Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-03-26
MALlGNING ITSELF.
The Unions Partissu Attack on Supervi-
sor Sehoonmaker

pudiate and give the lie to its own
utterances with reference to the dis
position OF the county bonds in con-
nection with which so much credit
has been given to Supervis' r Schoon-
maker, of the bond committee of the
board of supervisors. 1t will be re-
membered that in its issue of March
2. following the sale of the issue to
n. W. Harris Il Co., it lauded >chOon-
maker to the skies, even going so far
as to estimate him as a fit man for
secretary of the treasury of the
United States. In fact, in its COM
ments in i,s issue OF March 2 it spoke
voluntarily Of the favorable COM
ment that had been excited in
financial circles over what it said was
the advantageous sale of Rock ISL
and county bonds, and inquiries have
been freely made as to how it was ac-
com, lished and who is to be credited
with suggesting The plan which wa
so successful and placed our county
so high on the plane of credit. The
charm IN of the bond committee of
the board of supervisors is Martin
Schoonmaker. banker of REYNOLDS
VINO gained his knowledge of the laws
and methods of finance from the late
Judge Cornelius Lynde, whose repu-
tatiOu as master in this field stands
second to no man in the northwest"
And after going into detail it wound
up its article which was trimming
over with compliments well deserved,
and it must be said, well bestowed
upon Chairman Schoonmaker, BY
saving:
MIR. Schoonmaker has not only
done good thing for the county,
but has made the financial world
realize that high ability in finance is
by no means confined to the larger
cities of the country"
Behold the Change.
But behold the change! Now
cometh the same publication under
today's date with an article on
Faulty Financiering," and in which
it attacks the entire transaction, and
all on the narrow theory that the
bonds are not yet drawing interest.
1t has spoken, it will be rcmem bered.
on the opportune sale on a market
favorable to the county, but it now
takes up the fact that the board is
to meet t. loan the money and
blames Mr.. Schoonmaker because the
money is not already placed and
drawing interest. In other words,
he should have had it drawing inter
est as soon as he got it. The sim
pie facts are that the money is in the
hands OF the county treasurer as
the custodian of the county funds.
and neither he nor Gr. SchoOnmaker
nor anyone else can loan it or do any,
thing else with it until the county
through it's represen tatives, the
supervisors, 50 authorizes. The board
is to meet for that purpose. Per-
haps-strange as it may scientific
Union makes the best explanation of
the situation in the article of today.
which is intended to be an attack on
Mr.. Schoonmaker. when it says: He,
the county treasurer) can not under
the law, pay out any money except
under the orders of the board of
supervisors, or in cases provided for
by statue. II he loaned this money
out on his own responsibility. he or
his bondsmen would be held liable
for its return. and he does not care
to assume the responsibility. Ii the
board orders him to make certain
disposition of the funds, and he car
ries out the instruction, he is abb
solved from all responsibility in the
transaction. The board has accord
ingly been called together to take
some action for placing the court
house funds where they will draw in
terest."
And this is the ground on which
the Union seeks this morning to be-
little supervisor whose ability and
whose Judgment it has heretofore,
and at the proper time freely and un-
reservedly praised The partisan
motive of the Union is too apparent
to admit of more comment Super
visor Schoonmaker has been nomi-
mated for reelection since its previ-
Gus comments on the bond issue. and
it now shows how far from any sense
of fairness and cons stency VI truth
and justice it can travel to do wrong
to a man of ackno wledged worth who
may be on an opposing ticket.
And in the meantime it is shutting
its eyes to the conduct of republican
members of the board whose I'M
heard-of tactics have caused public
dissatisfaction and Indignation and
who have paid no attention to the
taxpayers of the county or their
wishes. but have gone steadily ahead
in the face of protests and in utter
disregard of all in doing as it pleased
their own sweet will.
Had Supervisor Schoonmaker been
sure that Steve Collins approved of