The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-14
MOLINE.
The workingmen's Caucus


At o'clock last evening about 300 men
assembled at Freja Hall. The meeting
was called to order by Louis Beers, chair
man of the organization. Minutes of the
previous meeting were read and approved,
after which the executive committee
recommended the following named gentle
man as delegates to the county convention:
j. Shalene, H. A. Seiffert, P. Peterson,
Robert Young. A. McDermott. W. r.
Oyler, A. Z. Morey. Louis Beers. J. E,
Taylor, Thos, Worsing. j James McGinness.
NJ. Donahue, W. Ruuge, S. DahlberR. J.
Stewart (colored) Eliza Booth, Jas.
Magill. D. Kelso, G. G. Griffin, Jr., T. 2,
Burns and j. Channon.
On motion of James McGinness, the
committee was discharged.
On motion of james McGinness, the re-
port and recommendations of the com
mittee on county delegates was accepted
and adopted.
Oliver Gunnell, treasurer of the society
made few remarks about finances, after
which the hat was passed FOR contributions
and good amount raised.
The chairman then introduced Rev. j.
w. Haney, who addressed the meeting
upon the subject of governments. present
ed a retrospective view of governed and
governors. from the pristine state to the
present time; reasoning that this move
ment was in the natural course of events.
| from the fact that, although we started out
with absolute monarchy, where there was
but one man who was free man, we had
| gravltated from one stage to another until
now every man was the peer ofevery other
man. He took the ground that every man
whose dependence for living was solely
upon his individual exertions, whether by
brain or muscle, was a working man. He
says, I'VE have atoned by blood for the
sin of slavery; done enough for the
negroes, taken care of them long
enough now let us take care of ourselves.
He warned them against chronic Office
seekers. Let these party hacks, these
men who have borne the burden and heat
of the day, who have been plucked so
often that there are feathers left, take a
back seat, and you do this arduous Office
toll for a while" He further said. Il
believe that, if this party is properly man.
aged, it will grow to great magnitude. be
the most stupendous power in the land,
which il will govern,
Mr.. Russell, of Rock Island, was loudly
called for and took the stand, making a
few brief remarks, in which he said that,
in Rock Island, they were bored to death
by wire pulling politicians, wanting to
knew who will be our candidates; and we
; have decided to give them the reply that,
We do not know"
= Oliver Gunnell was called for and came
up. He said that he had in early life been
. democrat. but latterly a republican.
Now he was on a new track. There S
been babe born which we must nurse and
suekle until it becomes a mighty giant.
which will be felt throughout this land"
As Mr.. Gu1nell sat down, some one
back in the corner of the room whispered
D 'McGinness, and at that moment Nc.
= was seen crawling upon the stage He
) said he wished to thank them for their
Q liberality Ehen the hat vas passed. Here
the chairman. suppos'Dg Me- to be through
a remarked that ne would like to hear from
. David kelso. Cries of "Kelso" reSoundcd
) through the hall. and Nc. asked i: II was
8 the intention to crowd him off the stage.
y Several cries for "Kelso," sit down Nc
o Ginness." Stop McGinness," while
. of the room chimed in with, Go to h !
5 McGinness" Finally some one mustered
up courage to say, Finish your speech
AAS' 0bA III StoA W. Jul oE his IL
II the thanks man gets ('Kelso") for work.
ing and spending his (''sit DOWN. money
for the benefit OF the people [ and one
or Two others were the (''shut up McG;n.
' ness, get off the stage 'Kelso, !"
K instigators Of this movement, ('kelso"
u and the very men eco to HI McGin
= ness'') who are now insulting me (''Ge
% down are ("Shut up'') the men whC
9 hung back and (''Kelso! Kelso! Kelso. 4"
y y were afraid. 1t looks as though there wa
( a desire on the part of some 10 crowd u,
out. If Mr.. Kelso is 10 the room he vii
( please come forward, if not move we ad
g Ijourn.
il Keiso being on hand Nc. sat down, anC
David essayed to pour oil upon the troubled
waters, but to no purpose, They hat
" heard enough and were rapidly departing
so he sat down and adjournment was hat
y to the first Thursday after the county con
o vention.
McGinuess confded to the reporter
% that he was the father of this movement
~ had spent his time and money for it, AM
- this was the thanks he got, and addot
10 something about mans inhumaDity t
man, etc. They consoled him with tn
assurance that the people should know ho1
he had been treated, which promise the
have endeavored to fulfill.