Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-28
CITIZENS TO MEET
AT THE THEATRE
Tonight to Hear Vital Questions
of the Municipal Campaign
Discussed.
SEVERAL ADDRESSES ARRANGED
Rev. w. n. johnson, of Memoir
ial Christian Church, One
of the Speakers.

Tonight's mass meeting at Harper's
theatre to discuss the issues of the
city campaign will be called to order
promptly at 7:SO o'clock and the COM
mittee desires that all those planning
time.
The principal addresses will be de-
livered by Rev. w. H. Johnson, pas
tor of Memorial Christian church; j.
w. Welch and V. NJ. Banding, demo-
cratic candidate for mayor. Mr.
WEIGH will act as chairman of the
meeting.
The purpose of the meeting, rs
heretofore stated, is to better acquaint
the public with the platform on which
Mr.. Banding seeks election as the
chief executive of the municipality
and to give other prominent men an
opportunity to express their senti-
ments on the questions involved in
public.
1t is especially desired that all par
ents who can attend, as it is they who
are most vitality interested in the is
sues that figure SO prominently in the
present campaign and the proper set
element of which depend upon them.
MI. BlsndIDg's Position.
In sympathy with the great major
ity of the self-respecting residents of
the city. MIR. Banding simply demands
that the blot of indecency that has dis
graced Rock Islands fair name ip the
past two years be removed, and if
elected mayor he has declared that
his first act will be the abolition of
the wine room, etc.
Chairman j. +. Egan, of the demo-
cratic central committee, has letters
from several ministers of the city who
have been invited TO be present at the
meeting which will be read from the
stage.
Letter to the Ministers.
Following is copy of the letter
addressed today by Chairman j. f.
Egan and Secretary w. b. Mcintyre
to every minister in the city;
Rock Island, Ill. , March 2S.- Dear
Sir: We venture TO call your atten-
ton to the supreme Importance of
allying yourself and, through your
influence, your church organization,
on the side of our candidates for mu-
nicipal offices, and especially our can
didate for mayor, who has made def
mite pledges to work certain moral
reforms.
eff the christian people of the city
are inactive or silent at this time,
when they have a candidate who
stands for decency in munich pal rule.
they are estopped forever after from
raising their voices in protest against
local unwhOlesome conditions.
1.-The issue in the present cam
paign does not involve any question
of party principle. and, therefore. we
believe it the duty of every citizen
who claims to be christian to lend
his voice and vote to Mr.. Banding,
who asks support on a specific pledge
to work a needed reform in the city's
morals.
mo good citizen can justify his ST.
lence or inactivity by claiming that
the platform does not go far enough.
1t goes further on the road to reform
than any platform put forward in this
city by any political organization for
years past, and it goes as far. we be-
lieve, as the majority sentiment OF
the good citizens of this city will ac-
cord it support.
1.-The good citizens, so-called, who
love their party more than decency
and morality. must GO on record in
this fight. We shall know just how
sincere they are by the result of the
election. We ask your support, and
expect it, and feel sure we shall re-
ceive it publicly, if you give our
courageous position and the silence of
the opposition thoughtful considera-
tion -