Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-02
HIS CERTIFICATE.
Mckeever's Unwarranted As.
sertions Confronted.
WHERE THE DIsaoHoR LIES.

Comfy Sup0r1nt0n0ont 1otonou u Re-
Spouse to Inquiry Sets Matters IN Their
True Light-A Manly Statement which
10 Nevertheless Made with Some Rsluc-
lance.
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, Nov. 1.-Editor
ARGUS: The following Is q sample
of letters which 1 have been receiving
from various parts of the county:
C. B. Marshall, Rock Island, III MY Dear
sir-The story is being circulated that Jon ut one
time gave e. B. McKeever . FIRST grade ceria.
cite. and then tried to take 1t away from him.
Can you explain it:
This story emanated from Mr.. Nc
Keever Immediately after the repub-
lican convention, and the explana-
ton which follows will indicate the
reason for such q story.
Mr.. McKeever has in his possess
sion first grade certificate issued BY
me and bearing date of August, 1898.
The circumstances under which it
was issued are as follows: At the
institute OF 1898, ! announced that ]
would renew the certificates of the
teachers who attended the institute.
Shortly afterward Mr.. McKeever
came into my Office, and asked me if
| would renew his certificate. l was
sitting at my desk writing certif-
Gates at the time. l told him that
would renew his certificate-one that
he had got from my predecessor
and either asked for it. or held out
my hand to receive it, when he in
formed me that he didn't have il
with him, or that he had mislaid it.
/ said it did not make any differ
ence, could write new one, and
handed him a first grade blank with
the query: ''Havei you done that
work." He replied that he had.
filled out the certificate and gave il
to him. supposing that was renew.
ing a certificate which he held. and
had no intimation that such was moi
the case until just before the repub
licar convention, when an inquiry
was made concerning his qualifica
tions, and an examination of the rec
ords OF this Office showed that he had
never held other than a second grade
certificate. l recalled the circum
stances under which the certificat,
was issued. and stated that it was
mistake which l would rectify by
making my record show that it was
renewal of the second grade ccrtifi
cate which Mr.. McKcever held. ant
that l would notify him of tn,
change. wrote Mr.. Mckeever Il
come to see me, which he did Just /:
few days after the republican con
vention. l told him of the mistak,
which had been made, and called hi
attention to the fact that / could no
renew for him a better certificat,
than he held. also told him tina
if he wished certificate of the frs
grade, he could take the examination
at any time. He gave me no salts
faction whatever, but left my offic'
and Immediately circulated the repor
that had tried to take his certiflcat,
from him.
The Plain Facts.
This is the plain, unvarnishe,
truth of this matter, and while re
greet the necessity of giving to it thi
publicity, yet l cannot longer res
under the imputation of being unfair
to my opponent 1t is neither fail
to myself. nor my friends who hav,
faith in my integrity of purpose, tina
! should do so. There is no reason
able concession that Mr.. McKeeve
might not have asked and received
at my hands, had he met me in fail
and proper spirit. do not wish t,
say by inference, or otherwise, that
Mr.. McKeever is incompetent.
have never made such q statement
but l do say that he has exploited :
certificate which is not his-a certifi
cate which he got through a mistake
las evidence of his qualifications
and that he has sought to put me il
a false light in reference to the same
l have not weighed the political con
sequences of this statement, and per
NIT me to say that ! do not car
what they may be. am not bid
ding for votes. l desire only to re
lieye myself from the charge Of seek
ing to take an undue advantage o