The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-25
THE n. [, CIV. S. C. COM
BINATiOn!
They Meet to Determine the
Destiny of the Nation.

The convention assembled at 2 O'Clock,
there was full attendance and notlceably
fair sprinkling of farmers. The dele
CATION from Moline was headed BY DR.. p,
L. McKinnie, who aspires to congressional
honors, and is BOSS" Haney's principal
opponent. In the Coal Valley delegation
was the oratorical Ransom, who, at the
recent session of the board of supervisors
thanked God he had never been demo
crat-Amen. In Rock Island was the
redoubtabIe Hodgson, who has never held
Office because the people thought his
genius too transcendant for the crumbs OF
a rural village like Rock Island, Long
before the convention met 1t was evident
that sharp fight was to be made on
sheriff, and it looked as if an open rupture
would result. There we're large number
of outsiders present as lockers on. !"
Several of the townships were not repre-
scented,
L. D. Woodruff called the convention TO
order and after reading Of the call DR.. p.
J.. McKinnie, of Moline, was chosen per-
manent chairman. and proceeded to make
short speech tavoring unison in action,
predicting the success or the ticket.
Morris Stafford was chosen secretary. A
committee of five was appointed on Gre
dentaIs.
While the committee was ascertaiuing
who were regular delegates Dir. L. L. Nc
kinnie rose to personal explanation, of
the smallpox paragraph in the Union re-
fleeing on his character as an office seeker.
He denounced the authors Of the item as
malicious slanderers, and explained his
position, which ne declared was based on
motives of charity, the whole of which
harrangue was delivered in demagogica
style aud, as was plainly evident, it was a
bid for workingmens votes in the con
gressional contest. Poor Mechanic! truly
are the ways of the political wauderer hard.
E. W. Boynton, D. j. Morris, and Capt
Shew, Cordova, were appointed tellers.
There were number of abSenteeS. anC
after about an hours delay the committe,
finaiy reported patched up delegation
raking in anyone who would serve, or liv
ing near the place where ahsentees wert
reported. There were no delegates from
Edgiugtou, Port Byron, Drury, Bowling
and from number of other townships
straggler here and there answered to hi
name, the only townships app caring TO b.
represented fully were Rock Island ant
| Moline, which comprised the mass of tn
convention, and clearly indicates that ii
these two towns is almost the entire
strength of the party, Finally the rol
was again called and at the suggestion o
the chairman, the delegates were requires
/ to answer TO their Dames and then arraug
ed in the front seats in little patches" $
as to present SORT Of solid" look, as i
were, A prominent" member of tn
party moved that an informal ballot b
taken for sheriff
The brains of the party moved tina
each mao be allowed five minutes to tai
up" his pet. it was ruled out of order
however, and an informal ballot was taken
Ii commenced by calling each mans nam
! but as the responses were ''timid
and far between" thus disclosing thei
weakness; a hurried consultation ,followe,
resulting in changing the mode of vote t
that of townships, each chairman bein
spokesman for his scholars
! A dispute arose as to whether the st
ward had voted, which was decided i
favor of the ward. Another frantic effoI
was made to fish out delegation froI
Edcington, Bowling aud Drury. the chair
man, trying to find some one who live
near here or expected TO be resident a
some future time; it was 10 use, however
not even skeleton of vote could b
fished out from these towns. The poll
were finally declared closed and after mor
delay the following result announced
Total vote 81.