The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-20
ROCK ISLAND & MERCER co., r. n.
irouasy. March 30. 1854.
AN ALDERMAN.

4 "A hybrid combination of nationals and
few republicans met together in the Sc
cond ward Saturday evening and nominal;
ed the present alderman. Bennett, for i
second term. The move was intended e
be o spontaneous entburst Of enthusiasm
of the part of many voters, butw in
realty a pisiful farce. A man would have
| to travel a long ways in order to find q
worse candidate for alderman than Mr. Ben.
net: he is absolutely unfit. He has not the
first qualification TO recommend him for the
position, and If placed there again win be,
as he has been heretofore, simply the tool
Of others. He lacks brains more than
sense. While he has been in the council
he has presented the pitiahle spectacle of
a child CROPPING in the dark. man en-
deavoring TO dowork that he had no fitness
for. He is absolutely and totally the wrong
man fof the place. Il God had anything
to do with his first inception he certainly
never intended him for a legislator, what
ever lis intentions were it was not that
1t is claimed by Mr.. Bennet's supporters
that to him is due the credit of the Warren
investigation; never was greater
mistake. Mr.. Bennett was simply tool
in that matter. Strictly speaking there is
no credit due to anyone for the :inceptions
of that investigation. It was begun, not
on account Of any desire to punish often.
ders-for the man who really begun it had
been 10 often an offender himself-not for
the reason that its authors had any inbred
hatred of theft and shuddered at the sug-
gestion of fraud, but simply because the
national party OF this city desired to make
some political capital. In regard to this
fact there can be no dispute; and Mr.. Ben
net was the pliable instrument of his mas
ter. Mr.. Bennett never probably had an
idea prively his own. But in this desire fora
manufacture of party capital the master of
Mr.. sBennet stirred up what was really
mares nest an d the democrats and the bet
ter class of republicans at once became IN
terested In the investigation and demanded
that it be thorough and that whatever Of
tenders might be discovered that they be
punished; this demand was car
ried out and to the democrats is
due the credit that the Investigation was
not o farce ~
But now comes forward Mr.. Bennett and
asks that because he was told by another
man to do certain thing. that he be re-
turned TO the council, Sc that In the fu-
ture he may also obey his masters COM
mands. Why, Mr. Bennett. you have not
got brains enough; you have not got indie
pendenoe enough; yeu do not even own
yourself. You are mortgaged to man that
no one trusts. This Warren investigation
that you brag SO much about was postpon-
ed for two meetings because you were not
able to understand the English language
sufficiently to follow out the instructions
of the council; and every time any member
OF that body has antagonized you, he has
defeated you. You are not fit man for
the place, for you do not represent the
people OF the Second ward, but one man
whose mauthpiece you are. You can not
make speech without going to your mas
ter for instructions. In short, Mr.. Ben
nett. it win be very short-sighted man
hat ever votes to return you to the ceun-
I'll.