The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-06
THE RADICAL COUNTY CONVENTION.

This body met on Wednesday in the court
house, and was an exceedingly slim affair
a regular fzzle. In fact, the thing was just
about as near failure as possible. The few
present, as we notice by the official proceed
ings, despairing of seeing anything like a
respectable representation, in point of num-
bers, did the next best thing, viz:
at was voted that persons present from vari-
Gus towns may cast the vote of their towns
Even this move of the ruling clique failed
to get up list of sufficient numbers to war
rant its publication. The great county fair
was in full blast, and the Old Settlers were
in town in great numbers, and it seems as
though the managers of the clique might
have drummed up enough to make list
which would appear well in their organ
Either they could not drag the people in, OF
else the clique was afraid their plans would
be spoiled if they had respectable number
present-either of which dilemma was un.
pleasant to contemplate. So they concluded
not to expose their weakness by publishing
the names of those present. The few who
were present then proceeded; without bal
lot, 1.-THE thing being all cut and dried by the
cliqse), to put tie present treasurer and sur
veyor in nomination for reelection.
Then came the fun, in getting a county
committee. Mr.. Keator, of Moline, was
chairman of the little squad present, and
Moline was determined to rule the roost.-
Senator Webster moved for a committee OF
FIVE to select q county committee, which
motion was adopted. Of course Keator
could not do less than appoint Webster first
on that committee, but he evidently intended
to render his influence powerless by loading
him down with committee not his friends
so he appointed Fl. F .Sickles, VIM. Kerns,
S. P. Hodges, three of his own Moline men)
and J. G. Devoe. This would make com
mittee composed of majority of Moline
men, and would put Webster's nose
out ofioint at once. But Devoe saw the i'm
propriety of the thing, and declined, sug
costing that some one from the country bt
substituted. J. A. Jordan, of Coal Valley
was put on-which didn't better it much
Hodges then suggested that, as he was not &
member of the convention, it would hardly
be proper for him to act. This was poin
Keator hadn't thought of, as they had M
list of delegates and didn't know who were
members; but Hodges was left off, and the
committee made up by adding Capt. VIM
NJ. Morris, of Camden, and the committee
as fixed up, was as follows:
"a. Webster, II. F. Sickes VIM. Kerns, Capt
J. A Jordan and VIM. NJ. Morris"
The committee went out, labored, an
brought forth the following, which wa
adopted as the radical county committee, 70
the ensuing year, viz:
an. d. Merrill VIM. Kerns, VIM NJ. Morri!
ia. Jordan and E. H. Johnston"
Now compare this with the committee t
create this committee, and 1t will be see
that three out of five got themselves on tn
county committee, Keator having first pu
them where they could do so. Here's Nc
line radical modesty for you.
After this performance the thing "kinde
gin eout," without any resolutions, or an,
thing else-the little squad separating, an,
being soon lost in the crowd of people il
town.