Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-19
THE MILAN MEETING.
Addresses by Congressman Neeee
and E. w. Hurst.

A Great Turnout Last Evening
Addresses by Congressman Neeee
and e. w. Hurst.
There was a great turnout at the dem
ocratic and peoples mass meetings at
Milan last evening. The meeting was
held in the town hall and over five huns
dred were present and manifested their
sympathy with the sentiments urged by
enthusiastic applause H. l.. Framing
was chairman. E. w. Hurst, ESQ, was
the first speaker He appealed to those
present to cast aside party passion and
prejudice and dispassionately consider the
| question al issue in this campaign. He
made a comparison between the record of
the present democratic administration
and the republican administration that
| preceded. He showed that under the re-
publican administration over 300, 900, 900
acres of land had been given to corpora>
tions and although these corporations
had forfeited a large portion of this land
through their failure to carry out their
contract with the government, that none
of it was reclaimed and restored to the
people until the democratic party was re-
| stored to power. He showed that the
tariff was increased by the republican
party frOm''an average of twenty and one.
fourth per cent to over forty per cent,
through which over 1922 100000 of ex>
cessive taxes was collected from the peos
pie during the last six years of republi>
can administration. Mr.. Hurst showed
that in the first year of Cleveland's adj
minisration the public debt had been de-
creased SSS,000,000 while in the last
year of Arthur's administration it had
been increased 1873 900. He cons idered
it of the highest Importance that the
democratic party should be successful in
this campaign, that the president might
be strengthened in his efforts to bring
about needed reforms No democrat
should be swerved from his duty to his
party in this election.
Congressman W H. Niece was then
introduced, and was warmly received.
He dwelt at length on the land question,
showing that the democratic house of
representatives had passed bills restoring
about 100000. 900 acres of land to the
people, and that in these bills it was pros
vided that these lands should be kept for
free homes for actual settlers. Speaking
of the public de0t, he said it was being
rapidly liQuidated by the present demo-
cratic administration; that $4,000, 900
bonds had been called since the adiourn>
ment of congress.
He declared himself in favor of liberal
pensions for soldiers, and hoped the time
would come when every soldier would re-
ceiVe just pension from the govern,
ment. He was in favor of the Hennepin
'sNANA TO "a iiOhSli VI dllIdi HCNtSSltN 10
the commercial interests of the north>
west and the whole country.
Mr.. Niece said that he had been re
quested TO answer charge made through
the medium of a communication appear
ing in the columns of the Union, of this
city, charging that he had been associate
ed with Hon. VIM. Springer in canvass.
ing the state in organizing lodges of the
Knights of the Golden Circle in 1864. |
He desired to stamp the charge as abso.
lutelY false, and without any foundation,
in fact Mr.. Neece simply submitted his
record in congress to the voters of this
district, and if he had not conducted him.
self just as he had stated he would be-
fore entering congress, he asked for no
support now. He was the friend of hon
est industry, in whatever branch it might
be, and the rights of the laborer were
foremost and uppermost with him. 1t
was one of Mr.. Neece's ablest speeches
and he held the close attention of his
hearers throughout. the only interruption
being the outbursts of applause which
greeted him during the course of his re
marks.
Tonight Congressman Niece and 9TH
ers will speak at Coal Valley