The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-27
sewer or 10 sewer.

held last evening in the Court House, in
'tead of in the yard az was announced.
Quincy McNeal made rambling address,
Of the sewer and in support
IF the aldermen. which was well received
by those in attendance.
B. d. Buford, before Quincy McNeal
announced from the balcony Of
The Court House that the meeting would
be held inside and not outdoors, aud ina
mediatelv there was rush for the stair
ways.
When the doors were thrown open, the
crowd surged in by hundreds and 10 few
minutes every available seat was taken.
For short time silence reigned but the
spirit of the meeting soon became mani
fest. in loud calls for pronounced oppo-
nents of the sewer.
Quincy McNeal. after remaining tran
quill for a short time called for chairman.
Lucas insisted that some Of the parties
who had called the meeting should organ
ize il,
It was expected that DR. Gregg would
be present and act as chairman, and that
he would deliver a speech of an hours dur
alton, and that he would be followed by
Capt. Robinson. Wallace Eggleston, j. B.
Danforth. and others who had been in
strumsntal 10 getting up the meeting, and
had prepared resolutions strongly denun-
ciatory of the aldermen and requesting
their resignation, as was demanded BY the
Organ in its issue of Saturday, Aug. "a.
This programme was carried out to the
extent of naming DR.. Gregg as chairman
who was present. He took one look at the
workingmen there assembled and left, say.
ing, as he went out of the door, mo man
on earth can control that crowd, and am
too old . man to attempt il, and submit
myself to insult"
After waiting some time it became evi.
dent that those who had started the meet
ing as an indignation" meeting had ell
jumped the track, that even the ancient
organ grinder" who wrote the origina
resolutions, and SO pompously demanded
in his little paper around the corner"
that aldermen elected by the party hs
pretends to represent should resign because
they refused to follow at this dictation wal
among the missing orators who were
to brow-beat the honest workingmen int
81 omission.
Quincy wanted to koow whether he had
no right to speak,
Lucas made sharp reply which wal
lost in the confusion.
B, D. Buford, seeing how things were
running and discerning the sentiment o
the audience, moved that Quincy McNea
be made chairman. loud laughter.)
McNeal rsaid, II understand that mo
ton, Mr.. Buford. but / want to say this
that il am called on TO preside, will act
/ don't wear Ben Harper's collar. Cheers.
The motion was put and carried with
hurrah, and amidst the widest confusion
McNeal took his place, and proceeded t
harrangue the audience in disiointed sor
of style, being frequently interrupted wit
motions to adjourn. Quincy refused to b
bulIdozed, and continued in nothing
sort of style until the crowd wearied of hir
and he sat down.
/ Several unsuccessful attempts wer
made to get secretary but without sue
cess. W. Fl. HodgsoD, W. j, Brown. j
Is. Drake we're each successfully name
but declined.
/ Calls we're made for various oRes but n
responses came, and for a time chaos
reignsd supreme.
Finally Mr.. J. s. Drake arose aud face
{ the audience-andi in short address e1
planned the true objects OF the meeting.
was not a question Of Ben Harper, or
sewer because Ben Harper wanted it, bU
question of opera house and revenue
the city. or no opera house and no revenut
Mr.. Drake then defended the position {
the aldermen. He said, Your men hav'
[ am thoroughly convinced, acted from
sense of duty, and on atrictly Leg
grounds they are right. They have Z
right to vote money beyond the constitr
tional limits, or to establish new prec'
dents. The only time they had erred wa
) in refusing to consider Mr.. Harper's pet
ton. That was an act of discourtes,
One of the dearest rights
an American citizen was the right /
petition, am not here for Mr.. Harpe
do not care any more for him than an.
one of you. but I take the ground that as
purely business question, the sewer shoul
, be built, OF the principle that the eli
should own and control all the sewerag
The aldermen stand on impregnable leg
ground and their action is In accord vii
precsdents established and their plai
duty as citizens. But, gentleman. hay
q compromise to offer, one that will q,
detract from the dignity Of your alderme
nor unnecessarily excite the prejudice
either side. Suppose, the council, we
!, to pass resolution granting Mr.. Harp'
the privilege of building the sewer, ar
that the money SO expended, be refund d.
to the city in water rent at the regull
rates, what would be the result?
would be the best paying investment th
could be entered into. And further.
: would be 10 accord with precedent alreat
established, except that in this instau'
the whole amount will be refunded in tV
years and perhaps less. Much has be-