Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-04

tempted in this or any other state.
These candidates called it .'love |
feast" and would try to have the |
public believe it was q spontaneous |
Outburst of party enthusiasm, but |
its real object was the division Of the |
spoils in advance to secure the nomi- |
nation of the ring candidates, at the
approaching state convention. Here
tofore candidates and politicians
have been content to carry on such
maniPalatious on the quiet after the
election is over. but the republican
state ring now in process Of forma-
ton. made up Of party barnacles
who have spent the most of their
lives in Office, propose to add this
device to their machine methods.
In the hotel Hobbies, on the streets,
in the different headquarters and in
the "love feast" there was but one
subject thought Of and talked Of
Office. Hundreds of ward healers
and cross roads politicians were
there simply to learn one thing
what was in it for them to favor this
or that candidate. They reflected in
their selfish and mercenary motives
the baseness of their leaders. A pa
tient study Of the mouthings Of this
rabble left the impression with the
most casual observer that such a
thing as principle in a party and
character in its candidates, coupled
with sense Of propriety for the
public exposition Of both. never en-
tered their heads. AS . result of
this ..love feast" every office in the
state is already allotted. Esery COM
missionership, wardenship, superin-
tendency. secretaryship, down to a
janitorship. is already given away.
The whole official roster is fixed,
hermetically sealed, labeled and nailed
up. The local republican leaders
who are not in this gigantic deal and
who may desire to apply for some Of
these positions in the event of their
party's success. will find just this
state Of affairs confronting them
when they come to make their appli-
cations for positions.
This is the humiliating spectacle
that confronts the republicans of
Illinois. This is Tannerism and
Fiferism. Whoever before heard Of
so gigantic and revolving political
deal being so publicly and brazenly
consummated!
This ..love feast" OF last week is a
beautiful companion piece to another
remarkable republican Glove FEAST
held last July, called by this same
Mr.. Tanner. This '.love feast" was
held some three days before the SEN
sational adjournment of the extra
session Of the legislature. In the
closing hours Of the regular session
there were charges of wholesale
boodling, and in the extra session a
resolution was introduced for an in
vestigation. Two votes had been
taken on the resolution and on the
last vote the resolution lacked Just
two votes of carrying. One more
vote meant an investigation. Then,
the question OF revenue revision had
been taken up in the house and the
democrats were solidly massing
themselves in support of amend
ments which had for their object the
proper taxing of corporations. 1t
was a supreme and critical moment.
Two influences wanted an inst4nta-
neous djournment-the influence of
those charged with bribery. and the
influence OF the corporations. Just
at this juncture John r. Tanner, as
chairman of the state republican
committee, called a republican '.love
feast" in Springfield. 1t was Glove
feast" something after the manner
Of the recent ''love feast" The next
day a joint resolution for adjourn
ment was introduced by a republican
member and . republican speaker,
by DISTINGUISHING the members of
the house, declared the resolution
carried. In that way were these two
necessary reforms defeated. Their
defeat was attributed to the influ-
ences OF that republican Glove feast. :"
Hang the results of that republican
"love feast" up as q companion pic
ture to the results of the ..love feast"
Of last week and let the taxpayers
look at them. The murmurs of dis
satisfaction coming from the rank
and file Of the republican party are
notice enough that next November
there are going to be some protests
against these "love feasts' of Mr..
Tanner.