Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-16
DOWN in THE FIRST.
Two Candidates Nominated for
Aldermanic Vacancy.
ONE OF THEM POLITELY DECLINES.

Henry Webbing, Democratic Choice and
sehuert the Candidate Of the "Reform"
Primary, Refuses to Accept-"An Old
Fashioned C.ucus'' Proposed.
The democrats held their caucus
in the First ward last evening and
nominated for alderman Henry
Webbing, young representative
man, always faithful to his party.
1t was undou btedly the largest at
tended ward meeting ever held bv
the democrats of the First ward who,
being successful in sending a repre-
sentative to the council at the recent
election, have received an inspiration
of encouragement which they have
reason to feel will be instrumental
in leading them on to victory now.
Committeeman Thomas Byrnes called
the meeting to order, and Robert Beck
was made chairman, a ballot decid-
ing upon him over the second nomi-
nee, Charles Strupp. Thomas Byrnes
acted as secretary. The names of
Henry Webbing, Martin Weinberger
and Robert Beck were presented for
alderman, and upon the declination
of the latter two, Mr.. Wehling was
made the unanimous choice of the
meeting.
Republican Primary Election.
The republicans nominated their
aldermanic candidate in the First
in accordance with the privilege del
egated by the state laws known as
the primary election. The polls
we're open from l till Z o'clock, f. H.
Bowman. f. B. McKown, Alfred
Coyne and j. ID. Warnock serving as
judges. The number of votes cast
was 140. William Sebnert receiving
120. and George W. Reddig 20.
This nominated Mr.. Sehnert by a
majority of 100.
The Republican Idea.
The outcome of the republican
primary election" as the party is
pleased to call it, is the selection of
a man who will not serve, thereby
demonstrating the folly and imprac-
tibilitv of the Collins scheme. The
proceedings of the day are in conse-
quence for naught, and if the party
is sincere in it's purpose to secure an
honest caucus it must again
proceed in the same manner to
select candidate who will
serve, although we believe the
Union suggests ian old-fashioned"
caucus as the more practicable.
MIR. Sehnert, the nominee, had previ-
ously and positively declined to be a
candidate, yet he was nominated and
the papers SO indicating have been
filed. The republicans must now
proceed again to fill the vacancy pro-
vided for under the law in cases of
resignation or other unavoidable in
tervention. The caucus of yesterday
was the first conducted under the new
order of things provided for by the
last republican citv-township con-
vention, and while it may have been
without expense, as a matter of
course, where it becomes a regular
thing, party representatives no mat
ter how enthusiastic and in earnest
they are, will not care to serve as
judges and clerks gratuitously
merely for the glory of it, and then
who will paw for the URINARY cleo
tion?" Yesterdays experience is
sufficient to show that the evening
caucus when properly conducted
when all are free to express them
selves, when there is no danger of
unsolicited and undesired honor be-
ing thrust upon someone. is the more
practical.
1t seems. though, that even with
this extreme precaution as dictated
by Chairman Collins to the city
township convention for adoption
and likewise to the caucuses preced-
ing it. the results were not altogeth-
er satisfactory, as the Union of this
morning speaks of republicans in the
ward becoming assistant demo-