The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-08

and W. r. Moore and NJ. NJ. Sturgeon
chairmen of the committees on
permanent organization and resolu>
| tons. o. J. Anderson, the gen>
| tleman selected as chairman, made
feeble effort to return his thanks
for the honor conferred upon him, but as
he was not speechmaker, the enthu>
| siasm which the chairman was expected
to dispense was not forthcoming. The
afternoon proceedings were opened by
the band which played ''Chippee, Get
| Your Hair Cut. This had an inspiring
effect upon the delegates and they APP
plauGed heartily.
When nominations were declared in
order, the roll of the counties was called
for the purpose of wrestling out the can
/ didates. Hancock aud Henderson failed
to name candidates McDouough county
through the spokesman of the delegation,
nominated Alexander Mclean, of Ma
| comb. and Mercer came TO tine front with
Alexander P Petrie. Tue Rock Island
delegation sat on the left side of the hall
in front of the platform, and when that
county was called, Hon. P O'M8ra arose
from their midst and presented the name
OF W. II. Gest. He promised that Who
ever was nominated. the republicans of
| Rock Island county would take off their
coats Tor him, but he begged the conven>
ton to carefully consider Mr. Gesls name
He laid particular stress upon the state
meut that Rock Islands candidate could
control the labor vote of that county,
which was an element of strength which
no other candidate possessed. For this
and other reasons Mr.. Gest was the most
available man to make the fight against
Mr.. Niece. In commenting upon Mr..
Gest's strength with the working class be
pulled out letter from a Rock Island
alderman to the chairman of the delegs
ton, claiming that Gest would get a
large labor vote if nominated. For
some reason or other the name of the
writer was not given, and the convention
received the letter with a good deal OF
incredulity 1t was afterwards learned
that the document, was production of
Alderman Larkius, but he said it could
not be construed in any manner that be
was for Gest, but simply gave it as his
| opinion that Gest would receive more Of
that vote than any other republican men
| toned.
Pafson Morgan seconded Gest's NOM
nation From his remarks We should
| judge that that sincerely devout man has
changed his opinion of Mr.. Gest Of late.
1t was stated that at the encampment of
the N. G. at Springfield lately, the par
son objected TO Gest's candidacy, saying
that he was cold and repellant, and was
possessed of no personal magnetism.
From appearances it would seem that
the parson was whipped into line in ex,
tTemely short order.
Schuyler county presented the name
of Henry Craske, the gentleman to whom
is accredited the honor of capturing the
Gath senatorial district for the republi
cans, thus insuring the return Of John
A Logan to the United States senate
The Schuyler delegates seemed to think
that a man with such vast amount of
district in congress-would probably cap
ture the presidential chair from the DEM
ocrats, no doubt. ]. L. Dryden. of War
rem, was the last placed in nomination.
Notwithstanding the fact that mo-
ton had been previously put and carried,
which referred all resolutions and papers
to the committee on refolutiOns without
reading, Delegate Cary. with the pro-
found air of man who had an important
mission on hand, walked TO the platform
with roll of paper in his hand, which
proved to be the much talked of petition
from the labor party (?) of Rock Island.
NJ. NJ. Sturgeon, who appeared to be do.
ing the heavy work for Gcst. then arose,
and asked that the petition be read to the
convention. This caused an uproar at
once among the Hancock aud Warren del
egates, and strong objection was raised
against the rea ding of it, especially in
view of the former motion. A no
ton to refer the petition to the committee
on resolutions was lost, and then the
question came before the convention in a
manner which would not admit of other
than unanimous adoption or else appear
sense of the petition was acquiesced in
without dissenting voice.
The Rock Island delegates had not We,
played their strongest card, however.
The brightest and most interesting act in
their powerful comedy was still to come.
The hero of the hour was Michael Hora.
ito Mccarthy, the industrious (political)
street commissioner holding soft jot
under republican administration. The
band didn't play, but after several mo,
ments earnest conversation with Bos,
Sturgeon, Mike Waited out IN full view
Of the delegates and told hi.
H.. 4 -