Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-16
TICKET WILL WIN.
The Position of Democracy and
the Argus.
CORRESPONDENT ANSWERED.

moss Of the ssms-The Party Above
All Else.
Rock ISLAND. ILL.,, July 15.-Edi-
ltor Of The ARGUS: Will The ARGUS
state for the benefit of a number of
democrats whether it has Withdrawn
its support Of the party ticket. The
fact that the ticket has not appeared
in the paper for a number of days
has occasioued considerable discus
sion. and despite the fact that such a
course would not be consistent with
the disposition of the paper at the
time of the nominations, there has
been an inclination to create the i'm
preston that the paper has gone
back on the party. Is this true?
Please answer once and for all.
OLD LINE DEMOCRAT.
The ARGUS regrets that any DEM
ocrat should feel disposed to doubt
its position, bit knowing as it does
the author of the above and respect
ing him, it does not doubt his mo-
tives, and hence it gives plain
statement of is position, which it
might not otherwise feel called upon
to do, and it hopes the result will be,
as ''Old Line Democrat" asks-an
answer once and for all.
An Unnecessary Practice.
In the first place the fact that the
democratic ticket has not appeared
in THE ARGUS columns for a day or
two does not indicate a purpose to
bolt it or to drop it. AS a matter of
fact the majority of papers in Hi
nois. particularly since the adoption
of the Australian ballot system
which requires the publication of
both tickets at the proper time by
representative party papers, have
abandoned the practice entirely of
adjoining the head OF their editorial
columns with the ticket to which they
are committed. Many other jour
nails have made practice in times
past of giving space to the ticket at
certain intervals. The ARGUS
knows of no law implied or other
wise. nor does it construe it as a
test Of party fealty or obligation to
publish the ticket at all if it does not
feel SO disposed. The presentation
Of certain candidates for certain
Offices is compliment to those of.
ficers, and the politician who imag-
ines that paper is bound by any
possible obligation to keep his name
continually before the public has a
very small conception Of newspa
per's duty.
In the second place the unpreju
diced mind Of average intelligence
should have been satisfied with TIL
Argus headings OF its telegraphit
reports OF the Chicago convention
that it had committed itself. "Bryar
Bears Our Banner" and Democracy
Loves Shining Example" explained
the policy of the paper as regards thu
ticket. These expressions were veri
fled 1T the same time and the day fol
lowing by the publication of the dem
ocratic ticket complete. That wa
sufficient. 1t should have been suf
ficient for those who care for TIL
ARGUS opinion. 1t was sufficient fol
The ARGUS at any rate.
In the third place, even were TIL
ARGUS disinclined to publish thu
democratic national ticket, is there
any rule OF consistency that would
have justified the belief that it woul,
have turned its back on the state
Legislative and county tickets. in th'
success of every one OF which
it lis especially interested. l
may be said in this connection
without reference to THE ARGUS es
teemed correspondent of today, tina
it has been q source of amusemen
during the past few days to observ,
the manner in which certain busy
bodies in the democratic party WIFI
could not get an oppor
tunity to be recognized il
any of the conventions OF tn
party this spring, and WIFI
would accept the slightest recogni
tion in ward caucus as an unaccus
toned distinction, have been ex
pressing themselves on THE ARGU
and IT'S attitude toward candidates
THE ARGUS has never been in
iluenced by the nincompoops Q
the party. 1t has no respect 70
their preferences or sentiment
and cares about as much TO
their good will as their hostility
There are these unrecogDized part
sans in every community and il
every party. They constitute a OILS
element, but they do not cut niue
of figure when it comes to part
work or party influence. The pei
petual sorehead who only shows u
when there is a fight on. and whei
4 he imagines there is an opportunit
D Ito turn somebody down." and in
variably goes back to his hole disal
pointed, does not bother The ARGU:
He is regarded as periodical pes'
and, as in all things VIC must hav
the bad along with the good. he
treated as such.
Now ~ to the Ticket.
Finally in answer to ''Old Lin
Democrat" THE Argus respectful
ANNOUNCES that it proposes to stan
upon its past record-tbat of allt
glance to the democratic party. Th
ticket published already Will be put