Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-24
Semi-Annual Meet of the
Civic Federation.
DIVISION OF SENTIMENT
Intimation of Political En-.
dOrSements.
Answer Comes That Such is
Not the Case.

The semi-annual session of the
Rock Island Civic Federation was
held last night at the Young Mems
Christian association building. But
a dozen were present. the Indictment
weather being responsible for the
light attendance, so it was explained.
Objection was made, however, by
some that they had not been in
formed that . meeting was to be
held. This they did not quite un-
derstand. Prof. A. NJ. Williamson
acted as chairman and Orlando Peter
son secretary in the absence of the
permanent officers.
In the course OF q discussion Will.
liam jackson made the assertion
that members of the federation in
the Seventh ward, so he understood,
had endorsed certain candidates for
municipal offices. This was en-.
phatically denied by Prof. Peterson,
who afterward presented q petition
asking that the Seventh ward be al.
Lived the use of the federation fees
OF the members from that territory
for 1897 for the purpose of deirayiug
part of the expense incurred by the
renting and furnishing of q meeting
place up there. Nc. Jackson OBJ
jected to this. stating that the feder-
alton was central body and not Q
wing organization. He made this
remark, he said. because he had
been told the Seventh ward MEM
bers were taking acton which be-
longed solely to the central body,
and he did not consider it good pol
icy to take the funds of a society to
support a wing over which il had no
control. Prof. Peterson answered
that the Seventh ward had not a.
yet taken any official action with
reference to any political candidate,
and any one who said it had was q
slanderer. He stated that the Sew
enth ward members had been meet
ing for sometime past, however, ed
ucating themselves on political and
moral questions SO far as they per.
tanned to local affairs; that thev
were as loyal to the cause as any
wing in town; but that politicians
who attend their meetings hurry
down town and spread false reports
as to what is being done.
l.. Z. West endorsed the Seventh
ward idea. and was in favor of grant.
ing the petition, but believed everv
other ward should be granted . SINH
lar privilege.
"As it now stands" continued Mr..
West. 1.-THE civic federation is q dis
grace! The Seventh ward will do
more in one year than the federation
will do in thousand.
Prof. Peterson's petition was re.
ferred to the central council with
power to act.
An EducasSenal Body.
Rev. c. E. Taylor said that the
CIVIC federation was not organized
as political machine, but for edu-
cational purposes, to imbibe a moral
spirit in local affairs. The fedora
tioD movement in Rock Island has
laid down upon itself, Mr.. TAYLOR
stated, on account Of misapprehen-
sion as to its principles. Il was not
formed to. down the liquor traffic:
nor to injure any business or indi.
viduai. But people who ignored Che
laws should be taught to respect
them. Mr.. Taylor suggested a pub
lie mass meeting at which the OBJ
Jects and aims could be thoroughly
laid before the people by some able |
orator.
William Jackson said il the move.
ment was sustained and carried
along as it was started it would have
been success, but he held, when a |
church will prosecute one Of its mem.
bers because he happens to belong to |
the federation, things are coming to
a pretty pass. The federation can.
not be sustained unless the people
support it. Mr.. Jackson said he had
reached the conclusion that such
q body cannot exist outside of a me.
tropolis. There the identity Of ita
me mbers is practically lost sight |
OF. while here everyone knows YOU.
IL you are in business you are bow.
cotted. Mr.. jackson said he couid
tell some interesting facts about men
who stand up in church ON SUNDAY
and pray how glad they are sin
less and that they are washed in the
blood OF the lamb. and who the fol.
lowing day denouncs . man on the
street because he belongs to the civic
federation, but for the presence Of
newspaper reporters.
=. NJ. Wilcox said the organiz alton
was certainly not doing snv FOOD.
4 man in his ward had been en-.
iorsed for the may orally, and he had
Just been told BY . Seventh ward
ecerationist that the said man wa =
lrunkard.
Prof. Peterson did not coincide
With other members that the federa.
ion Was sinking: he believed It hsc /
'ardly started yet.
L. T. West said the frat meetino
i the Central Presbytsrsan church
!as fatal mistake-the ore.nix.-
ion "died abornia. I" Instead Of being
law and order meeting. IL fell into
ne nands Of csAnks. and . progrsnI
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