Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-09
LIEUT.. GOV. SMITH.
a Prominent Mason and Politician In
the City---Interesting Talk ON sub
jeets IN General

A Prominent Mason and Politician In
the CIty---Interesting Talk ON sub.
jeets in General.
J. @. Smith, ESQ. Of Chicago. lieuten.
ant governor OF Illinois and grand master
of the Masonic order of the state, ar
rived in the city this morning, registering
at the Harper house. The lieutenant
governor is in Rock Island in his Official
capacity as Grand Master Mason of ILL
nois. his purpose being to conduct a
Masonic school Of instruction. commence
ing at Masonic Temple tomorrow. and
continuing three days. The grand mas
ter has arranged series of schools of in
struction TO be held at different cities
throughout the western and central por~
tons of the state. Rock Island is first
ON the list; then follow Carthage, Dams
vile, Peoria, Cairo. Carmi, Taylorville.
Belleville and Chicago. Grand Master
Smith will be assisted in the school of
instruction here by Brothers NJ. ID. Cham
oerlain. of Freeport; W. b. Grimes,
Pittsfeld; A B. Ashley, Kewanee; jos
seph John, of Chicago, and Eugene L.
Stoker. of Centralia.
The sessions of the school will be two
a day, commencing tomorrow afternoon
and continuing until Thursday evening.
The afternoons will be devoted TO instruc,
ton. the evening to work The first day
will include work and instruction in the
enter deprentice degree, the second to the
fellow craft degree and the third to the
Master Mason degree. There are 45, 600
Masons in the state and something like
eight hundred lodges. A large number of
Masons from abroad will be in attend
Ance.
The lieutenant governor received an
ARGUS reporter in his usual cordial man.
ner this morning, but declined to discuss
politics to any extent. In response to the
question regarding possible gubernatorlal
candidates on the republican side, Mr..
Smith said:
IL know nothing farther than has been
discussed by the press. The newspapers
have mentioned all the possible candi-
dates on both sides"
How do Chicago republicans stand
as to the nominee2"
Chicago will not be unit on anybody.
II is safe to say though, that the candi-
dates for The nomination who live in Chs
cago will be on hand with their friends.
Chicago of course expects the demo-
cratic national convention as well as the
republican,
Most certainly. Chicago is the best
equipped city in this country for
national convention. It's railroad IA
cilities are unexcelled, its hotel &C
commodations first.class, and in the
way of halls, can furnish every thing
from club room.to the great exposition
building"
How do Chicago republicans feel in
regard to presidential nomineesr"
THE general impression seems to be
that it would be a good plan to let New
York state name the head of the ticket,
as the empire state is to be the battle
ground Of the next presidential struggle.
This of course, is only the idea of a small
portion of the party managers of one
state, which is only one of great many
states who will have voice"
AS the lieutenant governor il himself a
candidate for the gubernatorlal nomina
ton, and strong one, too, having a
large following Of political admirers as
we'll as standing high in numerous secret
societies, such as the Masons and Odd
Fellows. as well as having held several
offices of trust and Importance in the
naturally reticent in political matters,
and the reporter did not press him fur
Their.
The lieutenant governor asked after
several friends, among others, Lieut..
Schwatka. by the way" said Mr..
Smith, did you know that the lieuten-
out "oo MY SousinS ohu ehos hiS VIZ eh'
place was only short distance from
heref He was born right up here at
Galena His parents, too, are native
Americans, having been born in Balti-
more. The lieutenant's father vas u
forty niner'-went out to Oregon in tina
year, settled at Salem and moved his
family there in '52. 1t was from Oregon |
that the lieutenant went to West Point
military academy. Lieut.. Schwatka's
mother died a few years ago, and his
father is now lying at the point of death |
there"