The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-17
Treating the Mayor and the People
with Discourtcsy, and Going
Backon Themselves,

In March 1875, when DR., Gait was in
augurated Mayor, Aldermen Butler, (elec-
ted by Democrats and said by some of his
friends to be a Democrat) Woodruff, (who
was elected by his own vote and that of
his opponent) Carse. (who was elected by
Democratsl Bailey, (who was al
so elected by Democrats on the
ferry issue) and Davis claimed that
the men to ell the Offices of city clerk and
marshal should be such as DR.. Calf pre-
ferred; in other words, that these officers
would hold more intimate relations to the
Mayor than any other officers to be elected
and therefore the Mayors preferences
should be regarded as to who should fill
the positions. The ground taken was reas-
enable, and DR.. Calls preferences were,
very properly, consulted The other city
Offices were amicably divided between the
parties.
This year, when the people, for the
seventh time, called Bailey Davenport tc
the chief executive Office, and by larger
majority than any man ever received fol-
the Office since the city was organized, il
was but natural that his friends should ex
pect Butler, Carse & Go. to join with the
newly elected aldermen in carrying out a
rule of their own adoption. Official con
sistency and personal honor required then
to do this
What did they do? Smarting under
the awful reputation of their administra
ton, they commenced at once war upor
the newly elected Mayor and the Demo
Gratis elected with him. Seducing Bill At
kinson into their ring, they mesmerizet
him and converted him to their uses, feel
ing pretty safe, with him, in any effort t.
disorganize and throw stumbling blocks il
the way of the peoples representative.
who had just been elected.
Their first overt act was to stultify them
selves, and go back on their own rule, re
pudiate the very principle they had es
tablished. Every sense Of respect for tn
people or of regard for their own honor 0
consistency, called upon them to adhere t
the proper principle established last year
and which future Mayors will haye powe
to enforce.
But these repudiated hold-overs ha
made up their minds to fight Mayo
Davenport, right or wrong, and the
prostituted Bill Atkinson to their use1
Notwithstanding his ward gave Davenpol
, over fifty majority, on the largest vot
yer cast.
Their next act was to get Bill to Intro
duce resolution appointing two of tt
repudiated hold. overs as Bridge Comm
tee, contrary to law, as will be seen by II
rules, page VII. And Butler and Carr
have been serving, illegally, ever since.
These are only samples of their manag
ment,ever since the people'so emphatical
condemned them and called Mr.. Dave
port to the head of their public affairs.
!, Their course has been factious and di
y organizing from the beginning. All tn,
1t seem to desire is to thwart public busine
Y and annoy or hinder the peoples May
IL in the discharge of his duties, al
Is prevent him, if they can, from carryil
to out any measure for the public goo
lie The people see their object as clearly
ID they did when, on direct vote, one
1t their number was, last March, repudiat
Ig and buried under the biggest MAORI
n against him of any man who ever run t
ly the Office of Mavor, and when the policy
re the whole five was repudiated as contra
he to the peoples wishes. 1t would see
to that men of ordinary perceptions wor
ii pay more respect to the will of the p,
pie than they do, and try to carry out, 1
thwart, the peoples wishes. as shown
d. their seventh Endorsement of a man W
az never failed to guard the public intere
a with vigilance and the highest integri