Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-22
CAUSE OF COUNTRY.
Plans Completed For Monday
Evenings Democratic Meet
ing at Harper's Theatre.
v. M. BLANDING ON ISSUES
Business and Address of Last
Nights Bryan and Stevenson
Club Session.

| LdsL nlSnl DS the DIT yam anu stevenson
Anti-Imperialistic club and the plans
for Monday nights rally were ex-
planned as arranged by the executive
committee. 1t is desired that all
memb ers of the club, whether belong
ng to the marching corps or not,
shall turn out and escort the speakers
to Harper's theatre. All are urged
to be at headquarters at Z o'clock.
The marching corps will be fully
equipped by that time, most of the
hats being here now, and the remain
der to arrive Monday.
A few other matters of minor i'm
portance were attended to and then
the chair introduced V. M. Banding,
who made a short address. Mr..
Banding compared the opposing can.
didates for the chief executive of the
nation by a reference to the views
each expressed in accepting his NOM
ination. Bryan's speech at Indianap-
oils he characterized as full and fair
declaration of principles, and McKin-
ley's letter of acceptance as one of
confession and avoidance.
| The Republican Detection.
! The present rate ofdeflection, he said,
from the repu blican to the democrat
ic party will, if continued till election
day, make the latter a safe winner at
the polls. Alreaeady republican lead
ers &C acknowledge as doubtful many
states thought to be safely repu bill
can.
| Referring to the socalled prosperity.
Mr.. Banding showed that the rate of
increase in the average wages paid
the American laborer, as compared
with that of four years ago, has not
even nearly equaled the rate of in
crease in the cost of living.
Referring to the stand taken by this
country in the Venezuela affair, the
speaker pointed with pride to what
the Monroe doctrine had omplished
when the democratic party was in
power. Then, after enum Grating the
advantages we would derive from the
ownership of the Nicaragua canal, he
dwelt upon the shameful relinquish-
ment of American rights as contem-
plated by the republicans in the rat
| iication of the Hay-Pauncefote
| treaty by which we declare our ina
| bility to control purely American
institution.
Precious Heritage.
We have precions heritage in the
government OF our fathers. and next
Novem Der the ballot will be placed in
the hand eff each voter as a means of
expressing his desire whether we
shall retain its cardinal principles. |
As nations folly, like an individu- |
ais, is visited upon it, so may we, as a |
nation. expect to reap the fruit of evil |
if we decide the contest for the wrong |
At the conclusion of the speech, |
which was frequently interru pied by |
applause, Mr.. Banding was given a |
vote of thanks and made an honorary
mem Der of the club.
Bryan May Not Come After All
The Chicago Chronicle announces
this morning that w. j. Bryan has
cancelled the engagements made for
him by the democratic state central
committee in Illinois Oct. go, which
included his visit to Rock Island. and
the people of this section may be dis
appointed after all. although it is pos
sible that arrangements may be made
for a later date. Chairman Watson
has not given up hope entirely yet
that the original plan may be carried
out. The Chronicle says: although
the itinerary was withheld pending
financial arrangements with the vari-
Gus county com mittees, it was under
stood that Mr.. Bryan would leave Sa-
lem Monday morning, Oct. 8, zig-zag
through lower Egypt. touching Cairo,
returning to East st. Louis and fol-
lowing the Mississippi river from AL
ton to Rock Island. From Rock Is
rrro1 - I
ward via Quincy to Chicago, arriving
here in time for an evening meeting.
after which Mr.. Bryan was to depart
for Michigan. The only political rea-
son which can be coniured up locally
for Mr.. Bryan's cancellation of Illinois
dates is that he probably expects Pres
ldent Mckinley in Chicago early in
October aid is anxious to follow the
president and take advantage of any
errors the latter may make
IN his proposed address in this city.
It is regarded as unlikely that Mr..
Bryan will make two stumping tours
IN Illinois and some of his Chicago
friends have argued that he probably
figured on having the last word in
Chicago so far as President Mckinley
IS concerned.
Another theory which has been Of
'ered for Mr.. Bryan's cancellation Of
illinois dates is that he will accept
Senator Hanna's challenge to joint
tebate. In recently reported inter
view with the Nebraskan he is quoted
Is having remarked that he wsuld ac-
,ept Mr.. Hanna's challenge if the
Ohio manager would assure him that
ne (Hanna) was still in full possession
If the government. A few days ago
Senator Hanna indicated his willing
ness to meet Bryan. and the national
lem ocratic officials replied that the
,hallenge to 8 Joint debate came with