Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-10-02
IT WAS RIGHT ROYAL.
The Welcome to General Attor-
ney johnson Of the
Woodmen.
WITH HONOR TO THE OTHERS.

Received 1t the Boat by Cheering Citizens
ana . Band. and with HIS Associates
Haul,d Through the Streets In . Oar rlsge
From Which the Horse Ave Detached
Omcers Becoming Settled.
The people Of Rock Island paid
tribute to General Attorney j. 6.
johnson. of the Modern Woodmen.
last evening on the occasion of his
return to the city from Fulton, and
the opportunity was seized to place
Head Consul Northcott, Head Clerk
Halves and Associate Counsel jack
son in q position to share in the
honors Of the evening. Mr.. johnson
came down On the little steamer,
Verne Swain, Mr.. Jackson having
run up on the Winona in the after
noon as far as LIE Claire, where he
Joined and returned with him.
When the boat came in there
was Q bonfire burning close
to the river, and Bleuer's band
was playing and people were cheer
ing. A carriage was in waiting for
Mr.. johnson. He was met at the
dock by NJ. M. Sturgeon, vino es-
corted him to the carriage. In the
meantime Messrs. Northcott and
Halves, who had gone to the levee to
welcome Mr.. johnson with the 9TH
ers. we're seized by the informal
committee and hurried into the car
rage, although they protested. Then
Mr.. jackson escaped, but Mr. Stur-
geon was after him, and soon had
him beside the other three in the
conveyance. In an instant the
horses were detached and q rope
which had been previously sttached
to the axle WAS caught by scores OF
willing hands. AL. Timberlake
guarded the tongue. Bleuer's band
led the way, and up Seventeenth
street the procession started, turn
ing into Second avenue where, it was
greeted by the shouts of thousands.
and proceeded to Mr.. Johnson's hotel,
the Rock Island house.
Talk From tho Carriage.
There we're calls for johnson when
the carriage stopped in front of the
hotel. As he arose in the carriage
he was loudly cheered. He acknow.
lodged the compliment with grace.
full bow. He said he owed an
apology to the people Of Rock Island
for not being present to take part in
the demonstration of the night be.
fore. at is wonderful the attach.
ments that spring up between PEG.
pie, after o few years Of association, :"
continued the head attorney. "For
instance, look at Maj. Halves, Lieut..
Gov. Northcots and Gen. Reece.
Although they had only been identi-
fed with Fulton for a few years in
connection with the affairs of the
Woodmen order, it WAS hard for the
people of that town to part with
them. They followed them to the
train. and crowded about them. Il
had the semblance of the departure
Of bridal couple, but don't be
lieve there was any rice thrOwn-bul
I think everything else, from rocks te
tomatoes, was hesped upon them
Mr.. johnson thanked the people
from the botto m of his heart for thu
kind manner in which they received
him. He had not looked for such 6
demonstration. but he would ever re-
member it and the people OF Rocl
Island with the kindest feeling, AND
he hoped that the relations between
the city and Head Clerk Halves. hi.
clerks and all the officers of the Wood
men, and himself, would ever b,
pleasant and cordial.
Lieut.. Gov. Northcost responded t.
calls from the assemblage. He sale
that in the Woodmen controversy b,
had acted for 25O.O00 men. He hat
only done his duty, followed out thu
dictates of the order and kept within
1.-The bounds of law. He said Rocl
Island was now the home of ar
lorder which he believed within the
next few years would have enrolled
in its membership 1000, 900 people
The lieutenant governor said the
Woodmen controversy reminded him
OF q girl with two fellows. But il
his opinion, when the girl chose one
the other ought to step aside. Thai
Is what Fulton should have done
Mr.. Northcott said that now that the
unpleasantness was over, he felt il
no more than justice to say that
whatever riot was caused at Fulton
Thursday was not even countenanced
by the better class of people of tina,
town. 1t was the hoodlums.
William jackson was next called
for. He said he made his speech the
night before. He did not know any
thing now to say. only as to Mr.
johnson, whom he said had been q
ttirelees worker all through the con
troversy. He did not have time to say
his prayers. "He must have tacked
the Lords prayer on his bed post.
said Mr.. jackson, land when he laid
himself down to rest, he would say,
oh, Lord. them's my sentiments"
Msj. HAYES was called for, but b.
said he WAS too hoarse to talk, but
expressed his appreciation Of thu
compliment paid him.