The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-05
THE SKIRMISH LINE.
Taking Positions for the General
November Engagement.
What Is Doing Along the Line of Po.
litical Battle.
State Convention Work---Lcgan at Mad
ison and Butler at Chicago---The
Prohibitionists--- Hendricks
Remarks Notes of the
Campaign.

CHICAGO Sept 5-About 5000 people as
sembled in Battery D armory Wednesday
evening to participate in the Butler recep-
ton. During the generals speech the ap-
plause was frequent A turbulent character
Just north of the platform made himself con-
spicuous 10y making rude remarks in reply to
the pointed observations of the speaker. These
unmamerly Interruptions were always fol
lowed by cries of Put him out" from all
parts of the hall which of course only added
to the general confusion. Finally Gen. Butler
lost his patience, and stamping his foot and
shaking his fist at the crowd he commanded
silence. Then, pointing out the fellow
vino was the cause of the disturbance,
he shouted: And you, sirl you had
better keep quiet, or when Pm president
won't pardon you out of the states prisonr'
This brought down the house, and the smart
Aleck" was not heard from again. The
speaker advised workingmen to stop voting
for the politicians and vote for themselves,
declaring that there were 5000, 600 of them
and they could rule the country if they de-
sired. He said such men as Armour should
be sent to prison for such business trunsac-
tions as the recent pork corner;
advocated moderate tariff for
the protection of labor, and advised an
economical canvass, saying workingmen
could organize without brass bands, uniforms
and torches, and quietly go to the polls and
vote their own men into office.
AT the conclusion of the meeting at the
armory. the general expressed himself as OPP
posed to fusion, and it is stated
by The Times that the Democratic
fhoT
selves in the same manner. On
his way to the city he was seen by reporter,
and said his idea of fusion was that twenty
two men, whose honesty could not be
questioned, should be selected; that two
tickets should be prepared, one headed Butler
and the other Cleveland, both bearing the
names of the same electors and then on the
counting of the vote a division should be
made according to the proportion of tickets
headed by each candidates name
Col. N. A. Plympton, the generals man.
ager, was asked:
DO you claim the electoral vote of any
states"
mo, sir, except where fusion will give US
portion. Michigan is no longer in the
doubtful list; the Republicans give it UP
We will be second in the race in Massachu-
setts, and poll a very heavy vote in New Y ork
and New Jersey"
What is your opinion of the strength of
parties to-dayp
That l can hardly answer The result, to
to a certain extent, depends upon the fall
elections. Ohio will have an influence on the
outcome Maine not SO much because Blaine
is virtually running both parties in that
state, and can put his ma jority at any figures
he pleases. think he will be moderate and
place it at from 10000 to $4,000, although it
could just as well be run up to 10000"
Thursday morning a conference of the
Butler committee of Illinois was held with
the candidate, and resulted in
the postponement of the talked-of fu-
on with the Democrats, by the wish
o Butler himself His reasons for
desiring postponement were that while he
was i'll favor of fusion in certain states, he
thought that there was no certainty of whom
a coalition in Illinois would benefit He
thought it would not help him. however.
Being told that the morning papers ia thi
city had alleged interviews with him Gen.
Butler answered:
YELL they lie. have not made an utter
ance to a newspaper man in Chicago, and
don't propose to-"
| The general left this city for Milwaukee