The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-16
THE SPRING ELECTION.
1t viii be Held on Tuesday, April 9Th
City and Township Officers
to be Chosen.
Numerous Candidates in the Field and
Red Hot Time Ahead---Let
the Best Men Win.

The coming spring election promises
to be an unusually interesting one, by
reason of the large number OF officers 10
no cbosen and the neck and neck race
which is likely to ensue between the
democrats and republicans for supremacy
in the government of city affairs. Several
nrominent citizens have endeavored to
work up a boom for a on-parlizan
ticket, but as the election day draws near
it is very evident that no snch ticket Will
be placed in the field and if one should
be, it would stand no reasonable show Of
success. The ARGUS, as democratic
paper, and with the interests of the dem~
Ocratic party at heart, is In favor OF a
straight democratic ticket, composed, Oh
course, of the best men of the party. We
would have no objection, however, 10
supporting a good citizens ticket, pros
vided that it received the endorsement of
the party in official form-by action OF
the city township convention. But there
is no likelihood of the democratic party
taking this step, and for our part, we can
see no reason why it should. The chief
executive of the city for the past two
years and at present is a democrat, and
although the council has been about
equally divided, the administration has
been virtually democratic. Then why
should the party ,rclinquish the advantage
gained two years ago. when this year sue
cess can be more easily attained. Glance
at the figures of the late presidential
election in this city. The republicans
claimed-and the more enthusiastic
ones wagered their money that
Blaine would have at least 200
plurality over Cleveland. But what
was the result? The democrats were
only 81 behind in the seven words, fouI
Of which they carried. And then the re-
pubicans were better organized, spent
more money, and we venture the aSser'
ton, worked harder for success than the
democrats. The management of the city
campaign appeared to be loosely con
Quoted on the part of the democrats, ant
their remarkable strength was source OF
surprise to all The vote for president il
a good criterion to so By, and it showcC
a large gain in the democratic vote
Cleveland would have carried the city had
it had not been for the Illegal votes cast
by students of the Swedish college in th(
Seventh ward This result should be o.
sufficient encouragement to assure TIKI
democrats of clean sweep next month
which can be effected by united and earn
est efforts to win.
James z. Mott, the present chief mag
istrate, is spoken of rs a candidate for re
election, and if nominated would proba'
bly, accept the honors. Mr.. Jacob Rile.
is a gentleman who is very favorabl,
spoken of in connection with the mayor
atty. V. NJ. Blandlng, Esq, has als
been favorably spoken of, and if he woult
consent to run would make a strong race
W. Fl. Lundy is seeking the nomination
and some of his friends are pushing III
candidacy quite strongly. X.Mayor E
lP. Reynolds, who has been strongl
talked Of to head citizens ticket, ha
emphatically declined to accept nomina
ton under any circumstances. EXMayo
Carse, on the republican side, is all har
messed for the race, and CX~AIderma
John J . Reimers has been waiting for th
word ever since Uncle Dick Oglcsb
smcarcd him with republican tatfy las
fall. If he is nominated it is limited iha
he will circulate Oglesby's speech in pam
phlct form. In regard to Mr. Carse, tn
people invited him to stay at home tw
years ago, and it is not thought that the
have changed their minds yet. Mr.. Thos
Murdoch is also mentioned for the place
and Mr.. 7. II. Thomas has some friend
who would like to vote for him.
The aldermanic fight engages no it'll
attention. In the First ward it is tn
unanimous feeling that Alderman Gusta'
Stengel shall be retained. The gentleman
has made creditable record. The rcpuf
licans can put up no man that will bea
him, but they will probably run Thos
Smart. In the Second ward we under
stand that Mr.. John OhlWGiiCr has at las
consented to let his name go before tn
caucus. The Second ward was dcmOcrati
last fall, and Mr.. Ohlweiler will make
more so this spring. The Third ward wi
probably roll up its usual handsome ma
jorlty for Alderman George W.Henry, VIII
as long as he will accept the n ominatior
has no competitors for his place. Alder
man Collins, of the Fourth ward, says h
will not be q candidate for reelection, an
other republicans do not seem very anx
ious TO try their skill. This ward, whic
used to be from 50 to GO republican,
now counted surely democratic. Alder
man Briggs carried it last spring by Owe
so majority, and it gave Cleveland
plurality. The friends of Mr.. Tho
Davis say they propose to nominal
him, and Mr.. Henry Schmidt has ju'
as warm supporters Neither gcntleme
is seeking the place, but they have to
many good qualities to remain idle whe
their country calls. Alderman Lark
retires in the Fifth ward, Alderman Car
in the Sixth and Alderman Sinnett in tl
Seventh. There has not been much tai
from the east end of town, but il is prot