Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-03-18
THE PROCEEDINGS.
The Calling to Order the Last Political
Act OF willy Bill.

Act OF willy Bill.
Chairman McConochie called the
convention to order promptly on the
dot at 7:30. There had been a ner-
vousness manifest in the ex-mayor's
demeanor throughout the evening.
His was the air of one who had an in
evitable ordeal before him. and like
the man who was going to be hung,
was anxious to have it over with. as
long as it could not be helped. The
execution came in the season and the
Willy William met his political doom
with calm resignation. He was
quietly, but surely put out of
the business-turned down as grace
fully as it is possible to do it.
Upon the chairman's suggestion
that the first duty was the nominal
ton OF a chairman, Maj. j. NJ.
Beardsley proposed Z. f. Parmenter
for temporary presiding officer. He
was duly elected. MIR. Parmen-
ter Haunted in the conventions
face the fact that he had a
right to make speech if he chose.
but owing to the business before the
convention he would waive the privi-
lege. John Rinck was suggested by
j. j. Ingram as temporary secretary
and duly elected. Mr.. Kinck read
the call and the convention was ready
for business. Thereupon Maj.
Beard>ley moved that the temporary
organization be made permanent.
This carried, and then the major had
another motion. 1t was that the
chairmen of the different ward dele
cations submit their lists to the Sec
rotary. that he might read them.
This idea, too, like the mayors two
previous ones, met with the conven-
TONS favor. The credentials were
submitted and read, showing but a
few proxies and substitutes for those
named in the ward caucuses. Chair
man Collins, however, who was de-
feated in the Fourth ward caucus be-
came delegate through the courte-
sv of j. II. Liedtke, from the
Fourth, and he was very much
in it. in fact he usurped the
rights of the delepation chairman.
Mr.. jackson, and did most of
the talking; briefly he run things.
Maj. Beardsley was again on his feet
with a motion that each ward cast
the full vote of the delegation. Prof.
Foss offered a substitute that the
delegation be authorized to fill any
vacancies that might occur. Nomi-
nations for mayor were now declared
in order. and j. d. Warnock's motion
to proceed with an informal ballot
was adopted. A wise idea struck j.
j. Ingram that nominating speeches
be dispensed with. The convention
approved OF the suggestion. The
chair was authorized to appoint
three tellers and he named John Kol-
loft. j. j. Ingram and c. W. Foss.
TIE Fight for Head OF the Ticket.
An informal ballot for MAYOR with
out nominations was ordered, and it
developed candidates and strength
as follows: b. F. Knox, "a; Henry
Carse, y; William McConochie. 10;
f. II. Schroeder. 8; William Ken
nedy. IS. Then followed 16 formal
ballots before the decisive vote that
carried the honors to the Fifth ward
candidate. In the meantime there
was all kinds of voting. McCono-
chie's strength gradually diminished
from the first. and in the 18th ballot
the one who had stood by him went
outside the field and cast one for
Donaldson. but then came back into
the list before the convention, but
McConOchie was no more. The
strength of the other candidates
wavered, but the sending of two
votes to Schroeder in the 14th ballot
did the business, the Third ward
taking the bait and going over to
Knox with the understanding that
the favor was TO come back when the
time came to name city clerk can
didate-5ut the favor came not. as
after events testified. Other dele
gates made a break, the Fifth ward