Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-18
IT'S UP TO Willy MAC.
He Wins Out in the Republican
Mayoralty Nominal
ton Race.
NINE BALLOTS TO DECIDE CONTEST

II
But Are Finally Turned Down-schafrer
for Cierx and Scott for Attorney.
/ For Mayor. WILLIAM McCONOCHIE
| For City Clerk. IL. c. SCHAFFER
For City Attorney -.-...-. j. Il. SCOTT
| For Treasurer. T. ANDERSON
| Sn,.r,,srs -. +. MYERS
| OLOF ATKINSON
| For Assessor. J. L. FREEMAN
For Collector. CHARLES BOWERS
The heavens wept. Tears of an
guish fell from the clouds in
greater volumes than the catch basins
| in some localities of the city could
| carry away the consequent flood
when Willy McConochie was nomin-
ated. While the turbulent elements
were raging inside Turner hall last
night, wriggling in the grasp that
held all too tightly, and which was
but abiding lis time to seize the stu
alton, the storm without ragged in
sympathy. And when the gradual,
ever-strengthening, squeezing pro-
cess had been carried to the point of
triumph, kind old mother Natures
most sympathetic chord was touched
the wind walled and the torrents came.
1t was an affecting circumstance at
a iAOoI dLCOllu2
There never was a minute when
the corner wasn't in it, not a min
ute. But the willy machine played it's
cards better than ever before in
the history of its maneuv-
ers i'll local republican politics.
Two years ago the Union saw the cast
ing of the shadows and it sounded the
warning McConochie had gone back
to 1.-The corner" The willy ex-mayor
had entered the combine then to boost
the corners candidate, and the
Union accused him of licking the hand
that smote him. But the foxy up
town politician cared not for the jeers
of the morning paper. He was look
ing to the future. The future came
last night.
The job was neatly done. For
some days prior to the convention 1T
was known that the machine had a can
didate. The impression got out that
n dark horse was to be sprung, and
r. a. Donaldson was generally con-
coded TO be the dark horse. But Mr..
Donaldson repeatedly and upon every
possible occasion declared that under
no circumstances would he be consid |
cred n candidate. Mr.. Donaldson has |
some ideas of shrewdness himself. |
But here was the opportunity for the |
Unions dreaded foe. Donaldson would |
be kept before the convention even
without his consent-if nominated, |
all well and gOod-but with no inten- |
ton of nominating him. But there |
was 2-fold object in the proceeding. |
First, to create the impression that |
he was the candidate of the push, |
which in fact was doing all that it |
could with its spare votes to nomi- |
nate McConochie, and secondly, TO |
keep votes away from Knox and pre-
vent his nomination until the moment |
when all was in readiness to deliver |
the convention to McConochie. The |
scheme worked 10 perfection.
Chairman Donaldson, of the city,
township committee, called the CON
ventiOn TO order, and then took his hat |
and left. What followed is here re-
lated:
Searlc Is Chairman.
Charley Searle was subpnnaed to
officiatc rs chairman. He exploded
some hot air on the asscmblage.
Pat Cary gave Bert Mckown boost
for proceeding tabber. but Bert said
he had broken his pencil. SO Steve
Collins shouted for \. G.. Anderson,
of the Seventh, and that gentleman
made his way toward the footlights
to perform the heavy duty assigned
him. Mr.. Anderson read the call.
S. j. Collins, c. w. Foss and
Z. F.. Parmenter were delegated n
on credentials to search
the house and ascertain if everything
was on the level. 1t was discovered
hat all was fair. and 102 delegates en-
titled to seats.
III. \. Weld made motion that the
be made permanent. 1t
carried. Another move by MIR. Weld
mat fhe first ballot for each candidate
be Informal prevailed.
l.. S. McCabe wanted the voting to
De done by delegations.
Vote il down. several shouted.
Mr.. McCabe said his motion was
simply for the purpose of expediting
matters.
An amendment by Olof Atkinson
hat each delegate cast his vote and
land it to the chairman of his delcga-
ion was carried with a whoop.
c. +. Lynde, Frank Westbay and III.
\. Weld were selected as tellers.
Steve Hull pressed the button and
he convention did the rest, unanim-
'usly acIuiesing in his motion that
he nomination of a candidate for
mayor be proceeded with forthwith
The informal ballot resulted: Knox,
=; Schroeder. 81; McConochie, 80;
II. The chairman said
me vote above the limit had been
dropped in. and he warned the dele
rates to be more cautious. The
irst formal ballot: Knox, 80; Schroe-
Ter. 25; McConochie, 20; Dona Id
son, 10. II
1t was beginning to appear ticklish
or the several candidates. The bo
runs held hasty conferences.
Second ballot KNOX 81. SchroP- |