The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-24
OUR CONGRESSMAN.
The Outlook for Mr.. Neeceis Re cleo
tiOn-- Review Of the District,

tiOn--Review Of the District.
A Carthage special to the Chicago
Daily Meas, gives the following interests
ing review of this congressional district
from an independent standpoint. in
which Mr. Neece's opportunities for re-
election are plainly shown:
The democratic congressional conven-
ton for the Eleventh district in this state
has been called to meet at Monmouth,
Tuesday, September IA, ensuing. SO far
as can be ascertained, there will be but
one candidate. That convention will,
doubtless, renominate William II. Niece,
present congressman. from this district.
The republicans have concluded to
hold their convention at Monmouth on
the It'll of September, ensuing. Whom
their nominee will be no man can find
ont, The candidates thus far named are
Turnbull and Dryden of Warren, Gest
of Rock Island. Moir of Henderson, Pet
RE and Cornell of Mercer, and Gsiffith
and Craske of Schuyler. Ex-Consul E.
Z. Lane of Warsaw, has also been men
toned.
Your correspondent has taken occasion
to satisfy himself that there is very little,
if any, opposition TO Neece in this DIS
trict, as has been claimed, from demo>
Gratis, mugwump-repubicans, and green
hackers. These three elements, aided by
the rapidly increasing prohibition and
independent vote, are the basis of Niece s
strength. A warm partisan might be
justified in claiming Neeces reelection
by respectable majority. To a non
partisan observer the situation appears to
be about as follows:
The deep wound made in the ranks of
the Hancock county republicans in 1882
by the Marsh McClaughrey fight has new.
er healed While the party has acted
together harmoniously in minor matters
political, there is no harmony manifest
when things congressional are mentioned.
A few leaders on both sides of the Chasm
have seemingly shaken hands, but this
act has accomplished little toward re,
Cancellation in the rank and file of the
party, What was claimed as gross fraud
and injustice praticed in 1882 has never
been forgiven. 1t has resulted in the
election of a noted democrat, and in keep
ing him in office. One term in congress
might have ended Neece's career. had it
not been that the principals in the war of
1889 could not keep their hands out of a
fight in which, to all effect, they were
politically dead. A candidate represent
in co no Vic
of either faction has met with defeat,
either by open opposition or through
studied indifference. This today, is the
condition of affairs in the republican
household The names of Marsh. Nc
Claughrey, Lane, Petrie, 1T al, figuring
again in the councils of their leaders bode
no good.
Admitting that the on-coming republic
can convention at Monmouth will nomi>
nate strong mani. e., one who can
carry the full party vote IN the district
despite past bitterness and past avowals-
other issues have sprung up demanding
| thu. support and votes of a large number
of the party, The chief one, 10 point OF
fact, is the prohibition movement. The
ticket that will be in the field this fall re
presenting prohibition will receive the
votes of larger quota of republicans
than ever before. These political an>
archists," as their opponents call them,
are girded for the fray. They will be an
AID to Niece and an eyesore to the repub-
licaus.
As far as Neece is concerned, he has
lost little of his party sympathy and sup>
port. He may have made some mistakes
but they are outweighed by judIcious
acts. His recommendation for appoint
meut 10 local offices have met with nc
| condemnation, as rule
Mr. Neece will receive the FIJI demo
cratic vote, and there will be added to
| this the large disaffected republican vote
and the greenbackers in Hancock, Nc
Donough, Henderson, and Mercer coun
ties. He will poll share Of the soldier
vote. The working classes are still tol
him. also. in Rock Island. Add to al
this the general tendency toward an indie
pendent vote on congressman in the dis
trict, and it will be seen that Mr. Niece:
chances for reelection are not at al
| gloomy.
1t is probable that the republicans will
put out their best man, but the old bosses
will be there TO cause strife aud trouble
among the people.