Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-11-03
VOTES OF THE STUDENTS.
The Re cent Decision of the Supreme
Court in the Matter.
Nothing settled ms Regards the Risht
20 yote-The Mode OF Procedure
Only Anrcted-Contemptibie Lying
orshe Organ to Gain Little syinpa'
thy.

For some wears past there has been
considerable uncertainty as to the right
to vote In Rock Island of the students at
tending Ausustana College 1t was
desirable that the question should be set
Tied. After the msyoralty contest be-
tween Haas and McConochie. the chair
man of the democratic city committee,
James Csysnaugh. instituted proceed
ings In the county court for the purpose
OF having the question settled. The at
torneys In the case were Judge Wilkinson
and WIN. McEuiry. When the matter
come up before Judge Adams q motion to
qussh the writ was entered by opposing
counsel on the ground that the county
court had no jurisdiction, and that the
case should have been brought in the pro-
bate court. As is known. Judge Adams
presdes in both courts. Upon argument
OF the motion tue complainant was rom
suited. without prejudice, and bis coun-
sci contended tha, the Judge should
thereupon transfer the case from the
docket OF the county court to thst of the
probate court so that i, might then be
tried upon its merits. This the Judge
held that he had no power to do and to
test the validity of this decision the mat
ter was appealed to the supreme court,
which tribunal has decided that the posi-
ton taken by Judge Adams was correct
that be himself could not transfer the
case from one court to the other, that
being solely the right of the comnlsinsnt.
The decision 10 no way affec ted the
issue-whether the college students we're
legally qualified voters or not The
whole question remains where it formerly
stood. No rights have been touched one
way or another.
In its last two issues the Union has
been making itself ridiculous as usual
concerning this matter. 1t Is not only
ridiculous, but its untairness, ignorance
and general stupidity exceed all former
displays OF that character. II says the
case was an outrage; that the students
were falsely charged with illegal votiug;
that they were prevented from going
away on vacation or elsewhere and tina.
many of them bad to come back at great
expense and Inconvenience. OF all this
OF course there Is not one word of truth
The Union works itself INTO a sicklv,
maudlin sentiment, backed by plentiful
supply of lies Of its own making. and all
for the purpose Of currying favor with
the students Of the college. The nau>
seous gush would have been bad enough
had II told the truth concerning the facts.
but the truth was not to be expected
from that source. And when with its
lying stupidity it calls the matter an out
rage it thereby casts upon Judge Wilkiu-
son and his associate the severest odium
II cannot say that their part in the trans
action would be within the province of an
attorney, for reputable attorneys do not
appear as advocates for an outrage.
1t may be their duty to defend
a man charged with murder even when
the case seems as clear as the noon-dav
sun, because the best of human iudgme Mt
Is liable to err, and because the law
grants bim the right of defence By coun-
sci, but attorneys of character do not
lend their services to sustain an outrage,
and Judge WIlkinson's character or Nc
EDiry's character cannot be injured by
anything the Union may say against them.
The Union says the matter arose because
the students were republicans. Surely
Judge Wilkinson, counsel in the case, is
~ strong republican as any of the stu
dents or even the judges accuser.
The students asked after service of the
summons II they would be obliged to
came back from their homes or vacation
10 attend to the matter and they were
told that they would not. None of them
came back; none of them was put to any
expense in the matter and none of them
Injured except TO be lied about by the
Union. They must have been as anxious
10 have the question settled as anyone
else, so that their votes could be accepted
without the least suspicion attached as to
their legality. But as it is nothing is set,
lied. The case has not been tried A
point OF legal procedure was referred TO
the supreme court and that point only
has been settled.
Listen to this bit of brazen. silly, sick :
iy, impudent lying from the demented
sheet when it says "the republican party
stood By the Augustana college students
In the hight for their rights and won
it for them"
Could begging. fawning putridity, 90
further than that2