Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-05
A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED.
The Proposed Election Contest and
What it Means.
VIII Frederick Hass Authorize the
Recount and Investigation f-.Judge
WilkinsOn'D Opinion.

The proposed contest of the election OF
VIM. McConoohie as mayor of Rock ISL
! and lie becoming a more interesting topic.
and one that the public Is anxious to see
finally solved, the more it is discussed
Mr.. Hass. who is urged to make the con-
test by republicans as we'll as democrats
said, when spoken to upon the subject
this morning, that he was not 80 DESTROYS
of being mayor as to enter into the con-
troversy, unless he felt satisfied that
Illegal votes had been cast He would not
undertake such task If actuated solely
by personal motives. A number of his
friends had expressed to him their con-
tldence that invalid votes had been
cast by students of Augustana college
and had urged him to make the contest
In order that the matter might be settled
once for all.
Mr.. Hass has thirty days from the time
the council declares the election result to
file his notice Of contest In the county
court. and he las not yet decided what
to do.
Judge Ira o. Wilkinson was interro-
gated this morning upon the question Of
college students voting and he said:
"The mere feet that young man is a
student at a college, will not of itself de-
termine the question whether he is q
voter In the place where the college Is
located or not. And resort must be
had to outside facts and circumstances to
determine his right to vote. A young
man having home which he has left to
go to the college and to which home he
returns in vaeat ons or In case OF sickness
or other circumstances tending to show
that he regards t as his home and that
his residence at the college is a temporary
one only for the purpose of receiving
tuition there. and having the intention to
return to his home so soon as this tempo>
rary purpose has been accompli shed,
would clearly be no voter at the place OF
the college"
"On the other hand a young man with
out local or family ties or other condi-
tons of residence elsewhere. and who
makes his home at the college while pur>
suing his studies or college course, and
having no place to which he intends to
return. but who intends to remain al the
place where the college is located or 60
elsewhere depending upon the circum>
stances which may exist at the end of his
term OF study, would be entitled to regard
the place of the college as his home and
to vote there. In short. each case Is to
be determined By the circumstances, re-
lations and inter tions of the particular
student. No general rule can be stated
as alike applicable to all cases"
There is no question but there are stu>
dents attending Augustena college be,
longing to both these classes, as all those
OF mature age. attending the college.
vote. The ARGUS does not, particularly.
favor contest any more now than at
any other time. Il thinks, without ques-
tioning the motives or political prefer
ences of the students or of criticising
them in the least for voting. that the sub.
ject is one that ought to be once. and for
all time settled. and that this is as good
a time as any.
The Union, actuated by a bigoted,
selfish, partisan spirit, opposes the propo-
sition and temrs it threat 1t acknowl>
edges that questionable votes are cast.
but places the number at sixteen-and
holds that as there are not enough to
change the outcome of the present cleo
ton, there Is no need of contest. 1t is
not with view Of determining the result
of the election, just had, or of knowing
how the students voted, that the ARaUs
would be pleased to see contest. Tits
simply to settle q matter of constitution
atty, validity and principle. no matter
who or what is Affected by the result.