Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-18

Since, the formation of Buford post
FAB. G. A. R., of this CITY. one of its
most conspicuous members has been Tom
Campbell. of South Rock Island, the
present republi can nominee for county
treasurer. He has always posed as a
battle Scared veteran of the war. and has
never failed to make himself seen at
every reunion and outpouring of old SOL
uiers. He has modestly taken his share
OF the honor and praise bestowed upon
the survivors of the late war by deeply
grateful people. and has attempted to
appear as one who had borne the perils
VI battle to that extent that he
htd come out manned for life.
AS stated before, he is leading
member of Buford post, and has held
every office in the post up to commander
There is nothing he enjoys better than
turning out with the soldiers, especially
this year. notwithstanding that he
don't know any more about the hardships
or the dangers Of the real soldier than a
babe unborn at the wars outbreak.
There are some very apparent reasons
why Campbell has been working the G
A. r. racket on the public for wears in
his efforts to delude and deceive in
the matter of his war record" Camp,
bell has had the political bee in
his bonnet for some time-in fact he
has been after the Office for which
ne has now been nominated for loI
these many years and with this one end
IN view he has been playing the war hero
act most diligently. The real facts of
Campbell's sodiery, however. are known
TO many. though he has endeavored to
Carefully conceal the truth, which never.
theless asserting itself, says that Camp>
bell never smelled the smoke of battle, and
the bullet which partially deprived him of
one of his limbs was not one of those rebel
terrors. but piece of lead from the gun
OF one of his own men. Campbell had en-.
listed as member of Company l. 126th
Illinois infantry. and was in camp at Chs
cago waiting for orders when the accident
occurred. The bullet penetrated his knee
cap; Campbell was brought home, and
that was the extent of his experience as
a soldier of the republic. Now
the ARGUS does not aim to criticise Camp
bell for not going into the field despite
his injuries which were severe and have
resulted in his carrying a stiff leg since
but in the interest of fairness it does OBJ.
Ject to his exhibition of that wounded
limb as an example of what war cost him.
and in support of plea for votes.
And further. In the face of all Camp
bells feigne6 display of patriotism and
his attempts to show 'what it cost him"
it is passing strange that he should not
think enough of his country 'for which
he gave his leg" to become a
citizen of it. The thought of renoupcing
forever all allegiance to the old lady to
whose sovereign command he was OBJ
liged by birth to bow. never entered his
head until be was nominated for member
of the county board the first time in 1881.
Then it was on March Sd of that year
after being in the United States twenty
nine years, and in the state of Illinois a
quarter of ceDtury-that he took out
his naturalization papers and became a
voter. He, in fact, was a candidate for
Office when he had no right to cast vote,
and before he thought it worth while to
improve the blessed opportunities offered
by this government, and which are so
eagerly seized by most foreigners who
come here 10 live in this nation and be-
come one OF its people by adoption.
With these recorded facts IN mind it is
no more than natural To presume that had
Campbell failed to secure that nomination
for supervisor in 1881. ne would not have
seen any reason for taking out his natu-
raliz.tion papers until his nomination for
county treasurer had been assured 1t is
all a matter of politics with him He is
one of these patriots for politics only.