Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-25
A Neglected Opportunity.

By failure to unite or agree on 8
candidate for the nomination for min
| oritv representative, the democrats
| of Henry county In convention as
| sem bled al Cam bridge yesterday, ig-
/ nored the opportunity that had been
left TO them TO make COED their claim
for the nomination this year. The
Argus has heretofore voiced its hope
| that out Of an unbiased discussion OF
the question of minority representa-
tive nomination in the two counties
of Rock Island and Henry would come
an understanding mutually accept
able The ARGUS has reason to be-
lieve that in its own position it has
shared the feelings of the democrats
generally of this county.
While as a matter of fact candidates
for the nomination have been dis
| cussed among the democrats and it
has been known that there were re-
ceptive candidates in the field, still
disposition on the part of all demo
Gratis, whether under consideration for
the nomination or otherwise, has been
to await Henry county's attitude.
Quite naturally it was anticipated
that the democrats of Henry county
would have come out of their own con-
vention with a united front that
would leave no further room for
doubling the earnestness and sinceri-
ty of the purpose on their part to
seek the nomination this time for
some Henry county man as eviCenc
denomination of the alternating sys-
tenn that has been respected for so
many years. The expected, however,
did not happen, and Che consequence
is that Henry must bring its troubles
over to the senatorial convention.
The rivalry among the Henry county
aspirants has become so sharp and
determined that it was too hot to be
handled by the county convention.
Hence the senatorial convention must
ad lust it. And while that adjustment
is going on in convention representa-
tive of both counties to which il must
be submitted, the possibility of the
expression of preference escaping the
bounds of Henry county may with
ample reason enter into mind. Under
these circumstances it is plausible
that there should be candidates in
Rock Island county prepared for that
emergency.
In another part of The ARGUS an
nouncement is made of the formal
candidacy of NJ. j. McEniry, of Mo
line, for the nomination for minority
representative from the Thirty-third
district. w. r. Moore, of Moline,
and L. +. Wheelan, of Rock Island,
have also been announced heretofore
as candidates of the democracy.
Mr.. McEniry is one of those
who, while mentioned and discussed
in connection with the nomin alton,
has withheld positive expression of
his own wishes pending the action of
the Henry county convention. MIR.
was on the ground at Cam
bridge Yesterday in order that he
might see and understand the
condition of affairs correctly.
THE ARGUS had a representative
there that the situation might be
fairly and properly reported. The
Henry county democrats were from
all that developed unable to work out
their salvation. They were able to
act in harmony and with the most ad-
results on all matters except
the selection of candidate for minor
ity representative. They made ex-
cellent county nominations. in
dorsed their distinguished citizen,
Charles h. Laid, for governor,
it up for Bryan and sound
democratic principles, and in every
other way proved themselves good
and worthy democrats. But they
we're not equal to the task of dispos-
ing of that which was vital to them
who of their own number they wanted
for minority representative
The intent of this reference to the
existing state of affairs in Henry
county is not to suggest or encourage
any course of action among the demo-
Gratis of Rock Island county that would
.vince either an inclination to take
advantage of their neighbors over the
inc or to deal unfairly with them in |
Inv particular. Rock Island county
has the power to dictate the nomina- |
ion for representative under all cir |
and il is not looking for /
IN excuse to exercise the influence of |
lum bers. The ARGUS is convinced |
hat the same spirit of justice and
lonor toward the Henry county demo-
rats that has prevailed heretofore
xists as strongly as ever in Rock ISL
md county.
But Henry county democrats have
through their own convention snd
cts released Rock Island county
democrats from any blame in aspir-
ng for a nomination of mutual inter-
st in the two counties.