Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-09
ABSURD ASSUMPTION.

NOW the Morning Paper Attempts 10
Misrepresent It's Past Record and
Some Very Modest ISN'T Ridiculous
Claims it Makes.
II there is anything the Union seems to
admire 1t is a prevaricator. 1t would like
TO be one itself had it the sagacity and
cunning TO be one without being caught.
But 1t has the will nevertheless and II II
has not the way it ought not to be
blamed Fabrication and misrepresenta>
ton are the two points upon which it re-
lies chiefly for success. and 1t is due to
this fact no doubt that it finds itself in
its present exceedingly unenyiable posi-
ton. But this morning it displays its
falsity to such an extent that IL is ridicn-
lous-absolutely ridiculous. 1t assumes
that il did not fight the Holmes company
coming into Rock Island. but simply OPP
posed the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the poor old
Union line and the building OF the bridge
line to Davenport in connection with the
other branches OF the Holmes system,
and now comes the most laugh provok-
ing part-that Il did secure the running
OF bridge cars into the heart of Rock ISL
and separate from the syndicate's other
service and the scheme of running cars
direct from Moline over the bridge to
Davenport, TO the prejudice OF Rock ISL
and's business interests. had to be aban~
doned." Think of that. Your smile
is quite excusable. Such brazen
assertion would make anyone laugh
clear down to the toes OF his boots who
has any recollection Of the Unions atti
tude less than year and a half ago-how
It FIRST ridiculed the idea of the Holmes
people buying any of the lines in the three
cities; how il protested first against the
sale of the Moline & Rock Island line.
against the sale of the Union line, and
then how II rsnted and yelped and kicked
against the council granting any ordi
nance giving right to the bridge by
any route. How for the purpose of mis-
leading the council it copied from the
Davenport Democrat Gazette articles
written for that express purpose, and ad
dressed them to the members Of the coun-
Gil individually; how it protested on the
ground that the tracks on the bridges
and island would interfere with the
pleasure driving OF those having fine car
riages; how IL belittled and Inundated
our merchants by claiming that with the
increased facilities for crossing the
river, they could not compete with
DavenpOrt's business men. and how
after il was all over. and painting
and in despair. il accused the council
OF passing an ordinance-the very ordi-
nance it now says it favored-which it
said. "should not have received single
vote in the council" Does not the Union
remember that last quoted remark II it
does not the ARGUS will not only direct it
as TO where it can be found. but ii will
quote for the benefit OF the fading mem I.
DRY OF the morning paper, and from 1t.
other utterances equslly as inconsistent
with its present declarations.
To the council alone is due the credit
Of any good judgment that may have
been used in the mapping out OF the
route into this city from the bridge. The
thought OF allowing right of way up
Twenty-fourth street to Moline was not
considered. Mr.. Holmes asked il, and
"a soon as the committee Of the council
told him it would not be proper to grant
II. he said, CHOOSE your own route and
| shall be satisfied" The ARGUS would
then, as It has since, when the Electric
company asked (which, by the way.
has the Unions support in so asking
have protested emphsticslly againt al,
lowing any railway rights on Twenty
fourth street between Moline aud Second
avenues
Any talk that the Union may indulge
IN "a to any influence It had at the time
the bridge road was built, is mere bun
come"