The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-22
Or 9ailg Arsns.
Independent in Eoerything.
Tuesday. February "a. 1876.
From the chicago Tunes.
BEFORE THE PEOPLE
Lewis Steward, the Granger
Candidate, Unbosoms
Himselfto a Times"
Reporter.
AND STATES HIS VIEWS ON ALL
POLITICAL QUESTIONS WITH
OUT RESERVE.
ne is Willing to Be Governor # &c
Can Be Lew Steward at the
Same Time.
HE BELIEVES IN ECONOMY, I'M
PRovEMENT, REFORM, AND
THE RAG-RABy,
Also that There Are Times IN the Lives o.
Great Men Whom Swearing Is Justifable.
AND HOPES BOTH THE REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS WILL RE-No161-
NATE HIM.
AND STATES HIS VIEWS ON ALL
POLITICAL QUESTIONS WITH
OUT RESERVE.
he is Willing to Be Governor # Fl
Can Be Lew Steward at the
Same Time.
HE BELIEVES IN ECONOMY, I'M
PRovEMENT, REFORM, AND
THE RAG-RARy,
Also that There Are Times IN the Lives Of
Great Men When Swearing Is Justifsble.
AND HOPES BOTH THE REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS WILL RE-Eo1xI-
NATE HIM.
STEWARD INTERVIEWED.
miscellaneous Political Memoranda.

STEWARD INTERVIEWED.
Yes, sir. of course. What is it? Do
you want the particulars of the last hen
roost robbery, or the worst murder of late ?
Willing to tell you everything" said Lewis
Steward TO a Times representative. stand
ing on the platform by the station at
Plano on Saturday evening last. Mr..
Steward, be it remembered, is the indie
pendent party's candidate for governor of
Illinois and the Times man had asked him
whether he was ready to be interviewed.
The answer as given above, with great
yolubility, and in a most cheerful tone,
rather staggered the questioner,
Why" said he. you may tell me all
the hen-roost stories you like, but what
l particularly want is to get from you
AN EXPRESSION OF OPINION
upon the platform you were nominated
upon, and your reason for those opinions,
whatever they may be.
'Oh, WE'LL" said Mr.. Steward, Il don't
know as l have any opinions that are
worth repeating, but | suppose that when
a man accepts political nomination he
sets himself up for target and must
take all the shots that are fired at him.
OF course Ill talk with you if you want
me to.
is there hotel hereway, or any place
where we could 60 and talk?"
BEST hotel is my house, | reckon" and
with that he led off from the station and
through the little city. A walk of some 10
minutes, during which he entered upon a
history of the Marsh harvester factory
which he manages, brought them to a
large, plain, comfortable house, surround
ed by extensive grounds, and standing out
with It's lighted windows 10 cheerful relief
against a background of trees. Here,
within half an hour, he had made the
Times man as much at home as though he
had been his oldest friend; had kept up 9
running fire of small talk about Plano
Europe, and the late war, and had closed
the history of the Marsh harvester
MR. STEWARD
is a square-built man, Of medium height
with iron-gr hair and beard; who can b
most easily and effectually described b.
the statement that he bears very stron
resemblance to the Hon. o. 2. Morton
He is apparently about So years old, AM
carries his age lightly. There's mo beast
ly pride" about him. he makes no preter
sion to style; he dresses for comfort rath
er than for elegance, in loose, easy way
but through his plain (if not homely) ez
terror there shines the warmth and ger
crosby of gentleman.
Il never worked for this nomination,
he began, when at last, after two or tire
efforts to give it that bent, the converse
ton turned upon political affairs. 'I'v
never meddled much with politics thong
I've been in conventions and held som
small Offices | was member of the cor
vention that nominated Gen. McClella
for president, and | can't say that II
sorry for it. | used to be Democrat, but
was good enough for old Dick Yates
appoint me draft commissioner at til
time of the war. Lately I've lost intere.
in the old parties. I'd come to think
good deal as the old Dutchman said, ths
politics was a id fool How / eve
came to be mentioned for governor II
sure don't know, The first heard of
was last August, when / was over at
kind of social gathering few miles frol
here, in Dekalb county. They got to talkin
about such matters, and several of thel
SAID they wished / was governor of ii
state. | never dreamed of such q thin
then, and I've never done anything abol
it since. / haven't troubled my mind wit
it at all, but they've nominated me an
Ill let them run me through. don't pr,
pose to do anything about it, one way NJ
the other. much. If I'm elected I'll do I'll
best l can to serve the state as it ought [
be served. If | amt elected I'll nevs
lose an hours sleep grieving about it. L
tell you what it isl don't propose to !,
anything trammel me- If can be govel
nor and Lew Steward at once, all right;
must cease to be Lew Steward when
come to be governor (supposing such
thing to be possible) then I'll never /
governor, that's all. The Journal say
I'm a vain old fool, and that I've got ric
by swindling my Eeighbors. / amt s
rich as they think am, but it seems to IN
If they think I'm an old fool and yet smal
enough to get rich off my neighbors, the
must estimate my neighbors to be mic
lot of idiots. However, fool or no fool,
propose to remain just what l am.
won't close my mouth or my private opir
ions because / happen to be nominated o
party platform The Journals criticisI
seemed TO stick IN his craw, so to speal
That readable old lady paper has attacke
him with considerable garrulity, and mad
him just little raw. He hunted up tw
or three copies of it and read the extracts
in which he was mentioned as vulga
and profane old man, person Of ungoy
erned passions, and the like.
II believe there are times when the bes
thing man can do is to swear pretty har
and loud. remember that, on the nigh
of the big fire in Chicago, the Aurora cit
council passed resolution refusing to l.
their steamer 60 up to town, l got u
then and | believe called them all th
names l could think of; know / swore q
hard as could, and then turned aroun
and told the crowd to take that engin
and put it on board the cars and send
up, and I'd pay their fines if they got int
trouble for it. Within 60 minutes afte
that the engine was at work in Chicagt
That was time when
SWEARING WAS NEEDED.
ttelieve I'm bruiser, too. / knocke
man flat on his back in his own store ne
long ago, and broke young mans arr
with garden-rake last summer, but th
man knocked down has since become on
OF the warmest friends I've got. and say