The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-04
Interested 16onopolists at Rock
Island 2ndeavoring to Defeat
Appropriations Tor It.


privilege ot the pfluge, on payment oI
certain proportion ofthe cost.
Certain interested monopolists of Rock |
Island, who care more for their own pockets |
than the progress and good of the city, op- |
posed the free bridge, and by their repre- |
sensations at Washington, succeeded IN
having the appropriation bill postponed in
the senate. 1t seems to us of the utmost |
Importance to the interests of Rock Island
and Moline, and, indeed, of this entire re-
gion, that the bridge should be constructed
according to the design of Gen. Rodmsu.
Aside from the many local advantages we
should have in free passage of the river,
il would give this point an importance that
would naturally attract population and cap
ital.
As it comes within the scope Of the board
of trade, we think it would be well if that
body were to take some action in the mat.
ter. Let it be thoroughly discussed at to-
morrow nights meeting, and If the members
agree on the Importance of the bridge, let
them adopt q resolution urging the senate
to coincide with the house In making the
necessary appropriation for its construe-
tien.-Rock Island and Moline Union,
May 4.
We are happy to be able to endorse every
word of the foregoing, and hope the board of
trade will take immediate action in the
matter.
The "certain interested monopolists Of
Rock Island acho care more for their o,cn
pockets than the progress and good Of the
city," are Spencer, Robinson It Co., who
have controlled matters here, to the great
detrinent of the people of this city, for many
years, and used the radical party as tool
to carry out their selfish designs. They
have controlled their party leaders, their
| ofiee-holders, their Legislators and through
them the mass of their party, sa crifcing ev-
cry interest of the city, and even of their own
| party. to gain their own selfish ends
| Having done that, they then control the
board of supervisors, to keep up their high
and extortionary rates Of toll, not one of
their partizans having the manliness or
| courage to raise his voice against their ex-
| tortions. Even democrats, in many instan-
ces, have covered in fear before this "God-
and-humanity" firm of extortioners, some
yielding to their serpentlike persussions,
some getting down on their knees for free
ferry passes, and others signing their iniqui-
| tous papers for fear of losing trade, custom
| or position if they refused. And now Tom
Robinson has Just returned from Washing
ton, where he has been lobbying with his
radical friends TO defeat the plans of Gen.
Rodman for the improvement of this locality,
This INSCRIPTIONS firm has always subsidi-
zed its own party press, and used it to con
troll its party leaders, and through them the
masses of its party, as it did Webster and
Coe, in the last ferry contest. While the
Argus, single-hsnded and alone, has wsged
an unequal contest against the successful
attempts of this firm of sharpers who have
been swindling the people out oftheir rights
In many instances, in our own party, men
have proved weak in the back, and bowed
down before the power of these interested
monopolists of Rock Island who care more
for their own pockets than the progress and
good Of the city" And We are sstonished,
now, that the radical organ has dared tt
raise its voice, even in whisper, (suppres
sing the names of these interested monopo
lists of Rock Island) against the further en-
croachments of this firm. We hail the fac
as an omen of better day, and hope tina
the paper will not be controlled and com
PEELED to swallow its words and take the
back track. There is yet some hope 70
Rock Island if we can work together fol
her interests-but none, if the devilish ma
chinations of these Interested monopolists
are to control the people any longer.
In opposing these schemes to swindle tn
people of this city ont of their rights, W
never had any object in the world except t
benefit the people in general and create
permanent source Of revenue for the city
No personal or partizan motive ever ac.ua
ted Us in the least. We had no persona
ill-will against any one connected with th
firm, and our only object was to save a rev
enue for the people of this city, for all tim
, to come. But these greedy cormorant
have beaten, not US, but the people, ever
time. And how have they done it? B
subsidizing their party press and controlling
their party leaders, their members of tn
: legislature, their Mayors and Aldermen, thei
: Office holders, and through them the ran
8 and file of their party-and in their wax
they have swept along some weakened G
mercenary democrats. Subsidies; threats
!. defeating certain can didates for Office VI
less the nominees would bow down to the;
g will; threats Of loss of patronage. trade, l.,
r promises of Office or patronage, free ferr
}. passes, DC, &c,-these are the means b
!, which this inscriptions firm has. for year,
+ controlled every material interest in this cit
e and county, and used it to fill their ow
g pockets and to the injury of the people ger
= orally.
dI What must be the indignation of the e,
it tire people of Rock Island when we te
y them that Tom Robinson, acting for thi
= firm of interested monopolists," has bee
q in Washington, representing that Gen. Ro
= man was squandering the government M
Il ney here, on useless clocks, on expense,
private residence, &C., &C., and doing all
Is could, through his radical party congress
re men, to defeat Gen. Rodman's plans?
Z should call out the severest censures frol
II the largest mass meetings ever held
Il D. Y