Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-24
A FROST AND F|zzLE,
Republican Mass Meeting Turns
Out as It Was An
ticipated.
SCHEME sQuBLoHBD.

Aftsr sn n,er's wsis Oion Atkinson
nsstsrs 10 ssmcisos Coursgs to Get
Tsings IN Ranning Snap, hut the
spirit Beneath IL d KnsosssIy sas
Down Up,s.
1t Was . frost bite. extraordinary.
Ii froze the marrow in the bones Of
the anti-Psyne sentimentalists, and
left them out in the cold world with
out solsce or comfort. For an hour
after the appointed tine for the
meeting OF the adjourned mass con-
ference OF republicans at Turner hall
last night, to consider means of fur.
thering the interests OF Q Rock Isl.
AID republican for the state senate.
suspense seemed to have possession
Of all. 1t Was Payneful. A low hum
alone disturbed the silence that
would otherwise have been deafen.
ing. Men approached each 9TH
or with suspicion in their eyes
and caution on their tongues. Ii
Was sort OF q wait game from the
start Nobody seemed disposed to
begin. the inclination being to lay
the resfon ,ibility for the meet
ing 70 esei other, the pur-
pose to hold someone TO account
for it, aud that somesae should call
ths Assem- blage to order. Finally at
$40 O.oG Atkinson mustered up
courage sufficient to rap on the table
In the front Of the hall. Mr.. Akin.
son merely said the meeting being
On sdJourn;d one, it would be proper
Tor tne chairman and secretary Of
the original meeting. William Nc
Conochie and &. +. Gaetje. to con.
time to serve /, their respective
capacities These gentlemen took
their places. Then there was quiet
for few moments, when Chairman
McConochie spoke. I'VE do not
know just where We left of. )"
be said abruptly. This is q sor,
Of adjourned meeting. We had ono
last Saturday night, but as these
was . disposition to call it too much
OF . star Echamber affair, 1t was
thought best to call q larger meet.
ing" Mr.. McConochie withou. fur
Their explanation called for remarks.
There was more wait. At length
the chairman suggested that William
jackson who was not present at the
former gathering, was in the hall,
and that he might have something
to say. Cries for Mr.. jackson were
Immediately heard. That much
favored gentleman took his position
at in the front OF the crowd. and re-
ceived IN ovation. Then it was that
the reirigeratory process began. The
designers OF the PAYNE opposition
movement looked to Mr.. Jackson 70
start things going right, but he
was moved BY contrary sentiment.
Instead Of handing out warm
morsels TO the Zumaite's adherents,
he served icycles to those who
were responsible for the meeting.
Mr.. Jackson was frank to say he wss
opposed to the proposition that wat
before the meeting, and he proceeded
to give reasons for the faith that was
within him. Such q course OF action
was An unsafe thing in republican
politics. lie could not recall where
. procee ling OF thi, kind had
been before in the republican party
In Rock Island.
Departure From Customary Methods.
The question therefore is, is II
wise TO depart frem customary
methods? He favored being frank
and open. While men may honestly
differ Is to methods in politics. there
should be no disposition to seek ad.
vantage or depart from established
systems in the selection OF candi.
dates. There may be two fac.
lions. in the republican party In Rock
Island. Mr.. Jackson said, but
they should be harmonixed rather
than driven further apart. The
speaker alluded to the municipal
election Of Q year ago. and attributed
the election Of Mayor Medill, OF
whom be said he had no disparaging
remarks to make, to republican
voter. He declared the republican
party should avoid an irregular pro.
cedure and let the approaching cam
psign take the usual course. He spoke
OF Mr.. Surgeons withdrawal. Is an.
nounced in The Argus. and also re.
ferred to L. 8. Mccabe and Henry
Carse % candidates. and of the other
officers to be nominated on the ticket.
Ex-Ald. G. W. Foss va. called for.
He conceded With Mr.. Jackeon's
views exactly, he said. The party
must proceed In the regular way
and wait for the primaries. He
would prefer the present meeting TO
resolve itself into o love feast to
make up the differences OF the past.
The least said the better as to the
meeting and its objects. He had
thought OF proposing . motion 10
I'd iourn. but would make that later
foss left the meeting with chill
blsins.
Asj J. n. Besrdsley could not see
that the meeting could proceed to
declare for candidates. as IL had not
been suthorix d BY . call signed BY
proper committeeman. The NOM
nations should come through the
primary system and accredited dele