Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-10-18
A GREAT CHESTNUT.
The Republican Scheme to Elect
Gest at Any Cost.
The CONGRESSMAN Again Coming
Home---Desperate Measures Adopt.
ed as a Last Resort.

ed as Last Resort.
1t comes from Washington that Com
gresham Gest is again about to come
home, though it is not known what i'm
portant legal matters exact such move.
At any rate the Rock Island congressman
has been advised on the quiet of the shat
tered condition of his political breast.
works and he has been notified to return
to the district and do some patching.
The stay-at his post scheme has failed to
be productive of desired results The
people elected him for that purpose He
is expected to be in Washington and the |
fact of his being there has not created the |
impression intended. Hence something |
else must be done. The first step there. |
fore is that Mr., Gest come home, give him |
another "big reception" at the depot and |
then perhaps. have him challenge bis |
rival, who has reduced his strength to |
such a frightful degree all over the dis
trict, TO joint debate on the tariff ques-
ton.
Just now Mr.. Gest's friends are posing
him as Il martyr; claiming that he has been
for the back pay bill all right enough, but
being republican he could not WELD the
influence with the house a democrat
could He is on the side of the back pay
men, is willing to do all he can for the
workmen and their measure, but he hasn't
the influence. That is one of the very
reasons the people are going to elect MIR.
Prenuss. They propose to have man
there who, while being in every way able
to cope with other members of the house,
will be in political sympathy with the
| majority party and therefore more in
| position TO receive the respectful atten-
| tion of 1.-THE speaker, which Mr.. Gest says
he cannot get
Them they are working the personal
friendship dodge-the home man idea
This scheme worked very well two years
ago, when the congressional candidates
stood upon virtually the same platform,
many then voting for Mr.. Gest because
Of personal friendship and on account Of
his being a Rock Island man. But this
year things are different There are two
distinct issues involved in this campaign,
though party lines will not be as closely
drawn as they were two years ago. The
change will be different though The
issue here is as it is everywhere IN the
the country where national questions are
at stake. 1t is an issue of reduction in
the tariff against a continuation of the
present methods of exorhitant taxation
Mr.. Prentiss represents the former idea
and Mr.. Gest the latter. This is not 6
county campaign where local preference:
have weight; it is a campaign affecting
the welfare of the entire nation. one o.
issues not of men, of principles not o.
parties wholly. The democratic idea il
naturally the most popular, and in orde
to carry it out successfully it is necessa r'
that the majority in the house be contin
ued. Il is q popular knowledge of thi
condition of facts that makes Mt Gest'
candidacy fatal at this time and insure
the election of Mr Prentiss The ballo
is to besdictated this time according t
interests of the home and in the line O
reduced taxation and tariff revision.
Another little scheme which is bein!
attempted it shows to what depth
of desperation and alarm the Gcst fac
tions have reached-is to make still
canvass among the laboring people. ant
TO attempt to remove the determination
to vote for their own interests by intro
ducing the same old chestnut, "hom
man." II is known that men who wer
in conventions that either nominated c
endorsed Mr.. Prentiss and are workin
for him, were approached aud urged nc
to vote for him this time, but just tn
once to give Mr.. Gest a complimentar
vote on the ground of his being Roc
Island man. At the same time the sur
plcant sought to impress the idea that
would make no general difference whC
man WAS elected to congress, but that
would look better to have the home ms
- in congress. Everybody who has been a.
) pealed to so far in this personal way. hoV
ever, has made up his mind as to the a,
visibility of and special advantages to
gained by Mr.. Prentiss election, not on
because he is man of ability and inhl
ence, but on account of the principles
sustairs so well and which he will nece
sarily carry out. The republican par
must learn that it cannot win campsig
by attempting to move men from a S
opinion founded on principle in order
favor a personal friendship. Meth
eau they succeed ny springiug chestnut