Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-29
DEMOCRATS ON TOP.
A Review of the Political Situation
in Illinois and of the Cam
--7~~-~~' paign Work.
Fair Comparisons go to Show that
Gen. Palmer WIN Carry the state
and be Elected Governor.


Ia
Gals bearing as they do upon politi.
Ieidosauation which has been full of ka-
total nopic changes. The change in the
1880 in we has constantly drifted since
the nn aVor of the democrats While
pres;daoer of ballots cast in 1884 for
cast t 'iat Candidates exceeded those
-~as.,s of eSsxRbral tickets in 1880 by So,
T'~F democrats gained 35,283 votes
and the republicans but 1884 Many
OF the formers gains were made at the
expense OF the latter. In 1880 Garfield
received 31S, 037 votes and Hancock 277,-
32i votes. Gartield's plurality was 40
TIC The republican percentage of the
total vote cast was ITO. The demo-
cratic percentage of the total vote was
So. The republican msjority IN Cook
county in 1880 was 1854 In 1884
Blaine received 1877 All votes and Cleve-
land 3l2,5S4 votes in Illinois. Blaine's
plurality was e4S27. The republican
percentage of the total vote cast was
QUA. The democratic percentage of the
Total vote cast was 46 As, an increase of
Two per cent over 1880. The republican
: majority in Cook county in 1884 was
S,blS, reduction of almost 1000 in four
years on full vote. These figures dem
onstrate that an increase of four Der cent
IN the democratic vote and decrease of
one per cent in the republican vote would
give the democrats the state by com
fortsbe plurality.
In the "off year" of 1886. neither of the
two great parties had majority. The
vote polled was far beneath that polled in
1884, Tanner. the republican candidate
for state treasurer, receiving but 276 $50
votes Kicker, the democratic candidate
for the same office, received 240 6S4
votes. The republican candidate poled
but 4S Al per cent of the total vote and
the democratic candidate but 40 OF per
cent of the total vote. Budlong the la
Dor candidate, polled % per cent, and
Austin, the prohibiuonist BPS. The
prohibtionists were the only party to
gain in 1886 over their 1884 vote St.
john for president. polled 1905 votes
in 1884, and Austin, for treasurer in 1886
poled 10, 1866 A review of the work and
prospects of the democratic, republican,
and prohibition parties can better be I'M
derslood with the above figures in view
The democrats have worked hard this
yesr, but have l4bored under MANY dis
advantages. Their state headquarters
are located at the Palmer house. but fine
rooms in the Adams Express building
nave been used in addition as document
rooms, etc. The committee has the most
active man at the head of the committee
this year that it has ever had. John G.
Campbell, of Slreator, the chairman. is q
manufacturer and man of considerable
wealth. he has devoted almost his en-
tire time to the service of the party since
he took hold and has been constantly at
his post. William J. Mize, the secretary
OF the committee, has had years of ex-
perience and is a careful and useful man
in campaign. Judge A. A Goodrich,
of Jerseyvile, is the chairman of the com.
mlttee on speakers. He has been doing
good work and has had exclusive charge
OF Gov Palmer's campaign. These three
meu-CampDell, Mize and Goodrich
represent the entire working ability Of
the Illinois democratic state central cons
mlttee. There are q few good men
among the other members, but the vast
majority are badly afflicted with political
dry>rot When Z NJ Phelps was made
national committeeman at St Louis last
June great things were expected of him
Some of his friends said that he would
put $50 900 into the campaign. This
statement was believed and Phelps was
elected. He has not put $40, 600 into the
campaign. He has given the state COM
mittee hardly anything. He has taken
away from it, on the other hand He
collected, through agents. 81 900 in the
government building. The state com.
mlttee expected that this sum would be
used in Illinois. Phelps wanted to hant
1t over to the national committee to be
used IN the east, and be ultimately sue
ceeded in having his own way Thrown
upon its own resources the state commit
tee made an effort to raise the wind.
invited to corporation Of many public
spirited democrats and succeeded in rails
ing quite a snug little sum- Then Chair
man Brice of the national commtte,
came west after that, but the didn't pc
1t. Then the federal officials were stirred
up Collector Stone subscribed $3.50
Postmaster Judd, $500; Assistant Post
master Rea $25, Chief Janitor Mix,
Evans, $50, and the rest of the bow
$loUD. Chairman Campbell and Judp
Goodrich went into their private pocket
books to put the committee in an aggres
sive attitude. Then Chairman Campbell
thought that it would be best TO put tn
enemy on the defensive. The 53.cen
tax circular was then issued, charging tn
republicans with needless extravaganza
IN the administration of the state govern
mani ~ th,, l,n-, ~
campaign 1t has stirred up the republi
cans pretty badly, and the committee be
lleVes that in addition to the tariff issu
IL Is gong to have great effect on tn
voters Chairman Campbell says that h
has the names Of six thousand republ
cans who are going to vote for Cleveland
falmer and the democratic nominees thi
year. he says that the result of tn
careful canvass of the state by III
democrats shows that John M. Pa
mer will come to Cook county wit
6,OOO majority The committee
intensely interested, therefore, 10 the re
suit IN Cook If the county gives goo
democratic majority they say that it mean
democratic majority in Illinois for Pal
mer and the electoral ticket. Chairma
campbell gave $1,000 to the Coo
county democratic committee as an carr
est OF bis wishes for success. The com
mittee relies very much upon the labt
vote; upon the railroad vote; upon tt
prohibition vote, and upon the gre,
canvass of Gen Palmer to carry IL
state. They expect Palmer's election b
$4,000 plurality
The republicans have their state heal
quarters at the Grand Pacific hotel. TIL,
changed chairmen early in the yea
Long" JONES' the former chairman, W
deposed because he was Blaine maj
Gen. James s. Martin of Salem, Marie
county, was made chairman in his plac
DE has been frequently and irreverent
styled back number. It would be n
truthful to say that the work done at 7
publican headquarters this year mas be-
anything like the work done there fo
years ago. The only officer of the cor
miitee who has done any work to spe
of has been Secretary Dan Shepard