Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-25
FIGHTING AGAINST FATE.
Republicans Resort 10 Desperate
Means 20 Hold Yuma in their Column
---some Interesting Political His
tory

tory.
Editor ARGUS:
YUMA, July 26.-About three years ago
Yuma township voted upon and defeated,
the proposition to change the place for
holding election from Zuma Center to
Joslin. When Mr.. William Witeside was
elected supervisor he recommended to the
board OF supervisors TO hold the election
of Yuma at Joslin, which Is one half mile
from the east end of the township. while
two-thirds of the voters reside in the
west end. He cared nothing for the
direct voice of the people. but had two
fold object in view; first, it would be
financial benefit to his son who owns the
building in which the election is held:
second, he thought he would place it at
as great distance as possible, fully
eleven miles by the circuitOus route. so
as TO deprive the democratic stronghold,
which is on the west end of the township,
of attending the elections.
Yuma used to be overwhelmingly re-
publican as recent as eight years ago,
since which time the democrats have been
reducing this majority, until last fall
Harrison carried the town by seven At
our town election in April last the demo-
Gratis elected part of their ticket. while the
republicans that were elected had mal0ri-
ties of one to three. This gradual de
crease in the republican voters has had
tendency to stir up their anger. and as
a consequence they will resort to
any tactics. fair or unfair, to defeat the
opposing party. Now we come to our
recent election of states attorney, about
which so much has heen said aud writ>
ten. Farmers were very busy in the hay
field on that day. and they waited until
evening To vote. so they could return
home ut night. especially those Of the
Schafer school district in the west end of
the town. in which there is not repub-
lican residing. We notice NJ. j. G. Os-
born. in his reply to "Multum in Parvo."
SAYS: The polls were closed in an order
ly and lawful manner. and at the ap~
pointed time" We wish to take excep-
ton to this statement Mr.. Whiteside
closed the polls twenty-eight minutes
after he gave notice at $50 O'Clock that
the polls would be closed in half an hour,
and furthermore. he closed the polls at
6:5S O'Clock. according to his sons, VIM.
Whiteside, Jr., standard time that he had
obtained during the day for the express
purpose of closing the polls at the proper
time. Mr.. Whiteside, Jr., is William
Payne's deputy committeeman for the
town and recently appointed postmaster
OF Joslin- What stronger proof does Mr.
Osborn want than this republican
bearing such credentials? Mr.. William
Whiteside, Jr., further says that these
democrats who were denied the right To
vote had plenty of time to cast their bal
lots if they were allowed To do so. and he
says so still. But By depriving them of
this right, Sturgeon carried the town by
one plurality. whereas Lewis should have
carried it by three and the town would
turn into the democratic column.
Again. Mr. Osborn saws, that Super,
visor Whiteside did not know any person
was present and wanted to vote. Mr..
Swank. one of the judges of election,
was standing on the outside of the build
ing watching those parties that were ap
preaching in their vehicles for a distance
of more than half mile, and when they
arrived, knowing them to be staunCh
democrats, he makes a direct course to
the company of his associates and the
polls are closed Immediately with his
consent at 6:5S o'clock. II Mr.. Osborn |
wishes to adhere strictly to the law, why
should this judge, instead OF attending
to his duties. take such an interest in |
discerning the political faith of those |
democrats? All of this was in Mr.. Os- |
born's presence.
But Mr. Osborn says that the acts
charged by 'Multum in Parvo' are
equivalent 10 frauds on the ballot, pun |
ishable by fine and Imprisonment. Such |
charges have been freely made during |
the last FIVE years" During the last five
years Yuma has had republican super
visors, who invariably, with possibly |
single exception, have appointed repub>
lican grand jurors. SO far as Yuma is
she has given her full quota |
to uphold republican rascality if brought |
before the grand jury for action. If all
towns should act the same as Yuma in |
their grand jurYmen, courts and politics |
would he one and the same thing. We
are glad to acknowledge that the prohi- |
bitionists and liberal republicans join |
hands with the democrats and denounce |
such INSCRIPTIONS methods adopted by |
these judges of elections.
A SUBSCRIBER