Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-29
REPLIES FROM THE MINISTER'S.
Pastors of the City Answer Invitations t.
Attend the Meeting.

Pastors OF the City Answer Invitations to
attend the Meeting.
Secretary w. b Mcintyre, of the
city committee, read several letters
that had been received during the day
from ministers of the city who had
received special invitations to the
meeting. The letters were as fol-
lows:
Rev. w. III. johnson, Memorial Christian
j. F. Egan Dear Sir: l find that
it will be impossible for me to attend
the mass meeting tonight, but l want
to assure you that my absence is not
due to Indifference.
/ am a lifelong republican The
reason l am republican is that l be-
lieve in the principles advocated by
the republican party. Bat the very
thing that makes me republican in
state and national campaigns makes
me democrat in this municipal cam
paign, for believe in the platform
which you have announced and the
policy which your candidate for
mayor has pledged himself to pursue.
rnsistency compels me to support
your ticket. l am not partisan and
I
| government in Rock Island than in
republican rule. As l understand it.
in this campaign your party stands
for good government and moral re-
form. Mr.. Banding has pledged him
self to abolish wine rooms. He goes
before the people on that issue. He
has taken high ground. By standing
for moral reform he has arrayed
against him the worst elements in the
city, irrespective of party lines. He
certainly ought to receive the hearty
support of every citizen who favors
decency and morality. regardless of
party utilization. Yours truly,
| w. II. JOHNSON.
Rev &, h Simons, First Baptist.
80 Fifteenth street, March ~
W. B Mcintyre, Dear Sir: Your ia
vor of recent date received. l thank
you for the invitation to attend the
meeting to be held Thursday even
ling. If nothing occurs more than
1 know Of now, L shall be present at
that meeting-nOt to sit on the plat
form, but with the audience TO hear
what may be said. L am pleased with
the advanced ground MIR. Banding
has taken, but SO far as l am aware,
he has said nothing about closing the
saloons on Sundays, and at the time
provided by law for night closing.
hope Mr.. Banding will have some
thing to say about these matters.
Also about the slot machines.
Yours for the enforcement of law,
GEORGE B. SIMoNS.
Rev. Marquis, Broadway Presbyterian.
Rock Island, March 27.-W. B. Nc
Intyre, Secretary Democratic City
lCsmmittee. Dear Sir: l am in re-
ceipt of your invitation to the mass
meeting called by your committee for
Thursday evening, the 2Sth, and note
the request for an expression of opin-
ion on the democratic platform en-
closed with your invitation. No law
abiding citizen, of any party, can
take exception to that platform, I'M
less it be to say that it does not go
far enough in the moral reforms
promised. 1t should have pledged
the strict enforcement of all the pro-
visions OF the ordinances regulating
saloons, and the suppression of gam
bling both in saloons and gambling
rooms. But as it stands it is the
most de6nite and courageous declara-
ton we have heard from a candidate
in this city for many year, and de-
serves hearty commentator. 1 am a
republican and regret that my party
did not seize the opportunity, which
was in it's power, to present such a
| platform to the voters of this city.
Respectfully yours,
w. S. MARQUIS.
Rev. c. e, slatt, Swedish Church.
| Rock Island. ILL.,, March 27.-W. b.
Mcintyre, City.-Dear Sir: Not yet
recovered from case of typhoid fe-
yer L am unable to be present at the
mass meeting tomorrow evening,
which otherwise would have been of
great interest to me, since our city's
welfare, especially morally. always
arouses my deepest concern.
Approaching your invitation and
thanking you therefor, l am very
respectfully yours,
CARL E SLATT,
Pastor First Swedish Lutheran Church.
Rev. ID. L. McNsry, UDIted Presbyterian
Rock Island, March 2S.-W. b. Nc
Intyre. Dear Sir: / found your COM
munication awaiting me on my re-
turn to the city this morning. | hope
TO be present at the meeting tonight.
Ho viewer, / can fill seat in the audi
ence much more gracefully than one
on the platform. Sincerely,
ID. l.. MCNARY.
Rev. MenDicke, German Lutheran.
Rock Island. March % w. b. Me-
Intyre. Dear Sir: Our congregation
has Thursday evening service and
therefore 1 cannot be present at the
mass meeting of citizens.
Yours, e. A. MENNICKE.