Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-03
THE ANIMATED SPHINX.
How Mr.. Gest Accompanies Wonders
for the Workingmen.


for the Workingmen.
1t was the standing boast of the adher.
ents of Mr.. Gest that should he be re.
turned to congress the eight>hour law
would receive his attention, and that
those most nearly interested in this sec
tion should have their claims speedily al
lowed, and that the money which they
honestly earned should be forthcoming.
This phase of the question was continus
ally harped upon, and a reiteration in a
good many cases brought conviction, and
MIR. Gest derived the benefit by receiving
the ballots of those who had faith In the
statement. Did Mr.. Gest believe that he
had the ability to do as he promised, or
do what his friends had promised for
him2 Those who voted for him upon
that principle must have thought that Mr..
Gest would have proved himself a power
in Washington. At least, they must have
believed that this matter above all others
would receive careful attention, and a
beneficial measure would be promptly
enforced.
On last Saturday there was an extended
discussion in the house upon this very
bill. Members from various and widely
differing sections of the union warmly
entered into its merits. The prevailing
sentiment was that snchA bill should be
passed. or at leastsome measure for the
relief of the workmen should be provided
by congress. The whole question was
fully entered into. There were those who
strongly opposed the pending bill upon
legal grounds, and an amendment was
offered by Mr.. Brewer of Michigan,
which virtually defrauds the workmen OF
their just and equitable rights. During
all this lengthy discussion what did Mr..
Gest have to say2 What did he say upon
the amendment offered by Mr.. Brewer,
which actually killed every benefit that
might otherwise have arisen from the
billr What did be say when Mr.. Chip.
man, of Michigan, said that he would
probably vote for the bill because it was
the only measure he would have an op-
portunity of voting for. but that it was
about as feeble remedy as could possibly
be proposed for the grievance sought to
be redressed. And when the same gen.
tleman offered the statement that the lan>
gusge was very carefully drawn to prevent
it from being efficient, what did Mr..
Gest say? And what did Mr.. Gest say
when his same gentleman argued that the
bill was mere make-shift, and that il
held out a promise to the claimants I'M
der it, which in the end would prove to
be delusion and snare and which
would never result in any actual benefit;
and when MIR. Chapman offered a remedy
that would he highly effective to the
workmen, did Mr.. Gest say word one
way or the other? When Mr.. Chapman
said that the men might live for century
and not one dollar would they receive
under that bill, what was said by our reps
resentative? And this is the feast 10
which We are inviting these workmen.
This is the balm we are offering to their
wounds. This is the remedy which we
provide for their grievance. said the
Michigan representative, concluding that
the bill was "a good enough Morgan IN
til after election, but that it meant MOTH
ing; it will do nothing and in his iudg-
ment it was never meant TO do anything.
And during all this time, during all
this fervent elOquence when the question
was gone into infinitely. and the objec-
tionable features of the bill were dwelt
upon, Mr.. Gest, if he was present in the
house at all, sat there like the sphinx.
perhaps twidding his thumbs, and
offering not word. This is the man
who it was supposed by a few would
tear passion to tstters if ever he got on
the floor of the house in the interest of
the wOrkingmsn. This is the man who
was eager for the fray, and who shifted
the battle afar-the modern swaehbuckler
who glOried in opposing force, and who
only needed the opportunity to subdue
his enemies. There he sat weak and ST.
lent, and like Bob Acres, his courage
"oozine out of his fingers ends" He
did not even get as far as "Mr Speaker"
he did not make the attempt.
The prowess of Mr.. Gest viii be found
in his eloquent silence
The New Melon.