Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-18
The June Convention.

The recent meeting OF the demo-
cratic state central committee at
Springfield. at which call was is
sued for a state convention on June
4, to discuss and formulate plat
form on the currency question. is at
tracing national attention. What
ever action the convention takes on
the question will no doubt have an
influence on democratic conventions
subsequently held in other states.
just at present. however, the democ-
racy of Illinois is most vitality inter-
ested, as the result will have a far
reaching effect on the future politics
of the state. Already considerable
acrimony has been injected into the
controversy, not so much over the
main question at issue, as over the
manner in which the convention was
called.
Senator Palmer is very pronounced
in his denunciation of Chairman Him.
richsen, who, he AYERS, resorted to
trickery and is endeavoring 20 turn
the democracy of the state over to
the free silver men. The chairman
of the committee has been equally
caustic in replying to the charges
made by the senator and other prom
inent democrats have dealt in per-
sonalities which is not conducive to
the best of feeling, and may have q
tende lcy to engender much bitter
ness into the contest which is now
fairly begun.
To say the least, it was certainly
unfortunate that the officers of the
state committee in calling the men,
bers together. did not explicitly state
the object of the meeting, the impor-
lance of which would have secured a
full attendance of the regular menu
bers, had it been announced in
advance. The procedure of the
chairman, however, we would pre-
fer to think, was an oversight rather
than preconcerted plan to keep the
committeeman in ignorance of what
was in contemplation, rs is charged
by Senator Palmer.
Be that as it NAV, THE ARGUS
seriously doubts the wisdom of hold
ing state convention this year to
discuss the monetary or any other
question which is to receive consid-
Grafton in the next presidential cam
paign. Neither does it approve of
the statement contained in the call
for the convention that the money
question will be the only issue in
1896. 1t seems foolish to presume
that the protectionists will relin-
quish their fight for the perpetuation
Of MeKinleyism, especially when
their idol is scurrying over the coun-
try with the evident purpose OF
securing the republican nomination
for the presidency. The emascula-
ton of the essential features of the
income tax law by the supreme court,
thereby reducing the anticipated
revenues to be derived from it by at
least so per cent, is also subject of
great importance, not only from
the standpoint of revenue, but also
as a principle of party policy.
One of the most interesting fea-
lures of the impending contest is the
letter of President Cleveland to the
business men of Chicago, wherein he
makes an earnest plea for sound
money, and deprecates the spread
of the silver propaganda. Presiden,
Cleveland is deeply impressed with
the necessity of defeating the free
silver proposition in the Illirois con.
vention, which he is fearful, if il
should prevail, would disrupt tho
party, as such action would un.
doubtedly be followed by Other
states. The presidents letter ha:
been severely criticised by Gov. Alt
geld and Chairman Hinrichsen, and
free silver men generally. but ha:
met with warm favor by the large
business interests OF the country
1t is readily seen. therefore. that thu
Illinois convention will develop int
a meeting of national importanc,
and interest, aud will be in reality +.
campaign of education on the none,
question