The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-02
THE MANNER OF MAN he Is
A Lesson for Every Working Man IN Rock
Island

In dealing with the life of our candidate
for mayor, Hon. James z. Mott, the
ARGUS has labored to demonstrate the
fact of his exceptional fitness for thai
position, and in thus showing up his
record has endeavored to adhere strictly
to the truth Yesterday, quite oppor-
tunely aud yet wholly unexpectedly, We
were still farther enlightened respecting
the sterling virtues and sturdy independ-
ence of Mr.. Mott, sketch of which will
be read with great interest by every lab
orng man and mechanic in Rock Island
no matter. which party he belongs to.
The information, which came all the way
from Geneseo, is so eminently character
istic of the man whom the taxpayers of
this city, irrespective of party, desire to
see in the mayors chair that it is well
worthy place in our columns.
When Mr. Mott with his wife and child
land ID in Geneseo, his goods were in the
freight house and he had just $13 in
money in his pockets. TO add to the
sum of his perl,lexity he was among utter
strangers and no situation in prospect
| Knowing that hotel life would eat up his
scanty substance in few days at the
longest he went to the hotel proprietor,
| frankly stated his condition and asked if
he knew of snug little house somewhere
that he could get. ''Yes. do" replied
the landlord ''Mr. Smith is just about
| finishing a little house and | guess it
isn't rented. III go up there with you
and We'll see him. !" SO up there they
went and found Mr.. Smith Smuggling his
house. Mr.. Mott made known his errand
whereupon Mr.. Smith dropped the key
| and told him to go in and see the house.
He was pleased with it and asked Mr.
Smith what the rent would be. Twelve
dollars month";" replied Smith. ''Do
you want it in advance?" queried Mr..
Mott, thinking of the thirteen dollars in
his pocket. 20. no sir, replied Mr.. Smith,
| looking Mr., Mott squarely in the face, 81
think you're an honest man, take the
house" This was godsend No. for Mr..
Mott. Then he went to the freight house
and told the agent what shape he was in
and that official told him that he had con-
| fidencc in him and that he might take his
goods, paying the transportation charges
any time before the first of the
next month. This was godsend
No. for Mr.. Mott and then
he made haste to occupy his
little house. The next thing which con
tronted him was something to do in order
''to keep the pot boiling at home He
| went to one of the elevators and asked for
work and obtained it, shoreIiag corn at one
| dollar dday. Not having performed any
manual labor for several years his first
days work told upon him severely in the
shape of badly blistered hands and aching
muscles but the next morning he asked
his gooG wife if she knew of n pair of
gloves which he could put on, showing
her his shockingly blistered hands. This
was too much for Mrs. Mott and she could
not control her emotion and this. Also
made oul big hearted candidate for mayor
weaken for a time. But the gloves were
found and putting them on Blr. Mott,
with the spirit of Il trae hero, started out
for his second days work. About
o'clock in the afternoon the proprietor of
the elevator, (who is still living in Gene
SEQ and who tells of Blr. Motifs genuine
heroism in the corn shoveling line,) went
to Mr. Mott and sent him up stairs TO
help sack corn for shipment down the
river. After finishing this job Mr. Mott re-
turned to the room below and shoveled
corn for about q month. One day the
owner of lumber yard went TO him and
asked if he would like to work for
him. AIR Mott replied that he was lgno-
rant of the business but that hc wasn't
afraid to fry it, so he was transferred to |
the occupation of handling lumber at a
salary of $50 month.
This was Mr.. James u. Motifs start in
business in Illinois, and the ARGUS is glad
to present these facts at this particular
time in order to show the voters of Rock
Island, without distinction of party, the
JackSOnlan SLun OF WHICH our CanOludtG
for the mayoralty is composed.
Everybody comedies that as the official
head of our municipality Mr.. Mott would
be the property of nobody, but in every
act would be guided by the pole star of
right, not expediency. In him the poor
est man in the city of Rock Island would
ever have a sincere friend. adviser. and
protector. and on the other hand, every
taxpayer would feel that under his ad
ministration the door of official pecula-
ton, bribery and general corruption
would never be opened.
The ARGUS hopes that every voter in
Rock Island will read this article care
fully from the gray haired republican
capitalist to the humble street laborer,
and then be prepared to turn with a
will tomorrow and help elect James z.
Mott, mayor.