The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-08
The City Election.

@ASSNASeAs
The largest vote ever polled in Rock
Island was polled at our city election on
Tuesday-over 400 more votes than ever
before. There was no noisy excitement
but everybody seemed to take an interest
in the matter, as all citizens always should.
The result is that Maj. VIM. P. Butler,
the gentleman nominated by the Repub
licans, has been elected mayor, though no
one seems to know whether he has any
party politics or not. He was educated
for the regular army. at West Point, and
these people rarely mix in politics at all
He married daughter of the late Gen.
Rodman, and not long after the death of
that excellent man, Maj. Butler resigned
his position in the army and devoted his
attention to the large property left by Gen.
Rodman. He used to be called Demo
crat, but whether there ever was any
reason for assigning him to either party
we do not know. In that respect he is
certainly in good position to win the res
pect and confidence of all should he give
US non -partizan administration.
His election was not unexpected. The
railroad interests here never did like Mr..
Davenport, because he could not be used to
the detriment of the peoples interests.
Their great power was used for Maj
Butler, they preferring to take their
chances with him than with man they
knew they could never use. Whether
Maj. Butler will favor them at the expense
Of the people remains to be seen.
Large business interests, extensive SO.
ciety and social and family interests also
combined to favor his election.
| A good many Democrats voted for hin
on the ground that they wanted to reverse
things, viz: they wanted Democratic
board of aldermen and Butler for mayor
and then put him on hetchel' for the
coming year, as he did Mayor Daven.
port during the last year. They have
accomplished the first part of that pro
gramme,-but we hope that Maj. Butler
may prove to be such a non-partisar
mayor that there will be no necessity fol
the second part Of the programme to bs
carried out.
REJOICING.
1t never makes any difference which sid,
wins-the boys will burn old boxes ant
hurrah and have good time anyhow; an,
band will be brought out and people wi
be sereuaded, and people will shoot o.
their mouths. This is all right. The re
: joicing last night was just as hearty, with
Democratic board of aldermen and
5 mayor whose party political opinions nc
I body knows, as if one side or the other ha
! made clean sweep. The fact is, there
: little or no party politics in our local ele,
tons, aud ought not to be.
The boxes were fred in Market square
S as usual; band was brought out, and
( good deal of cheering from small voice
e was heard. Maj. Butler was waiting fl
0 the crowd in Mitchell 4 Lynde's blocl
and was called out, and said:
III Thanks for support of self and associates
ticket, end the cordial announcement CONNIE
sense will not allow to think this s the result
any personal preference for me, or to interpret 1t
| the triumph of any political party. L know tn
thinking men of all parties have united not to ele
me, but to try to lift the management of the CT
| business out OF a dangerous rut. Whether you ha
succeeded or not remains to be seen.
| / shall OF delude the city with the double cry
f"iow taxes and extensive city improvements
These matters which lie in the province of t
= City Council ana assure you that have not enou
Is vanity to think can ought to manage city ms
tiers without consulting the body you have appoil
ed to direct me.
j. SO far as Imay have advice direction, my obj
n will be first to reduce the expenses OF the city,
then to raise a tax sufficient to defray them.
thank you again most heartily.
/ There's nothing very bad about tn
,. kind of talk, and we hope the coming We
> will develop nothing worthy of censure.
Aldermen Woods and Csrse said fe
at congratulatory words; Jim Parks shot
d his mouth; and L. NJ Haverstick spoke
little piece, and then the boys ''whooped
4! 4 up all over town." went home in the NOR
II, ing, and have very bad headaches to-da
ry Real Estate Sales. 10