Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-19
Small Attempt to Depreciate
Our Population.
MORNING PAPER AGAIN OFF.
Stubbornly Fighting the Po-
lice Matron.
A Misrepresentation of Facts
in Connection.

Inc Union Is again or and as
stubborn as ever Adopting its
characteristic attitude. it is opposing
what savors of improvement. and in
this connection that which has .
tendency to moral advancement. 1t
10 opposed to the innovation OF q
matron in the polics department. as
provided for by the last general as
sembly. and in the adoption of its
course in relation thereto 1t mi.rep-
resents the facts both as to the re-
quirements of the law and the quail
hcations which bring city the size
OF Rock Island under its operation.
1t combines q reference to the Sec
ton of the last general assembly's
enactment as to q board of local
improvements in cities OF 25 O0J as
shown By the last general census,
with that providing for q
police matron in cities of
10000 or over, and then pro-
ceeds to gloat over the fact that as
Rock Islands population, according
to the census of 1890. WAS shown to
be but lS,596-which was about two
thousand short by the way-that
neither Of the stated improvements
can be applied to this city. As far
as the law as to the board of local
improvements is concerned, which
bases its enforcement on the misrep.
resenting census Of 1899. the Union
will probably be permitted to have
it's own way. As to the police ma
tron it disregards facts, both as to
the letter Of the law and as
it pertains to Rock Island.
Representative McEniry's bill
providing for police matroBs
In cities makes no reference to the
census Of 1899, but simply, confers
authority for its enforcement on
"all Incorporated citifs in this state
having a population of l6 900 in
habitants or more" Much As it de-
lights the Union in giving to the
outside world an idea that Rock ISL
and contents hereelf with the thought
that her population is no more than
1886. these figures which SO great
ly underestimate the actual popula.
ton need not be accepted. The city
is only to be guided by the most
reasonable estimate Of her population.
The last school census of 1896 showed
1918 people here under 81 years OF
age. 1t is customary to approx
mate the true population in all cities
by multiplying the school census By
three. and this operation gives Rock
Island population OF 81 .939, while
the Stone city directory the same
year gave Rock Is and population
OF between 20, 900 and 2l,O0O The
law requires but Is 600, and unless
the city. which in common with
other cities all over the land,
found the government census 1t the
time il was made to be several thou
sand below the actual population. to
say nothing of what 1t should be
seven years after, accepts the law 40
it applies to the present population
- 10 its intent it will amount to q
practical admission that our popula-
ton is not over 5000. a position
that it is not believed any one in Rock
Island. except the Union, desires to
assume under any circumstance or
prete1t.
The Unions position is but the
carrying out OF the same policy that
it has always adhered to in the mat
tor OF municipal advancement. 1t
was shown in its opposition to tho
paid fire department, to the police
patrol system, to the park com mis-
sion and in many other instances too
num- rous to specify. 1t has gone q
little further this time than usual in
its attempt to depreciate and under
estimate the city's importance and
proportions in order to furnish some
ground on which to base its position.
The attitude is one of pure obs,i-
macy and nothing more, and obsti-
macy never builds cities. Rock Isl
and seeks the advantage of all the
elements common to other cities of her
class and standard, especially where
they are Of an elevating and moral.
izing tendency. Rock Island does
not boast Of being larger than she is.
but she Indignantly resents any pur-
pose tn belittls her or to underesti-
mate her. Rock Island 10 as big az
any $1,000 population city in this
country. and to get down to f.cts
quick she can knock the socks of of
the Union or anyone else who dares
dispute the assertion. Furthermore
she wants all that is coming to cities
of her class.
The Need OF the Mssron.
Aside from the fact that the citv
of Rock Island is BY reason of her
population qualified to come under
the law governing the appointment
of police matrons, the need OF
such An adjunct was set forth
this morning BY lady in Rock Island
Who. discussing the question. said:
Il see in the article in the Union the
expression: We have happily no
need Of police matron in this CITY
and public interests would be much
better suhsersed BY the appointment
Of IN additional patrolman instead
II We were really required to appoint
matron We should be constrained
to add the duties Of . desk sergeant