Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-11-11

An effort was made last night BIZ a
number Of sore headed members OF the
z. o. p. to spring technical question as
TO the eligibility of the title to seat in the
Legislature Of Geo. W. Vinton, dem.
ocratic member, lsct from Moline on the
ground that he had not been resident
of the Twenty FIRST district the nect ssary
time TO qualify him The constitution Of
the state provides that mo person shall
be senator OF a representative who shall
not be citizen Of the United States and
who shall not have been for Ave years a
resident OF this state and for two years
next preceding his election, a resident
within the territory 70 ming the district
from which he Is elected
The point raised as against Mr.. Vinton
was that he did not return to Moline from
Burlington, lows, within the time re
quired by law TO cattle him To his scat.
but investigation discloses the fac, that
Mr.. Vinton came back in February. 1885.
and is. therefore. in every way eligible 10
the office.
| But the investigation as TO the appli,
cation OF the law TO Mr.. V:nton devel>
oped into disastrous boomerang to the
party in which the question was
raised. II was this: Is W. C. Collins
qualified to go TO the legislature under
the lawr Collins spent his youth In
Rock Island and FIVE years ago when so
many Rock Island citizens were stricken
with the Kansas fever and turned their
backs on Rock Island. Collins went with
them He cast his lot at Rlsh Centre.
AID for year and half lived
there and at Hutchinson. coming back
to Rock Island, however. for his
bride, but returning to Kansas as bis
adopted home. He was one of the most
en- husiastic of the Kansas boomers, and
one would have thought To have talked
with him on his occasional visits to Ro, K
Island that there was no place under the
stars like Kansas. He took a great in
terest in the new country. there is 10
doubt about that. and they do say that
when county seat war arose out there
tina, Collins expressed his preference and
it was quite mark dat tie polls aud by
means of the ballot. Collins. however,
came back TO Rock Island three and half
years ago. and he now claims that this
city was always his home. To an ARGUS
reporter this morning he said that he hsd
always considered Rock Island his home.
that he had merely resided in Kansas be-
cause of business requirements. and had
never voted there. nor anywhere hut here.
The case is one which viewed in auy
light involves grave Q esiion of doubt
as to Mr.. Collins eligibility 10 the office
even in view of his own statement Of the
case. The ARGUS does not believe that
he can legalls claim the seat he cove,s
and that he certainly should no; be given
il as long as there is possible doubt and
until Collins title has been proven clear.
The matter has caused great deal o;
comment today. as ii involves no, only
the validity of Mr.. Collins claims to voice
in our legislative halls. but it is just prnb>
able thst it NAV cut some figure in the
selection of the next United States sen.
ator from Illinois
If Mr.. Collins Is not eligible. Mr. ]. A
Wilson ought 10 be entitled 10 his seat
that is question for the house of repre-
sentstives of the general assembly - de.
eide