The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-31
William M. Springer.


If Hon. w. NJ Springer was as popular
with his brethren in congress as he is with
the people in his district, he would have
a walk over in the race for his speaker
ship. We have often wondered how it is
that he is so popular. One would sup
pose that he would occasionally tread on
some ones corns, and thus make enemies,
but he has not. While he has rivals in
his own party and opponents in the op-
position, vet enemies he has none. This
is not because he is q negative man, for
he is not. He is decided in his views and
free in expressing them. He is a demo
crat in practice and principle, and shows
1t In every speech and action, and yet you
cannot find even a republican in this
portion OF the district who has anything
but the kindest feelings toward him. The
| last time he ran for congress we heard
from probably a hundred republicans,
some of them prominent men in the party,
that they would vote for Springer as a
matter of course il they thought he
needed it. Many of them did vote for
him. as is proved by the returns, ami we
are satisfied that had he needed a thousand
majority in Morgan county to have made
his election secure he could certainly have
obtained it.
In analyzing the cause of his great
popularity we find that, while he is very
free in expressing his views on all sub
jects of public interest, he still does so II
q manner that can never be called. often
sive, and he at the same time shows hi
respect for the opinion of others in Fac
an argument with Mr.. Springer sool
comes to comparison Of views and opin
ions, and no matter how violent or obsu
nate his opponent. Mr.. Sprioger's yer
calmness coois him down and makes hln
respectful; and, while be may 60 ava
unconvinced. he will part from Syringe
his friend Another great cause OF MIR
Springers popularity in his willingness t
oblige his friends. No matter how bus
he NAV be at Washington, he someho'
always finds time to answer every lettel
and do at once; to hurry up the pensio
papers of any of his constituents, to MAX
any enquiry, or execute any commissio
that may be entrusted to him. In addi
ton to this, when person from his di
i. trict gees to Washington during sessio
of congress, Mr. Springer always flint
time to show him everything worth seein
and we have yet to see Morsa
county man come home from Il
national capital who was anything b.
4 satisfied with himself, his visit or h
i representative Another source of Nj
J Springer's popularity is his wonderf
d memory for names. places and incident
and his never falling urbanity OF manne
II is pleasure TO watch him at count
picnic or school house meeting. Eve
man, woman or child is sure OF II pleasa
greeting, and many of them remind
OF some little incident of year ae
Those who are not present are inquir
for, and word or two sent that max
the individual receiving it feel peasa
for week; and many sick constitute
has been helped on the road to recove
by an unexpected visit from his membe
All this is done without an apparent eff
and without any assumption of superi'
. ity. And, as we once heard an
farmer say. wherever you find |
Springer he is the same, and seems j
like one Of the neighbor hoys.
Taking everything into considerable
we are not surprised that Mr.. Springer
popular, for while his manly qealii
command friendship, his statesmans
excites the admiration and respect of |