Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-21
WAR TALKS ARE
BEING ARRANGED

That the coming of William How
ard Taft, former president of the
United States, who is to speak at
Augustana gymnasium June 10, is
but one of the many features being
planned by the Security league for
the purpose of arousing and foster
ing patriotic sentiment, is the state
ment of Z. W. Woodcock, Moline,
chairman Of the organization for
Rock Island county~
He is arranging for a series of
educational addresses at Prospect
park, Moline, to which school teach
ers will be especially invited. 1t is
hoped by these mass meetings TO
provide a proper channel for diff
fusion of information concerning
this cOuntry's needs and problems
because of the war.
In speaking OF Security league
plans Mr.. Woodcock says:
Having recently spent some days
at the headquarters Of the National
Security league in New York, IA
miliaTizing myself with the educa-
tiona1 aims and purposes of this
nOn-partisan patriotic organization,
am fully convinced that the Rock
Island county branch has an impor-
tant educational mission to per-
form.
We must not only keep the home
fires of patriotism burning bright
ly, but we must go further. We
must take practical steps to ac-
quaint ourselves with the many
new and serious problems Amer
lea has to meet, if democracy is to
be successful, and we must also
equip the coming generation with
this knowledge through the medi-
um of our schools.
With this end in view, the Ma
tional Security league has enlisted
the interest of the most eminent ed
ucators connected with our great
universities. These educators will
Systematically promulgate among
school teachers a new world vision
of patriotism, so that with increas-
ed power and enthusiasm they can
better interpret the spirit of the
new age to their pupils.
Il am pleased to say that I have
the assurance that Rock Island
be derived from these patriotic ed
vocational speakers with little ex-
pense to the branch. All that will
be required of US will be to pro-
vide ways and means for bringing
the teachers together.
I'm addition to having express
ident Taft here June IS, as already
scheduled, it is proposed to arrange
a series of six or eight Sunday aft
ernoon mass meetings in the Chau-
tauqua building, Prospect park,
Moline, during the coming months
of July and August, to which all
school teachers, not only in Rock
Island county, but in adjacent coun-
ties, will be especially invited. Far
reaching results will certainly be
obtained.
ITO Stimulate the interest of cit
liens generally in these gatherings,
a band concert and community
singing, etc, will be part of each
program.
Proper advertising of these ed
vocational, patriotic meetings in all
the city and country schools and
surrounding business and indus
trial districts will attract large au-
diences every Sunday. All may not
care to listen attentiveIy to the lee
lures, but they will breathe the at
mosphere of win the war service
engendered by the speakers which
will naturally tend to benefit our
county, state and nation.
Our aim will be to extend this
movement to other counties and
thus support the effort of the
league to make the work national.
The task is not an easy one, but
absolutely necessary in the present
world crisis. This concentrated eff
fort in Rock Island county will be
the most worthwhile of any pa
triotic service in which far-sighted
and patriotic citizens behind the
lines may effectively cooperate"