Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-26

JOsLN. July %

JosLlN, July "A.
Well, What tempest in a teapot
When afair>minded correspondent un-
dertakes to give the political news of a
neiehborhood, he has got hard row to
hoe. My report of the election of states
attorney does not seem to please any one
in particular. The democrats seem to
think that it was drawn entirely too mild
and didn't give it to 'em half enough. d"
while the republicans Through J. G.
Osborn as mouthpiece), claim that there
was nothing wrong. everything WAS done
decently and in good order, and If not
according to custom, certainly according
to law. Osborne, who is a deep thinker
and great writer" and an oracle of wis
dom, says in his classical epistle that,
"Multum in Parvo's" account of the cleo
ton amounts to a charge of fraud, that
such charges have been made before, that
they have had enough of them and amt
gong TO stand it. That if "Multum in
Parvo" would study law more and the
hlackening OF his neighbors' reputation
less, it might result to his advantage
Thanks for the fatherly advice John, and
as one good turn deserves another, we
would say, that if there is anything in
our report that don't agree with your
digestive apparatus, please take all the
less of it. AS we were not at the election
when the polls were closed, we hitched
up our buggy this afternoon and
drove good many miles in order
To have talk with those who were. We
found some who seemed to look upon the
whole affair as a huge joke and farce
ana their sides were shaking with laugh
ter. while others were very angry and
denounc-f the judges in unmeasured
terms, and rolled out string OF adjec-
tlves and explosives that could not be
found in Websters unabridged. In our
report we simply charged that the polls
were not closed according to custom. A
number OF those we saw today claim
that the polls were closed before
o'clock-therefore. not according 10 law.
And we defy the sage of Joslin TO point
out single phrase or sentence which
charges Supervisor Whiteside with
knowing tina: there were voters present
when he closed the polls. The nice lit
| tie arrangement seems to have been that
the election was run by two time pieces.
one carried by William WhitesIde. Jr..
which had been set that day to standard
railroad time, and a crazy watch carried
| by Dr. Reiter, which kept good home
opathic time, but was too fast and
in no shape to be used in case of an
emergency. The rooms in which the
clerks of election and judges were is
very small one, and the doors were open
when these voters drove up. When Su-
pervisor Whiteside notified those pres
ent that in thirty minutes the polls of the
election would be closed, William White
side. .Ir., referred to his watch. and il was
just half past six by standard railway time.
John Swank, judge of election John Nc
Entry and William Whteside, Jr., | am
informed, were upon the platform of the
building when these voters presented
themselves and Mr.. Richard Clark. re-
publican, who was clerk of election in
formed me this afternoon that he saw the
men drive up, the door of the room be-
ing open. Some one doubling with res
gard 10 their being much time left, VIM.
Whiteslde, Jr., referred to his timepiece.
and SAID that there were two minutes
yet and plenty of time to vote" At this
moment, ii is claimed that John Swank,
one OF the judges, seeing that these vot-
ers were democrats. bolted inside and the
polls were closed instantly. Instead of
blsckening the reputation of Mr. White>
side, think it ought to be said to his
credit, that after the polls were closed he
proposed TO allow these men to vote be-
cause, said he We are seven votes ahead
anyway" What unbounded generosity
1t is a great matter of surprise and won.
derment with many. that so many, both
inside and out, should know of the
presence of these voters and that Super
visor Whiteside didn't. 1t is only lust to
say that in conversation with Mr.. Rich
ard Clark, he stated that he could not
think Mr.. William Whiteside knew that
there were any voters present when the
polls were closed. and that if any mem
Der was censurable the whole board
were, and that the most suspicious part
OF the proceedings seemed to be. that
John Swank. one of the judges, was
stationed outside TO see who the voters
were. MULTUM IN PARvo.