The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-12
The Union and the Counc IL.

The Union and the Council
The Efforts of the Union to bulldoze the
aldermen who voted against the immedi-
ate redistricting of the city, and in favor of
retaining the present pon-partisan charao-
ter Of the subordinate city officers. Re-
ferring to the matter the Union says:
"Mr. Anawalt was not elected as Re-
publican aud the party is certainly not
responsible for any of his acts Messrs.
Donaldson and Wagner were elected as
Republicans, bat they went contrary to all
Republican utteranees and put their party
friends to shame"
The fling at Mr. Anawalt is because be
acts for the people as whole rather than
party as a olass-further he is friend of
Mayor Reynolds and that is sufficient to
condemn him with the Uaion Alder
men Donaldson and Wagner are scored
because they refuse to follow the COM
mands of the Union For this grievous
ofFense they are ruled out of the party
The Union by thus sensEring professed
Republican aldermen for voting contrary
to what that paper would ike to establish
as party policy, has unwittingly admitted
the truth of THE ARGUS charge that the
ssheme is partisan one, urged and sd
yocated by the UntQD for the benefit of
that paper, - would be ''ring" organ.
The Union says further:-
mo party newspaper worthy the name
reflects merely the opinions of it's editors
Its mission is to ascertain what the senti
ments of its party are and voice them If
they agree with the convictions Of its
sditoys-not otherwise.
Indeed, do you really mean it? Well
then, if this be so, the Union is not a
party newspaper worthy the pane" be-
cause it reflects merely the opinions of
Its editors In proof of this we cite the
action of the Union last spring when the
city convention was held. The editors o.
the Union then declared, in face Of an
earnest protest from the leaders Of the
party that Reynolds would not be supper
| ted, unless a straight nomination was
made even going so far as to "aRStrWct'
the chairnau OF the city committee that it
vas The mandate Of the Unions editors
that a straight party nomination be made /,
hat if other action was taken the Union
would not obey the will of the convention
The chairman of the Republican city
committee was not dismayed. however, by
the Unioa's threats, and when the Repub-
liean convention met, followed the dictates
OF the party and not the self constituted
party organ-the Union and 'endorse5''
Mayor Reynolds, instead of directly nom
mating him as party candidate.
ut looks very much as If in this instance,
at least, the Union did not fulfil the high
mission which ii pirates of. and instead of
trying Ito ascertain what the sentiments
of its party" were, openly defed them The
high moral ground assumed by the Union
comes with i'll grace from a hide bound
party organ, which is mad because it lacks
the ability and Influence to whip into the
traces a sufficient number of aldermen to
further, not the wishes of the people,
but the schemes for its own aggrandize-
meut.
The FIVE aldermen who opposed the cleo
ton of the subordinate officers and the
hasty redistricting of the city. deserve the
thanks of the people, and are not likely to
be buldozed into acting contrary to the
best interests of all concerned,
THE ARGUS opposes the election of
marshal, superintendent of water works,
etc, because to elect would be placing
Al oG - Al r IL
destroying their independence. and making
farce of the police force and a political
machine OF all officers brought within the
pale of the elective clause. The only true
way to maintain the dignity and efficiency
of the police and the independence of the
other offices. no. now elective, is to keep
them appointive, thus making the appoin-
tees directly responsible to the mayor and
council, and subject to removal at any
time, if not doing their duty. The Union
plan of electing all the officers would
afford no relief for inefficient officers. who
would look to the party and not the peo
pie; obeying the former-defying the
latter. When the new census is taken
will be time enough to redistric. the city:
there is no occasion for hurry in the mat
ter. In the meantime the Union will
continue its policy of abuse. which will
probably be as potent as was its opposition
to Mayor Reynolds-and accomplish about
as much--no.hing.
The sight Of an ugly infamed boil or