The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-24
What Was His obisct7

Precisely what OBJECT mayor-elect Dut-
Ter had in inviting the Democratic alder
men to conference when he did not pro-
pose to concede anything is what no
fellah can find out" Did he expect the
Democrats would sit like so many
'stoughten bottles and say yes to his
straieht-out party list for city oficers2 1t
was no compliment to them to call them
together to tell them that he was going to
ell all the places with his partizans. If
he had no concessions to make, why did
he invite the Democrats to meet him7
One of his friends had signifed, through
his organ, that he should make his admin.
istration a non partizan one and unite the
people in efforts for the good of the city.
THE ARGUS replied, for the Democrats,
that they were willing to meet him half
way, and divide fair. He then called
them together and told them that he was
going to keep in all the Republicans and
turr out the Democrats. There was no
need for him to call them together for that
purpose. If he wishes to open the ball
with his guillotine and cut off every Demo
cratic head he can find ana seize on every
place for his partizans, let him do so.
But don't let him ask Democratic alder
man to iudorse any such policy. Every
Democratic alderman should, in such an
event, vote solid against confirming any of
his nominees. and then let him 20 ahead his
own way. The Democrats do not propose
to bring politics into the council at all.
They have not proposed to do so. But il
the new mayor shows his party spite by
cutting off Democratic heads and seizine
on all the principal Offices for his partitions
he can not complain if every Democratic
alderman expresses his disapprobation by
either voting against all his nominees OF
refusing to vote at ALL AS far as confirm.
ing any appointment he makes it makes
no sort Of difference whether an alderman
| votes against it or does not vote at all
The law requires majority of all the
members authorized by law to be elected
by yeas and nays, to be entered
on the record, to confirm an appointment
The mayor can not vote on the question
even if there should be tie. Judg,
Peasants has decided that the expression
all the members Of the city council au
thorlzed by law to be elected" lin tn,
mayors law means AL the aldermen
authorized by law to be elected" 1t will
therefore, require the votes of 6 aldermen
to confirm any appointment the new mayo
may make. And as there are only Re
publican aldermen we do not see how b,
is to get his partizan programme carried
out, by the help of the aldermen. Ger
tainly no Democratic aldermen, if Butler
brings politics into the council and seize
| the best places for his partizans, will b
Justified by his constituents in voting il
favor of that programme by helping hin
carry it out, ON a single man on the list
1t makes no difference whether they vot
against or decline to vote, it is all tn
same. 1t takes 6 aldermen to confirm
and the Republicans have not the power t
confirm a man, or the power to fine O
censure or in any way punish an alderma
for declining to vote. The Democrats i
the council are the majority and if they ae
together they have the power to protee
themsel res and exercise wholesome in
/, huence over the new mayor IF they
not act together they will have little or L
, power at ALL