Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-19
FIGHT IS TO Be WARM
Republicans Are Already Discus.
sing Mayoralty candi-
dates.
WILLIAM MOoNoOHIE Is UP AGAIN
Leaders Are Out After His Scalp
Say He Has Not Been
On the Square.

| 1hOugn the next ROck Island mu-
nicipal election is several months dis
tant, leading republicans have already
begun getting their heads together
and discussing candidates. Of course
the chief topic of interest is as to the
mayoralty.
William McConochie, the present in
cumbent it is pretty generally under
stood, would not be offended if he
were rendered 4 denomination. On
the contrary, it comes from reliable
source that he has for months been
laying his wires to capture the forth
coming city publican convention.
And he is conscious. too, of the under
current of opposition that he will
have TO contend against. The old
breach that was partially patched two
years ago is again expanding. The
anti-McConochie element is adding to
its forces daily. Little knots of
republicans can be found in the hotel
corridors and on the street corners
They have their hammers out. They
are knocking on McConochie. They
say he will not do.
1t was thought on return to Office
two years ago he would at least make
an effort to play square with those
that he arrayed against him by his
former autocratic acts. But he has
again proven a disappointment. The
greatest party offense he is accused of
is failing to consider the wishes of
political leaders in the matter of pat
ronage. There are other shortcom-
ings alleged, and altogether, Judging
from what is heard about town, the
mayor will be met with a broadsides,
the magnitude of which he has no
conception if he persists in an at
tempt to retain the executive chair.
And There Are Others.
William McConochie is not the only
aspirant for mayoral honors in the re-
publican party. Not by any means.
Justice w. F. Schroeder is suspected
of being afflicted with his old-time
itching. Aid. William Kennedy,
Aid. Fred Gall, and Aid. Frank
Robbins will be out in time,
and there are others who have
been wandering in the tall tim
Der in quest of the bee who NAV
be expected to come into the process
sion along after the holidays. |
Mr.. Knox, SO the story goes, has
announced he will not make a fight
for the nomination unless he has
promises in advance that remove any
doubt of success. He has been
through the campaign mill before
and says it is not as much fun as it is
cracked up to be. Re claims. as
chairman of the republican coun-
ty central committee. not a
small share of the credit for the
size of the party vote at the recent
presi Dental election. He was there
with the goods at all doings. He
made trips to Chicago, sacrificed his
own interests for the good of the
cause, and now he is resting on his
well-earned laurels. If his party
wants to reward him by giving him
another term as mayor, all well and
good. He will accept.
Kennedy Has Been Urged"
Aid Kennedy is still carrying one
of those storm drain cement sacks as
evidence of his qualities as a de
tective. He has been urged so
many times of late that he may de-
eide to pull off his coat and get into
the middle of the fray.
With Squire Schroeder the ambition
has become chronic-and will prob
ably not abate while he lives. That
seems to be the long and short of it.
Aid. Gall is just willing; that is all.
he is a trifle shy, but if his party
wants him he will be found out with
his boom at an early date.
Aid. Robbins. of course, is a Nc
Conochie man. and can be relied upon
to be doing what he can to push along
the present incumbent's campaign,
with himself as second choice.
That's how the situation looks at
this early day. 1t will grow warmer
and more complicated as election day
grows nearer.
.Fi