Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-19
WAR Department ISSUES EDlCT
CONCERNING VICE AT ROCK
ISLAND.
SECRETARY BAKER
WARNS GOVERNOR LoWDEN
Declares War Department Would No.
Hesitate to Transfer Work to Other
Points if Cleanup Order Is Not
Complied With - Constant Com
plants of Liquor and Vice.

Davenport, March 19-That the war
department will not hesitate gradually
to transfer the work that is now being
done at the Rock Island arsenal to
other points, unless the liquor and
vice conditions in Rock Island are
remedied, is the statement contained in
letter written by Secretary Of War
Baker, dated Feb. %, and mailed to
Governor Frank o. Lowden, OF Illinois,
Just before the war secretary sailed for
Europe
This letter was given out today by
the war department commission on
training camp activities, Rock Island
branch, otherwise known as the Eos
dick commission. 1t was presented to
F. o. Van Calder to make public at this
time because of a continuance of the
alleged immoral conditions surrounding
the arsenal. especially in Rock Island.
The letter of the secretary of war is
dated the same day that the order for
half mile dry zone and five mile vice
zone went into effect in Rock Island.
Whether this letter from the secretary
Of war was intended merely to cause
the state authorities to back up the
government in enforcing the ne"
orders or forecast possible additional
action is not clear.
Text Of Baker Letter.
The text of the letter, as given out
speaks clearly for itself:
"My, 1eor Governor T,Owden:
THE war department is in receipt OF
constant complaint regarding liquor
and vice conditions in the city Of Rock
Island. Representatives of the depart
ment Of justice and the commission on
training camp activities have conferred
with officials and citizens and various
communica tons have been sent urs-
ing that the conditions complained of
be remeded. So far, however, little has
been accomplished.
"As you undoubtedly know, some
twelve hundred soldiers, are located at
the Rock Island arsenal and the exis-
tence there Of large and very i'm
portant government project for the
manufacture of munitions makes these
conditions a matter of considerabl
concern to the war department. The
efficiency of the army and the indus
trial plant is involved. Indeed. so ser
ious has been the reduction in the eff
cheney of the men employed at the
arsenal that the commanding officer
has recommended dractic measures.
Gradual Transfer Threatened.
ut would, of course, be entirely pos
sible gradually to transfer the work
that is now being carried on at tae
Rock Island arsenal to other points,
either in the state or elsewhere, and ii
necessarily shall not hesitate to assume
the responsibility for such a step. On
the other hand, the Rock Island arsenal
is admirably located for the WORK
which is being carried on there and
hope that it will not be necessary for
us to take the action which l have just
suggested, and which 1 have no hesta-
ton in saying is under serious contem-
plation.
at occurs to me that your co-opera-
ton in this matter might be very effec-
tive in avoiding drastic matters I
would appreciate it very much if you
would give this matter your earnest at
tention. Any action on your part which
will bring about an immediate i'm
provement in the conditions which are
affecting the efficiency Of this import
ant plant will be cordially appreciated.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) Newton D. Baker,
Secretary Of War"
Seventeen Transporters Arrested.
Seventeen residents of Davenport
and Bettendorf are held in the Rock
Island city Jail without bond today,
and 500 pints of beer and fifty pints
Of whisky are collected in the Rock
Island marshaTs office, as the result
of general roundup Of booze trans
porters staged by federal officers, ar
senal soldiers and Officer Earl Shan
non of the Rock Island police depart
ment, on Arsenal island between p.
m. Saturday and midnight.
At o'clock Saturday night the men
took up a position commanding the
approach of the bridge, and from
that time unit, midnight every street
car and automobile coming from Rock
Island was stopped and searched.
AS fast as men were found with
liquor in their possession, they were
taken fro mtheir street car or auto
mobile and turned over to the squad
of soldiers, who guarded them with
armed weapons.
At one time traffic was congested
the entire length Of Fort Armstrong
avenue while the search was going
on.
When traffic became congested,
many motorists in the rear Of the jam
became aware of what was taking
place, and heaved their cargoes Of
liquor overheard without moments
delay.
AS a result, broken glass cluttered
the entire length Of the avenue on the
island, and for time there was a
steady stream Of intoxicants flowing
sidewalk deep in the cutters
Federal agents estimated that two
thirds of the guilty people escaped be-
cause the search did not go forward
fast enough. Many turned their auto
nm ACE A rRIME