Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-28
AVERY POOR JUDGE
That is What the Union is at
Any Rate.
INDUCES In HAsrY CONCLUSIONS.

Hates RidicnIous and Re klsss Charges
~ to the Aashority for Argus State
msnts-Fhsrs Has Been NO vsolasion of
Professional Ethics.
Unfortunately for the common sense
Of the community and all implied in
the phrase. the Rock Island Union
has a failing Of judging others by
itself. The ARGUS became q victim
Of such an unwarranted and char
acteristic misconception in an article
appearing in the morning paper Of
yesterday. anent the discussion Of re-
publican judicial candidates. And
the statement of facts appearing
Saturday night to which exception is
taken to the Unions purpose to put
forward its pet candidate for every
Office of distinction within the gift of
the republican party in this neck of
the woods-:o the utter disregard of
all other representative men who
may either have ambition for honor
or may be considered By others-is
attributed to someone outside of The
ARGUS office. That the wish that
what is to the Union the most dis
tasteful paragraph may have come
from another, is father to the thought.
is self evident. 1t is intimated that
a member Of the bar has vio-
lated the ethics OF the profess
sion and whose earmarks cannot be
disguised by cold type, etc. 1t is
in this expression that the Union
has jumped at conclusions as usual,
and has judged q contemporary by
its own practices, first in asserting
that anyone contributed what APP
peared as an original article in The
ARGUS. and secondly, because as
said before, the wish that it may
have been 50 is father to the
thought. 1t is very plain that the
accuser has some spite against a
member of the Rock Island county
bar, at whose door it is eager to lay
any charge, even to that of disre-
garding the common decency or un-
written law of his profession, and
against whom its spleen is gratified
in levying charges SO little war
ranted as we're those in yesterdays
issue. That this malicious disposi-
ton springs from the same source
and is prompted by the same motive
that explains its blind, one-iaea de-
votion to an individual may be
asserted as q charitable excuse for
its reckless declarations at the pres
ent time.
The Difference.
This, we believe, is the first in
Stance in THE ARGUS history where
sentiments expressed in its columns
have been attributed to legal infiu-
ence. On the other hand, it has
been q matter of common admission
that law firm has had the direction
of the Unions position, both in the
form of the famous anonymous COM
munication and in original packa yes
which fact it may be again repeated
without improperly. explains it's
haste in misjudging others. A mere
contradiction of the Unions mad
assertion ought to suffice, but realiz.
ing a duty to the bar and every mem.
Der of the bar, The ARGUS desires to
Iemphasize its REPUTATION of the
Unions falsehood by saying that nc
thought, suggestion or expression OF
Iopinion other than the quoted inter.
view-and that did not come from
an attorney-from an outside source
entered into The ARGUS article. and
not . word, syllable or sentence was
written or furnished by anyone no,
Regularly connected with the staff Of
the paper. Can the Union say al
much for the article which appeared
in its columns yesterday morning?
Fact and Dsuis,.
Now as to the charge of falsehood
(which the Union accuses The ARGU:
of printing in saying that it had
dropped Judge Peasants out of con-
, sideration, and had come out for Mr.
/ Gest, that is all q matter how one
takes it. Taking it for granted
thus following into its natural habit
that Judge Peasants would retire
} latter q service upon the bench Of 81
Years" the Union concluding thai
this was long enough, announced
that 1.-THE Hon. w. H. Gest will prob
ably be our county's choice for thit
position" Why Gest particularly
when others had been mentioned
and to whom the Union come
around to make tardy reference
yesterday in speaking incidental!
of Adair Peasants and Judge Luciar
Adams? The simple endeavor Of thu
Union was to force Gest ahead, ant
snub every other candidate, but i
has neither the influence before o.
behind it to make such . boost
Either of the other gentlemen men
toned is preferable not only to tn
other members Of the bar, but to tn
people as o whole; in fact the Union
:.only one" would precipitate a fgh
at the start to which the memorable
ante congressional squabble woui'
not hold candle.
Until the republican party becomes
magnanimous enough to establish
non-partisan Judiciary. such As ha
I for years operated with eminent sat
I Iisfaction to all political parties il
the Iowa district across The river
the people. regardless Of utilization
|otherwise, will insist upon the righ
Ito condemn the EMPLOYMENT Of sucl