The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-10
TINE FARMERS CANDIDATE.
The Man Whom the Yeomen Win
Make a Supreme Judge Of
Illinois.
A sketch of the Antecedents Of the
Hon. A. M. Craig, of Knoxville.
HOW BE Is EXnlENTLY FITTED FOE THE
RESPONSIBLE POSITION N QUESTION.
ALL ABOUT HIM.


burg, Is the farm and handsome home OF
Hon. Alfred NJ. Craig, the farmers candi
date for Judge Of the supreme court ofthis
State. In Knoxville for many years past
Mr.. Craig has carried on the business Of
his office up TO last February, Knoxville
was the county town of the county, and in
it was dispatched the legal business of the
district. By the removal of the county
seat 10 Galesburg over which there has
been the sharpest fighting on both sides,
Knoxville has been despoiled of the many
LAWYERS offices which formerly occupied
frontage on bye-streets within its limits.
As an old Resident of Knoxville the facts
of Mr. Craig's past history are matter Of
public property. He is the leading man
Of the farmers of the county, and outside
of the city of Galesburg will probably poll
a heavy majority. The chief incidents Of
Judge Craig's personal history are related,
by a reporter, who visited Knoxville re-
Gently. as follows:
Alfred Marion Craig was born ON the
9th Of January, 1881, in Fulton county,
Illinois, where his parents resided, follow
ing the calling Of agriculturists. For sew
eral years he resided in the old locality,
attending school and laying the foundation
Of that earnest, hardworking disposition
and honest integrity which have been his
chief characteristics as a man. When
seven years old he came to Galesburg and
entered Knox college, where he studied
four years, graduating in 1852 The class
was large one, but young Craig stood
high, being within a few OF the top. After
graduating, he entered the law office OF
Messrs. Cloudy Z Weed, then carrying on
the practice Of law in Fulton county. Mr..
Cloudy has since removed 10 Chicago, and
the other partner is the present Judge
Weed, of Peoria After two years hard
study, Mr.. Craig lett the office of Cloudy
a Weed and, coming back to this city
entered the Office Of Messrs Manning X
Douglass. with whom he entered into part
nership the style Of the firm being Man
ming, Douglass \ Craig The office was
located at Knoxville, and the duties dis
charged by the new partner chiefly consist
ING of assisting the senior in the manage
meut of the cases of the hrm in the court.
Mr.. Craig early discovered that wonderful
shrewdness in reading character, to which
he owes beyond doubt his present position
as the ablest jury lawyeriu his district. With
Mr.. Manning, acknowledged az that time 70
be one Of the leading criminal advocates of
the west, Mr. Craig made rapid progress.
and soon discharged his full share Of work
in the affairs Of the concern which ranked
as the heaviest law firm west of Chicago.
When MIR. Craig came to Knoxville, he
had, it is said but ( 10 in his pocket aud
small satchel with bare change of linen,
hut his character for industry and shrewd
intelligence was already 50 well establish
ed that he found no difficulty in effecting
the partnership arrangement referred 70.
In ls64 Mr.. Manning, who had gone to
Peoria to practice but still kept up his
connection with the firm, died and the
business was continued by Messrs Doug
lass and Craig. In 1867, Douglass went
out 10 Kansas City leaving the then fair
ly established barrister with the most
widely-extended practice in the district
In 1859, Mr.. Craig finding he was not
equal 10 the rapidly accommodating business
Of the firm took into partnership MIR. G.
*. Harvey, who has been associated with
him up to the present time.
Mr.. Craig, during these several years,
received, ON more than one occasion, prac-
teal proofs Of the confidence Of his fellow
citizens. In 1856 Mr.. Craig was elected
prosecuting States Attorney for the dis
trict which comprised the counties Of Peo-
ria, Fulton, Knox, Mercer, Stark, Warren
aud Henderson. Mr. Craig was elected
ON the Democratic ticket by large major
ity and discharged the duties Of the Office
% the satisfaction Of the people The war
opened, and Mr.. Craig took the position Of
a trdr Democrat, and maintained his hold
on public sympathy 50 strongly that in
1868 he was elected to the Office of County
Judge for Knox county, and filed the DO
sition for four years His majority in &
Republican district was the best test thai
could have been given of his wide spread
popularity. In the fall Of 1869 he wa,
nominated 10 the constitutional convention
and notwithstanding that his political sym
pathies were in opposition TO those of tn,
party having the majority in the county
the Republican party, he was elected at
the head of the ticket, the vote in his ia
vor being 2,6l4. He was elected in nc
cOrdance with the universal desire that tn,
best lawyers in the State should be sent I,
the convention The position held by Mr.
Craig was 80 undoubted that no compet
ton worthy of the name was offered Il
him and lac was elected by the votes Of
many who were opposed to him in politics
The positions held and sought by the pres
ent farmers nominee for the Suprem,
Court, have all been Of that character il
which the active elements of political war
fare failed 10 enter. The contest
hnsTn hmm NhAuR in Nul,1nh
merit has been the chief test
and 80 undoubted have been the claims O
Mr. Craig that he has in every case re
eeived vote ahead--in some Gases largely
ahead Of his ticket At the Constitutions
Convention Mr.. Craig at once took n
honorable position. He speedily obtainer
stong hold on the confidence Of the mem
bers and was appointed chairman of tn
committee on county relations a mem
Der Of mines and mining electoral ant
representative reform; legislative appoint
ments and the railroad corporations an(
committees He was appointed on thi
latter committee with Mr., Harvey p Bux
ton, Anthony Elliott, - Atkins, W. j
Allen, Of Alexander Truesdale, Cross
and J. c. Allen, Of Crawford. Josh AL
len, one Of the shrewdest members Of th,
committee, took the antediluyian view o
the railroad question, but all the othe
members ofthe committee were in favor o
the popular control Of railroad corporation
and soon persuaded Allen that he was il
error They drew up the clauses Of thei
report in caucus together and il was thu
presented 10 the convention
After prUtracted consideration, the re
port was adopted, aud the railway clause
now a part of the constitution Of the con
stitution Of the State under which tn
present farmers movement is being car
ried on are owing 10 the sagacity and de
termined persistenoy Of Mr.. A, M. Craig
in common with the other members Of tn
committee In this connection, il is inter
estug 10 republish the most importan
sections Of the work of the committee:
ARTICLE xL
So H. Railroads heretofore constructed, O
tuat may ho hereafter constructed u this State, mr.
uy,ypl a.eiared public highways, and shall be fire.
" a,, p,''ur TOT thc transportation OF their pei
.uus eue FsNp"riy thereon. under such regulation
- IHyy y. lt'.,ribed by law and the general a,
1870 Tuall lt9ln umr 70 time. pass laws estat
iNhiuh n-onanie maximum rates Of charges "a
W. utp.Pu,ta ~ passengers aud freight on IN
different railroads Va thb state