Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-02-13
DEMocRAcY's BIG FIVE.
Party Leadership in Good Hands at Spring
field


The citizen from any part of Illi-
nois, outside the capital city, who
may have occasion to visit Springfield
at the present time, while the law
makers are in session, on going to
the state house, is naturally anxious
to see the big men OF state. There is
an inexplicable fascination in glance
at the governor if he is in town, while
sight is always sought of state Off
GERS in general mem beers OF the sa-
preme court, the lieutenant governor,
not an unfamiliar figure once month
on the streets of Rock Island; likewise
the house big bognm,e his mightiness,
the speaker . man of his 5oYn :peeal-
lar notions, not the least tyrannical
in appearance, but n machine repub-
lican always, regardless OF conse-
quences, vet with all first rate good
fellow to meet in a hotel lobby or any
place where he is away from his
'.fellers''- all these aspirants for fame,
but in no instance for fortune,
attract the eye and crafty the curl
ous -yI,saWS dry sIe,+ o"g-Tca HEd liz
But these are alt among the powers
that be. They are mainly prominent
because they are in the saddle Re
pubGcans are as q rule conspicuous
when circumstances make them So.
Democrats find the way or make it at
Springfield or elsewhere. They are
not to such an extent that you can
notice it, creatures of chance.
The men who stand at the
head of the party ranks at the state
capital enjoy the distinction that they
do-and it is a Observation-Disclosures
they are men of recognized worth in
not merely political ways, but men
who are looked up to on both sides of
the house because of the respect they
naturally command. The ARGUS is
pratiiied to know that the minority
member from the SD district is one of
these. Mr. Hurst is of the demo-
cratic 'big five" so to speak, in the
house, his associates similarly hon.
ored being John p. McGoorty, of Chi
cago. the minority floor leader; ID.
f. Sullivan, and II. Z. Red
field, also of Chicago, and Samuel
Alschuler, of Aurora. These five gen.
tlemen sit within a hand shake
of each other in the house, Mr.. Hurst's
place being directly across the aisle
from that of Mr.. McGoorty. And a jol
Tier, DlcdSdulcI lOt VI LuCu II 10 hOl liiC
lot of any man in Illinois to meet than
is found in this democratic corner on
the floor of the lower branch of the
legislature, and they are fine look
ing quintet, too. 1t is even said
that prominent republican members
have been known TO direct the atten-
ton of friends tarrying but n few
hours in the house to John McGrooty
as the leading republican on the floor
who ought to have been speaker, and
who would have been but for John
Riley Tanner and the tricks of poll
tics. And John p. McGoorty is man
on whom his friends, political and
otherwise, may we'll look with pride.
He is in personality and manner every
inch leader, entertaining in CONVEX
sati0n. cordial in manner, readily APP
proachable, thoroughly accomplished.
So much, also, may be said of his asso-
ciates who are upholding the honor
and dignity of democracy in the face
of the great handicap, where third
of a century ago Douglas stood as a
mighty party's apostle.