The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-24
THE TRUE INWARDNESS OF THE
WoRKINaMEN'S NEW PARTY
SCHEME.
AS WAS DEMONSTRATED By
THEIR So-CALLED COUNTY
CONVENTION.
A Very Plausible Trick to Divert
Democratic Votes.


There has been a great deal written
about the so-called workingmen's party in
Rock Island, previous to what they were
pleased to term their county convention,
and great deal more said about the So
called party, by the men who professed to
be leaders of the movement and who ex-
pected more or less notoriety and import
ance from their leadership. 1t is not at
all surprising that they should find good
ly number, who, carried away with the
idea that everybody would rush into the
ranks Of their new party, should, for
time, give the movement their countenance
aud support. 1t became evident, some
time before their so-called county conven-
ton that these would-be leaders had very
poorly defined ideas of what was necessary
for political success, and as they progress
ed and were in measure successful, the
temptation to run the machine their oTn
way was too strong to be resisted; and, as
a consequence, what might have been a
convention Of respectable numbers, was
composed of limited number of dele
gates from this city and Moline, who were
selected by committees appointed by these
self-constituted leaders, and only FIVE dele
gates from the remaining townships in the
county. Those who objected to the plans
and purposes of these leaders, provided
Al NJ, bol ,,.av;ousIv boor JamocroIv uara
relegated to back seats. When this So
called county convention came together
last Saturday it at once became apparent
that the purpose of these self.appointed
leaders, as well as the controlling element
in the delegations they had themselves
selected, were determined to run the ma
chine as a kind of side-show to the re
publican party with the view of getting in
as many democrats as possible aud thus
ensure the success of the republican party.
Believing that they had such democrats so
firmly Committed to the new party that
they would not repudiate it under any cir
cumstances, they at once. and in the very
face of resolution to the contrary, nom
mated a ticket composed of straight repub-
leans They expect by protestations and
repeated declarations of hostility to the
old republican party to hold their demo
cratic members solid for their ticket, while
. manyof them will slyly slip their votes in for
the regular republican candidates, and
thus endcavoI to ensure their election; and
if by accident any of their own ticket
should be elected, it will be a republican
The scheme is a sly one and will doubtless
catch few democratic votes Such op-
portunities are rare. but, like the Flee
torial Commission Bill" which cheated
Mr. Tilden out of the presidency, and
wronged nearly halt million majority
Of votes Of the United States out
of a we'll earned victory through
the disposition of fairness on the part of a
democratic congress, and which was passed
over the objections Of such men as Morton,
of Indiana, and Edmonds, of Vermont
this opportunity scheme or trick will
find some few well meaning aud honest
democrats TO support it until the result Of
the election ia November demonstrates
that they have been deceived.
The republican paper of this city has
steadily aud vigorously opposed the work
ngmens party from its inception, but fol
effects sake, aud very likely with an under
standing to that end, some of the formerly
Jealous and extreme partisan republicans
have gone into the business of denouucinG
the old parties and starting new one will
the hope and expectation of coaxing demo
Gratis away from the support of the ticke
which the democratic party OF the county
has accepted, aud, 10 view of existing cir
cumstances, will heartily and energetlcally
support, and which, we may also furthe
say,it is generally conceded will be elected
unless its success can be endangered By
some trick to divert democratic and indie
pendent voters from its support. w,
have too much confidence in the gooC
sense, the devotion to principles, and tn
political sagacity of the democratic and in
dependent liberal republican voters of thi
CouutJ W bcllCNC tuey Will DC ulNeTI6(
from their support of the Independent
candidates by any such ticket as the so
called workingmen's party has placed il
the field; a ticket, as we have said before
so intensely partisan in its make up, ant
which so completely ignores the demo
cratic and liberal elements Of its owl
party, as well as of the county, that eve
the republican paper of this city
astounded at the audacity and want o
policy which so fatally uncovered and ex
posed the evident intention of making i
merely a continuance in which to inveial
democratic votes. However,it fortunatel
happens there is plenty of time betwee
this and the day of election for the demo
Gratis and liberals in the so-called working
mems party to fully consider the situatio
and to show their selfish and partisa
allies they are not the men to be treated a
IL. I