The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-22
To the Farmers and Voters Of the Fifth su.
prone Judicial District.


A campaign document, prepared by a
well known railroad lawyer of Galesburg,
in the interest Of Judge Lawrence, and
signed by A G. Clay, C. a. Hinckley and
A. J Dunlap, all residents Of Galesburg
has been circulated throughout the district
for the purpose Of defeating Judge Craig
the farmers candidate for Judge of the
Supreme Court, and is so glaringly and
absolutely false that we present this reply,
% the farmers Of the district
II is charged that he is a railroad attor-
ney in the employ Of the c.. b. a q rail.
road company This we personally know
to be absolutely false. He has been in the
active practice Of his profession in this
judicial circuit for twenty years last past
and during all that time he has acted as
attorney for the c., b. a q railroad com
pany, in but tio0 cases, about five years
past, and then only as an assistant TO
Judge Lanphere, who was the regularly
employed railroad attorney for this county
at that time, aud now warm supporter
Of Lawrence.
We have examined the records Of our
court and find these two cases the only
ones in which he has appeared on the
contrary we find and know Of scores of
cases that he has prosecuted against the
railroad company ia TIE interest of N,
farmers
We further personally know that Judge
Craig is and has been for years last past in
sympathy with the farmers in their fight
against monopolies tie is moreover PR
sonaiiy interested in the success Of the
movement aud the defeat of railroad mo
nopoles, for the reason that he owns 1--WE
large farms in this county, and several in
adjoining counties All Of his property
consists Of farms, aud all that he aCcumu.
lates, outside ul his law practice, il de.
rived from the proceeds ct these farms.
He was one Of the first to aid in the organ
izatiou Of farmers Clubs in this county, and
il now a member Of the farmers club in
Knox township, and was a delegate from
this county 10 the farmers convention at
Springfield
The celebrated case of CLARK vs.. the
city Of Galesburr referred 70 IN the
Lawrence circular, was an injunction 10 re-
strain the city of Galcsb,ug from issuing
bonds o. the Court Greek railroad, and
prevent an election being held undera void
ordinance which had been procured in
GalesburC of which Ben. Lombard Jr.,
the celebrated land shark, Well known in
the military tract, who Is now writing let
tiers all over the district in the interest Of
Judge Lawrence, was the head and front.
This same ring who were enjuined from
peTpetrating u gigantic steal, are now all
warm supporters Of Judge Lawrence and
are working desperately in his behalf 1t
will be only necessary ~ say further in
reference to this case that in the trial the
court held that the election was void and
Il u bonds issued to the Court Creek rail
re I'D would be void aud OF no effect
Y is next charged that Judge Craig
WIN 10 member Of the constitutional con
vent ion, acted in the interest Of railroads.
The Journal OF the proceedings of that con
vcntiC u show that statement to be a gross
ialsehc cd We have examined the journal
Of the convention. and find that Jadg,
Craig NJ ted fer ecory provision IN oVr c0H-
sii'utioa IN reference 10 railroads.
We fur ther learn ON inquiry of some Of
the meml 'ers Of that convention that he
was one Of the most active supporters Of
those pruvisi ons and assisted in their prep
arution. II was member of the com
mIttec that re ported these railroad provis-
ions IN the con Jentlon, as they were adopt
ed and are now Il part Of the constitution
We find on exam nation Of the proceedings
of the convention his name signed to the
report Of the cor umittee from which we
quote one section to show how Judge
Craig stands on the present issues
SIC. H. 1t shall be the duty of the
General Assembly On pass such laws as
" will correct abuses end prevent extortiOn
" in the rates Of freight and passenger tar
riffs on the different railroads in this
State and 90 enforce such laws by ade-
gate penalties 10 the c. tent, II necessary,
Of forfeiture Of their property and fran
" chise '-Debatos cOhsts htioHai coHreE-
ton, Vol. l, page ASH.
This section was in subs lance adopted
aud is now Sec 10, Of Article IL, Of our
present constitution. ...
The malicious and ungroul ,ded charges
against the Princeton convent ION are such
an insult to the farmers of the district,
aud 30 well known 10 be false, q 90 need
no reply We wish only 10 say that we
were ah present at the convention, and be
heye no more able and respectable body Of
men ever assembled in convent, w than
those assembled at Princeton. IL ap may
be allowed 70 except the few LA wrence
men, paid by railroad companies who
traudulcntly crept in through, proxies, and
were there working for Lawrence. I hesC
laets are well known 70 every farmer il
the district
We desire 10 say one word in referen c,
TO Judge Lawrence He stands convict, Z
by his own record His opinion In IN
Chicago x Alton II, II. case; his well
known railroad bias, and his tyTannical ao-
aon IN the Chicago Journal contempt case,