Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-25
Morning Paper in Role of De.
structive Bull.
THE WILL But NOT THE WAY.
Seeks to Elevate Carse b,
Maligning Medill.
A Disposition That Comes
With Poor Grace.

The morning paper feeling the
utter hopelessness of an attempt to
discover anything in the administra-
tions of Henry Carse to commend
him to the voters of Rock Island for
reelection 10 the Office to which the
people have twice since he served de-
clined to elevate him again. has pre-
sented the lamentable spectacle of
endesvoring to tear down the good
works OF Mayor Medill's administra.
tion. In short. having no capacity
10 conceive or realize. much less en-
Joy or appreciate the advantages that
nave come from the wise and public
spirited manner in which Mr..
Medill discharged the duties of
the Office the Union has sought to
depreciate what was accomplished !;
to deface the legacy that he left to
the city. In other words having
been by nature and cultivation dis-
metrical]y and obstinately opposed
to every measure Of public improve
ment ever undertaken in the city, it
is not such an amazing spectacle af-
ter all, Observation-Disclosures
caper with which the public is edi-
fed this morning. Nevertheless the
good works Of Mayor Medill are of the
substantial kind that will endure.
As far as Mr.. Medill's admins
tration is concerned, it is but nee.
essary to compare it with others to
show that it was one of great dis
tinction; that it was not a record of
rounding up incompleted work,
and that while he could not
have done what he did without the
councils cooperation. it was new or.
-theless due to the relations he sus-
tanned with the aldermen, and
through his direction of affairs, that
so much was done. In q word, it
was through his administration that
tho city made the stride it did. A
case in point. is the revision of the
city ordinances, which the Union
ailudes to. True, the city attorney
did the work, but he received extra
compensation for it-no more than
he earned. it. is quite true-but it
was the administration that made it
possible to have the work done. So
that apart from the work which had
been left undone by others, the
original work that the city was en-
abled to put through under his
direction and plans stands to his
credit, and the Union cannot detract
from the honor that is his.
Iuoonsistsncy.
The incident of the lunch given
by the aldermen of Rock Island to
the aldermen Of the other two cities
during the consideration of the wide
tire ordinance in 1894. may be given
as an instance of the Unions incon.
sistency. While it would shift from
Mr.. Medill's shoulders the credit for
the good that was done under his
regime. it would attach to him
the responsibility for an occasion
that was entirely the councils. The
lunch was paid for by the unanimous
cor sent Of the council without regard
to republicans or democrats. Mr.
Medill could, if he desired, have wit
nesses to testify that he not only
protested against the bill being Z aid
oy the city. first suggesting that the
aldermen Individually pay the bill,
and when this was not received with
favor producing the money to pay
for it out of his own pocket, but
the aldermen would not consent to
the transaction. The bill was after
ward approved By the fioance COM
mittee. and passed by the council
unanimously. Yet in this connec-
ton the Union would like Mr.. Medill
to he held accountable while for the
more important acts of his admins.
trat;on the responsibility is to be
placed on anybody but him.
The Record the People want.
The record the people are now
waiting for is that Of Mr.. Carse, but
this the Union seems reluctant about
publishing. 1t Is no more than fair
that the incidents of the administra.
tions of the two men be given. aud
that the people be permitted to Judge
as to which they prefer to approve.
Certainly there is no reason why the
voters should elect the morning pa
per to Judge for them. Aud mas
much Is its editor is not inclined to
devote his columns to giving his
readers either . fair statement of
facts. or An intelligent understand
ing of facts, and has somewhat dis
tinguished himself of late in his re.
tort during the civic federation. meet
log he might make deeper impres.
SIGN BY having ''the corner" engage
. street car In which to convey him
about town under escort of the Lincoln
club and band and permit him to