assist in giving the nation an army OF
men 100 per cent efficient.
He declared that the army Il re-
ducing disease of this type and that II
has long recognized the importance OF
this work Cd the part Of the army
physicians.
Cleanse Entire Community.
! Mr.. Limbaugh supplemented the
address of Lieutenant Beckwith with
a patriotic appeal to the city commits
sion to give its force towards assist
ing the government in its endeavor il
this community. He said that not only
Rock Island alone, but Moline, Eas
Moline, Davenport and adjacent terri
tory would be rendered clean of al
vice and the government would cente
a force of men in this field to see :,
it that It is done.
i He said that it is poor law whicl
does not work both ways and that sol
diers found with women Of the stree
or drinking liquor are properly dis
ciplined and that It is not only tn
civilian offender but the soldier a
we'll who is punished.
Foster Pledges Assistance.
The commission in its entiret
promised cooperation as we'll as di
j, DR.. c. T. Foster, municipal health ply
> sician, who declared that his ofic
would give all the attention require
to suppress vice in this community
He declared state laws provide tina
. women who are found i'll of venera
: disease be detained and isolated ,bu
| that the law does net provide place
Y where they may be kept. He said tn
\ law further requires physicians to r.
b port all cases of social diseases, bl
a none does. He said he would make
q a point in the future to see that loo:
: doctors do this.
4 Mayor McConochie promised cool
+ GRAFTON. When Mr.. Limbaugh sal
v that the United States attorney
: would render every possible assis
t ance, the mayor said: Eve will we
e come the assistance
Yes, indeed" acquiesced Commit
sioner >Rudgren.
The mayor suggested that pass,
given to soldiers to leave the arsen
q be limited. Lieutenant Beckwith d.
cfared that such is a matter for arm
officers to decide.
e Cannot Question Wisdom.
a In closing Mr.. Limbaugh said:
s, Whether it is a good law or a b:
e law it is not for US to decide. 1t
e only for US to see that the law Is e.
a forced and l am sure you gentlemt
n will cooperate with US"
l. Among those present at the NEE
J. ing aside from the commissioner
s. were DR.. C. T. Foster, rnunicip
IS health physician, Chief of Police Pr
l. Miller, Food Inspector DR.. A. M. He
g lingsworth, Sheriff George H. Ric
p mond and City Attorney J. K Scott.