The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-05
The REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL
CONVENTION.
A Cold and Dissatisfied Squad
The Rock Island Delegation Tried to
be Neutral, but Really De-
cided against Shepard.

| cided against onePaGo.
The senatorial and representative con-
vention for the 2lst district completed its
work at Cambridge, Friday the 4th inst.
This convention tried to do the smart
thing by adjourning on the lst,t allow its
Lypde delegates to visit the congressional
convention then in session at Princeton.
How they made themselves ridiculous by
marching into the hall at Princeton with
out stopping to leave their carpet bags or
ovcrcoats, is already known to the people
of the district.
On reassembling at Cambridge, only six
of the Rock Island delegation were well
enough to be present, but the wiley Gest
had secured their proxies and was on hand
to vote for them, which the convention al
lowed, contrary to the precedent establish
ed at Princeton where some of the same
men spoke upon the subject.
After getting ready for business Gest, Of
Rock Island. asked what they had come
there to dc. He seemed to have forgot
ten something since his memorable journey
to Princeton. The secretary, in tremulous
voice, relieved him by reading the call.
On motion of w. w. Warner, it was
voted that tho chair appoint committee
of three, on resolutions. The chair APP
pointed W. w. Warner, j. NJ. Gould and
J. B. Hagin.
the convention took an informal ballot for
senator Morris was anxious to see the
fun, as Rock Island had agreed at a caucns
in the morning not to present candidate
but to tie the vote on the two candidates
from Henry, so as to see them dance.
The chair appointed j. b. Hagin, and
G. W. Morris, tcllers
Some of the Rock Island delegates tried
to vote and were sent back to their seats,
Morris whispering in their ear that Gest
had voted for them ALL but Lloyd got a
vote in for Shepard. and the Rock Island
delegation were obliged to explain their
tricks in order to get his vote out. This
disturbed their little game of tying the con-
vention till after dinner The informal
ballot stood Moderwell, II. Shepard l6.
With only two candidates in the field it
was impossible, in voting by ballot, for the
Rock Island delegation to hold the cOnven-
ton, so the manner of voting was changed
| to calling by counties, with the following
result: Henry 10 for MCDOWELL, 9 for
Shepard Rock Island 9 for MCDOWELL = for
Shepard, ! for Hiram Bigelow.
Before voting, Gest, who didn't hear the
Henry county vote, was obliged to ask for
it. Then taking his pencil, with paper,
on the window cyphered it out, after a
little, that by voting and 7, and by giving
vote to an outside man he could tie the
convention All the forenoon and part of
the afternoon was spent in this way On
the 37th ballot Rock Island informed Hen
ry that if they did not decide on candi,
date that Rock Island would decide the
question for them. Henry wouldn't, but
wanted Rock Island to present candidate
On the 3Sth ballot Rock Island, by one of
Gest's very smart doiugs, cast 7 votes for
each of the candidates. This was to show
that Rock Island had no choice in the men
How Shepard's friends understood it is an
other thing, especially as it is customary
with the party to give a man two terms.
But Mr., Shepard was u Hawley man, and
true to their motto of Rule or Ruin they
slaughtered him.
Then J. T. Browning. of Moline. the
prominent Lynde champion, and one >. Z.
! Fox, of Munson, Henry county, we're nom
mated for representatives by acclamation
There was some cheap sounding speeches
and the committee on resolutions made
the usual report.
The convention then struck for Fore
paugh's circus. When last seen they were
racing through the mud for the depot, Guy
er, Gest, and Morris cursing the mud ant
damning their luck at missing the train. L
was only freight train after all. After
waiting about two hours the regular train
came along and took them home. The
senatorial delegates are just about as hap,
py as are the Hawley- haters who went t.
Princeton. A nice little family they al
make together.
\ While waiting in the depot at Cam
bridge, for the train, discussion ARCS,
among the Rock Island delegates as tt
their action, some insisting that they haC
conducted themselves in a boyish and un
decided way, and that if they had present
ed IA Rock Island county man they coulC
have recured his nomination. Morris, OF
Moline, denied that there was anyone trou
Tour county who was seeking the n0mina
ton. AT this Gest suddenly left the de
pot, knowing that he had Il tel
egram in bis pocket from George Vim
ton, of Moline, received while al
Cambridge, begging for the nomination
for himself After Gest went out Gould
asked Morris if he had any telegram from
Ninton. Morris said he had and common
ced to show it to Gould when his eye fell
on The ARGUS reporter and he put it in
his pocket, saying that Gest had received
two kilograms since they arrived there
Poor George! He is a source of infinite
amusement among Republicans for his in
satiable desire for office, and his anxiety
to talk ''finance"-a subject be knows less
about than he does about getting pam
phlets printed without pay.
The Bureau County Tribune, in pub
fishing the call for the Independent Re
form congressional convention, says:
Up to the present time no man in par
ticular has been brought out, and there is
a feeling among the people to give no coun-
tenance to anyone seeking for the position,
preferring to let the position seek the man.
| As the prospects are exceedingly good
/ this fall 10 elect a man to represent tie peo-
pie in congress from this district, it is all
important that the best man to be found in
the district-oue whose interests are wholly
allied with the maSses-should receive the
nomination Aud it is als1 impo tant that
that man should be one that is free from
any odium that past acts may have thrown
around him.
If our street commissioner opens
bitches he should not leave exposed points
unprotected, and permit people 10 run in