The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31
MUD THRowERs sILENeED.
The Taxpayers Want Supervisor stoddard
to Take Back Seat.


The ARGUS had fondly hoped that the
era of calumny in local political canvass
had forever ended in Rock Island, but in
this it is apparent from II perusal of this
mornings Union a great mistake was
made. In its endeavor to create political
capital for the republican nominee for
supervisor, Mr.. Stoddard, the Union is
both directly and indirectly guilty of IA
ARGUS viii in calm, dispassionate sort
of way endeavor to rectify. This en-
deavor to manufacture boom" for Mr..
Stoddard is based upon economical
grounds, but let US get at the true inward
ness of Mr. Stod1ard's wonderful econom
ical streak as expeditiously as possible.
Says the Union. and we quote literally
Supervisor Stoddard was at the head of
the ''horse reform" in the sheriff's office,
which was carried INTO effect by the board
at its session the present month. The
county has heretofore allowed the sheriff
certain sum for keeping horses for use in
serving papers, etc., and also paid all
livery bills contracted for the same general
purposes by the sheriff and his deputies.
Last year the sheriff's horses cost the
county $3.50. and the livery hire $9S8 so
making total of ST, 34S. so. MIR.
Stoddard's efforts in this direction result
ed in a contract by which all the horse
service needed by the sheriff and his as
sistants for the year will be furnished'for
$685.. This is very material saving on
this particular item, as the sheriff is al
lowed nothing for keeping horses.
Mr. Aster. who is running against Mr..
Stoddard, has served several terms in the
board, but he never did anything of this
description for his constituents, nor gave
any special evidence of ability TO look
after their interests The people of Rock
Island will do well to vote for Mr.. Stod-
dard irrespective of party, and also for
his able associates on the republican
ticket Messrs. Schneider. Blomberg
Brooks and Warnock.
Falsehood No 1-rhe gross amount of
the livery hire for the sheriff's office was
1888 50-not 81, 34s.50. This sum was
not for one years service but for fifteen
months and included the serving of papers
for special term Of court, an item of no
Importance as the republi
can county officials well know.
Falsehood No. ALI the horse service
needed by the sheriff and his deputies for
the year sciU not be furnished for $685., as
Mr.. Stoddard and the Union must know
very well It does not include railroad
fare, etc, for the service of necessary
papers in the upper end of the county,
where livery would be ordinarily used,
and which of itself is sometimes a very
expensive item in the sheriff's annual ex-
oenditures.
1t is we'll understood, by the Republi-
cans themselves that one of the reasons
Why MIR. Stoddard doesn't want to relax
lis grip on Office is because of his anxiety
o trade off, orexchange his comparative
Y worthless bluff property for the county
arm which measure he most persistently
urged during the late session of the board, |
IS his associates well know
But the most contemptibly unfair state |
nent in the Union is this that Mr. Aster |
never gave any special evidence of |
Utility to look after the interests of his
If Mr.. Stoddard, tor his
'f1cial mouthpiece) cares to look into
his matter without bias or prejudice it
will discover, first, that when Mr. Astcr
vas supervisor the offices of SUPERVISOR
nd overseer of the poor were vested in
ne and the same person. When Mr..
Aster was first elected he found every
hing in an unsyste matized, chaotic con-
ition. He it was, (this same honest
ohm Aster. who never did anything. &C.
ording to the Ufion,) who first began to
eep the books and papers of his dual
flee in proper shape, So that at all times
he public had access to them. He it
vas. this same Mr.. Aster who never did
nything," who inaugurated the custom
f making report to the board of super
isors OF the moneys paid out etc. which
n motion was received and filed unread,
8 may be ascertained by reference to
county Clerk Donaldson. Subsequently
y resolution, this manifest duty was
eacted of each supervisor. But Mr.. Aster
eeds no vindication at our hands His
scord as an honest and capable super
isor, with clean hands and an honest
cart, was long ago made up and is in The
ands of the people of Rock Island who
ave long known. respected and trusted
i'm and who will honor him and themselves
n Tuesday next, by election to the office
'hich he has heretofore so worthily filled
Now let us turn our attent on for
loment to this reformer, economist, etc,
Ir. Supervisor Stoddard and see whether
e is consistent in his official life. In
lenry county the board of supervisors
It the printing of their proceedings to a
,sponsible party for 500. he to furnish
opies of the same in supplement form to
very newspaper in the county, each of
hitch, in turn, folded copy in each
lumber of its Issue, and thus distributed
he document throughout the county. TO
very subscriber of every newspaper, at a
lerely nominal sum. The matter was
rought to the notice of Mr. Stoddard, as
hartman of special committee on print
lg. who professed to think well of it and.
a substance, promised to encourage the
doption of the same plan by the Rock
sland county board. Did he do this9