The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-13
THE FIRST GUN.
1t was Fired by the Republicans
Saturday Night.
4 Ratification at Turner Hall, where
the Bloody shirt was Freely
Elaunted.

ify the nomination of MIR. w. ii. Gest fol
congress and flaunt the bloody shirt;
in fact the latter seemed their priucipa
object. 1t is remarkable with what pleas
ure and vim the average republican pol
itician can dig up the dead issues of the
war and make it his stock in trade for q
campaign speech. The late ''unpleas'
antncss" seems to be the particular hob
by of that valiant man, Parsou Morgan,
who is so chock full of patriotism that
one would suppose that to him belongs
the sole honor of SURPRISING the re-
bellion.
The night was dark and dismal, but
the faithful came out in goodly number
and the hall was comfortably filled.
Bleuer's band played some nice selections,
after which w. J. Browne. the chairman,
called the meeting to order, and invited
DIR. TRUEsDALE,
who was in the audience, to the platform
tS make the first address. He said be
was not an active politician himself, but
took an interest in the politics of the
country. 1t was a pleasure to him TO
assist in the ratification of the nomina>
ton of W. II, Gest for congress. He had
known the nominee for mauy years as u
man of ability, integrity and moral worth;
he would represent the Eleventh district
well in congress, and notwithstanding
the many available candidates which had
been presented, the convention ''Gest'
well when it chose the gentleman from
Rock Island for the standard bearer in
the coming contest. The doctor then
took occasion to unwarTantly score the
administration of President Cleveland.
He said that all the democratic admins
tration had accomplished was to turn
Union soldiers out OF office, and to fill
their places with Confederate brigadiers,
and the president appointed no one
with a less rank than that of major.
He urged the labOring men to vote for
Gest, saying that he would do as much
for them as any man that could be sent
to congress from this district, and al
though he had only one leg he could outs
run Niece at any time.
After music by the baud there were
loud calls of ''O'Mara,' but that descen
dant of democracy failed to put in his
appearance, and the audience was COM
PEELED to listen to that christian and
ANTI, PROHIBITION GENTLEMAN,
Parson Morgan from Moline. He had
taken the opportunity to address the
meeting early in the evening rs business
of great Importance required his presence
at Moline. He WAS fatiguCd aud hardly
able TO appear before the audience, rs
he had talked good deal the evening
previous-where, he did not say. He
had VISITED both the upper and lower ends
of the county since the congressional
and he brought words of
good cheer. He hoped that all republi>
cans would remain true to their princi,
Piles, and work together for success.
The pars0n is evidently laboring under
the impression that great many repub-
iicans will not vote for him) For al
moment he apparently thought he was
attending prayer meeting as he said:
q Brethren, my heart is with you ia this
work" aud general litter was heard
from the audience. The parson then
waved the "bloOdy shirt" in vigorous
manner, until he completely Disguised
the rational portion of the audience.
OLIVER OLSEN
was the next speaker, and he was well re
ceived. He heartily concurred in Mr..
Gest's nomination, and it did honor to the
community and district. He objected to
taking Rock Island county from the old
Sixth district and placing ii in the Elev-
enth, but still the republicans did not
complain, but rolled up their usual ma
jority. He was glad that a man had been
nominated from this county. Republic
cans in the lower end of the district said
Rock Island was the tail, but he wanted
it distinctly understood that it was the
other end Of the dog The speaker then
worked the labor dodge, like those who
preceded him, and told how the repubi,
can party sympathized with the down
trodden workingmau.
NJ NJ. STURGEON
was next on the programme, lie didn't
propose to make speech; he regarded
the meeting as love feast, sort of
Methodist experience meeting. He was
one of those unfortunate fellows who had
gone to Monmouth in the interest of Mr..
Gest, and had been designated as thug
by a weekly newspaper. For fourteen
years he had been trying to have man
nominated for congress from thus county.
He was not associated with any national
bank, was no railroad lawyer, nor the at
sorney for any corporation, in short ne
was one of the people. Mr.. Gest was
nominated this time because the delega-
ton took indubitabe proofs to show that
he was the strongest candidate that could
be chosen The speaker concluded by
making an appeal for the voters to stand
by Gest.
W. F. CRAWFORD,
the candidate Tor the legislature, came
upon the stage and was introduced to the
audience. He spoke few words of en-
couragement for Mr.. Gest, but excused
himself from making speech on account
of being under the doctors care.
MR E. E. PARMENTER
was next He said he had no speech to
make. You have been given good re-
publican principles tonight. There was
a time when the republicans were never
defeated, and the time for victory has
again come. The republican party has
always been the friend of the working
men, and the people are flocking back
to it. We will not only be successful in
this district now, but will carry the coun-
try two years from now. Mr.. Gest will
not only look after the island appropra>
tons, but will work for the Hennepin
canal. and it will come by the Rock ISL
and route.
CANDIDATE GEST.
was the last speaker. and as he came
forward there was loud applause. He