Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-11-23
ILLINOIS POLITICS,
The Field Of the Sucker State
Viewed by a Correspondent
The Bright Outlook Fer the l,emo-
cracy In 0s-Other Matters-ip.
eidenis and Nouas-A
PoetcaI Tramp.

o"u no'e nau the opportunity to sound
the nee corner and grocery store poll
ticlans on their views of the coming cam,
paign The results of my investigations
IN TINS line are anything but flattering to
the republican party, and if Illinois fails
10 sdorn the democratic column. after
the battle of 90. it will not be the fault of
the farmers in this section The repubu-
can who solaoes his soul with the idea
that the farmer landslide of a wear 500
has been recovered is hugging a ehasily
oeiusion. There is one and only one
candidate who could bring back into the
republican fold portion of the disaffec.
tea ones, and that is Blaine, and il ia
pretty generally conceded by the tinplste
wiseacres that he will again forbid the
use OF his name at the convention. The
horny handed tiller of the soil is no
longer the conservative element of the
country and reference to the c1nserva-
tive administration of President Harrison
is greeted with discontinued grunt.
Blaine with his reciprocity scheme in
which the farmers recognize democratic
low tariff. sugar coated TO delude monop.
olIsts, might bring bsck some of the old
time enthusiasm. The farmers utterly
refuse TO be reconciled TO the Mckinley
bill, and the Australian ballot system has
cut OF the purchase of foaters, and
makes Indiana surely democratic and
Illinois as surely doubtful.
The farmer dissffection is not confined
to national issues. They heve their
knives out and ready whetted to slaugh~
ter Joe Fifer, should be be the nominee
for governor. They have neither forgot
ten or forgiven Private Joes' action in
the matter of the railroad and warehouse
board. The governor sighted and ig-
noreG the grsnsers in appointing Tanner
against the expressed wishes of the
farmers and they have not forgotten it.
Fifer and Tanner have fallen out
and it is said the latter sspires to the
treasurership. The farmers never did
like John R, and will "swot" his head
wherever he pokes it up. Farmer, disaf-
lection is not tie only obstacle that con-
fronts the republicans in the coming cam
paign. The leaders of the party sre all
split up into factions and are at war
among themselves. The Hank Evans
clique have already made up their state
for The state no nlnees. and will endeavor
TO force it upon the convention, in spite
of farmer protests. II is rumored that
Evans wants to be treasurer himself, and
with Tanner as the next most probable
car didate the convention will probably
| ALLEVIATE the few remaining farmer adj
herents of the party.
During the recent convention of the
Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
desvor in this city, visiting divine told
me good story bearing on politics. |
have already related it in letter to an
other paper, but it has not as yet had time
to start on the rounds and will be new to
ARGUS readers. The minister in ques-
ton wss called. during the late campaign
in Ohio, to administer consolation TO a
dying democrat Among other things he
read the incident of SIMPSONS Staying
thousands of Philistines with the jaw
bone of an ass. Daring the reading the
sick man remained in an apparently I'M
conscious condition, but at the close of
the story suddenly asked:
who told that story?'
at is from The bible solemnly re-
sponded the preacher.
"Well, hang me if didn't think it was
an extract from one of Bill McKirley's
tariff speeches" and so saying, the demo-
crst turned his face TO the wall and gave
up the ghost.
ID dJ DltSCal IL plOSICSo III lAAS
circuit court case that will interest the
entire state. About year ago Chicago
was much wrought up over a report that
citizens of that burg were eating the meat
of cattle affected with lumpy jaw or &C.
tinomy COSTS. There was a lively news
paper discussion over the matter, and
war of words between the Chicago meat
inspectors and the state board of live
A eho ha,r, ,~fY ha
discussion the whisky trust shipped from
Peoria to Chicago 1875 fat cattle. Upon
their arrival in 1icsgo the meat iuspec-
tors culled out 10 bead as afflicted with
lumpy jaw and permitted The
board of live stock com missinners stepped
in, condemned the entire consignment and
Gent them to the refuse tank. The pres
ent suit is brought by The whiskey trust
to recover damages from the state veter-
marian and live stock commissioners for
the 1875 cattle de destroyed. The town is
swarming with both theoretical and prac
tical witnesses. and the trust will en-
deavor to show that lumpy jaw is not an
infectious or con lagious disease. and that
the meat of cattle affected with the disease
is fit for human food with the exception
of the head. They will endeavor to
estab ish the fact that the disease is pure
ly local and not systemic.
From diseased meat to diseased brains
may be but ste D and reminds me OF an
other incident Of the past week. An
idiotic but harmless tramp was given
lodgings at the police station the other
night. and before he was consigned to
bed the desk sergeant searched him and
found among 9th er things roll OF man
uscript poetry evidently home made. The
sergeant permitted me to copy the verses
which, though outrsging all common
sense and coherency. have all the Jingle
of Gilbert g. Sullivan comic opera The
crack Drained poet starts out by address,
ing his best girl ia the following style:
ssTwInkle. twinkle, little girl,
How thy nose : out of curl.
Up above thy chin so h'gh,
Like a lamp post in the sky.