Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-01
WHICH rs WHICH,
If Schneider's Caucus is legs
What of the Others?
ALL CANNOT BE REGULAR.

II the Fifth Ward Primary Closed ON Time
the Other Six Wards We're Out of Order
In Keeping Open Until s-A Sorry Politt-
cal Mess.
The perplexing question which has
arisen in the Fifth ward over nom
conformity with the provisions of the
primary election laws of the state
under which in accordance with the
decree of the republican city-town-
ship committee the repu blican eau
cuses were held this year, is likely to
extend now to every ward in the
city. In MIR. Schneider's behalf the
Union holds that the closing OF the
polls at Z, when they should, under
the official notice, have been kept
open until ., was a blunder on the
part of the judges, for which they
alone were responsible, and it was
made unwillingly and that ..neither
Mr.. Schneider nor the republicans of
the ward paid any attention to the
matter until after o'clock that
night, and then it was too late to do
anything" The Union then goes on
to expound the law, holding that
the error on the part of the
Judges of election cannot work any
disfranchisemtnt of the citizens who
have voted. IL would be a queer
principle of law which the Union re-
cites that would work to the advan-
tage Of those who had voted and to
the disfranchisement of those who
were deprived of their votes because
the polls were closed before the speci-
fled time. Indeed, the republicans
have held their object in availing
themselves of the provisions of the
primary election law to be to prevent
snap caucuses; and all such irregu-
larities as deprive the party of ex-
preston by calling and closing them
before time, rushing them through in
quick order. etc. If the general
principle at stake is fair play under
the provisions of the law, then the
intent Of the law has not been full
filed. In fact, the very opposite is
true, as the caucus closed before all
those entitled to vote had opportuni-
~ to ballot.
Tn tho other Han0.
On the other hand it is contcnded
by some republicans that the Fifth
ward caucus closed at Z because the
law specifics that hour, holding that
the primaries shall be held for no
less time than from 1 to Z, although
the committee having the matter in
charge-the republican city-;owu-
: n ~ mi in Exy
the timo- and place. If this view is
accepted that the polls closed on the
hour set by law, then the official call
issued by the committee under the
law is illegal, and SO is every one of
the other six caucuses held that day,
all OF which kept open until 6, and
so not only the entire aldermauic
ticket, with the exception Of Schnei-
der, is unlawful, but the city-town-
ship convention nominations are
likewise so. as the delegates to that
convention were selected ut caucuses
which did not conform to the law
they were conducted under.
So it is very apparent that one or
the other is illegal. If to save
Schneider the Fifth ward caucus is to
be declared proper, the other six re-
publican aldermanic nominees are to
be placed in jeopardy, it is the re-
publicans for it.
The Union in conclusion of its ar.
gument this morning maintains that
il the primary nominating Schneider
is imperative. it "will simply cause
Mr.. Schneider to be nominated
afresh by the city-township commit
tee as the ballot law prescribes.
This would be all very good had the
city-townsbip convention in con-
formity with the law delegated the
right to the city committee to fill
vacancies, but it SO happened that it
failed to do so at the recent conven-
ton.