Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-23
The stampede TO AItgeId

Much and desperate as may be the aim
OF the republicans to conceal the fact, the
German Lutherans have gone to Altgeld.
The Chicago Daily News, independent,
views the attitude of the Lutherans as
uncealable. 1t its issue of Thursday last
it says:
The revolt against the republican state
ticket is more general than had been sup
posed. In Chicago only q corporals
guard Of republicans stand by the party
ticket. The stampede first announced in
the columns of the News Record has
came and swept everything before it.
Last evening delegates representing
all Of the German Lutheran churches in
Cook county met at Apollo hall in the
Central Music hall building to pass upon
the report of the school committee. This
report said: I'VE must cast our votes
solidly for the democratic party and its
candidates" Fifty churches were repre-
sented and more than $50 delegates sat in
the meeting. The report passed with
but four dissenting voices, and the OYER
whelming vote was followed By loud and
continued cheering. 1t was an exciting
session. The few who were loyal to
Fifer made a gallant fight but their
voices were drowned in the clsmorous in
dorsement of the democratic state ticket.
The meeting came about in this way:
When the Illinois district of the Missouri
synod OF the German Lutheran church
met in Chicago early this winter it was
decided that in order to secure the repeal
OF the present compulsory education law
the German Lutherans should act as q
body with the party which would agree
In good faith to repeal the act and offer q
satisfactory guaranty to carry out the
promise. A school committee was ap-
pointed to judge between the republican
and democratic parties and make report
to the churches. This committee offered
its report last evening to delegates repre-
senting the Cook county delegations.
The substance of the report has already
been printed in the News Record. 1t will
be circulated among the As 900 membt rs
of the church in the state. Under ordin.
airy circumstances over 30. 900 German
Lutherans vote the republican ticket.
These are the figures of Henry W.
Schaefer.
The report arraigns the record of the
republican party, and says that Fifer two
and that the nomination of Edwards at
that time was declaration for the pres~
ent law, that the republican senate failed
to properly amend the law and that the
party has nominated Gov. Fifer, who
opposed us publicly. and Lieut.. Gov.
Ray. who twice cast his deciding vote
against us." 1t is alleged that the new
promises made by the republicans are die
tated by fear rather than change of heart
The democrats are commended for their
platform declarations in 1890. for nomi>
mating Raab for state superintendent in
1890. for favoring the adoption of amends
ments directed toward removal of the
Objectionable features, for demanding the
unconditional repeal of the law and for
nominating Judge Altgeld, who is called
the champion of right principles"
The report concludes:
In the face of facts above stated, the
question is forced upon us: Which par,
ty deserves to be trusted for the sake OF
our cause? Not the republican party.
after the experience we have had with it,
Can we expect that it will honestly COM
ply with its promise after we know that
it sees no wrong in violating pledgei
1t even declares that it has nothing to re-
greet. its broken promises notwithstsnd.
ing. The democratic party kept its word.
Two years ago 1t championed our cause
and its present declarations are in full
harmony with its past honorable actions.
"The school committee, therefore, car
recommend but one line of action. II
there were any personal advantages oil