Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-29
LOCAL ISSUES
ABLY HANDLED
Citizens Listen With Interest to
Discussion of Vital NUM-
cipaI Questions.
THE ADDRESS BY Mr.. BLANDING
Letters From Ministers Are Read
Expressing Approval of Can
didate's Stand.

IL was representative duuleucS
composed of citizens of every shade
of political complexion that assem-
bled at Harper's theatre last evening
to hear municipal issues discussed
from a reform standpoint. Although
the janitor failed to do his part and
The house was uncomfortably cold,
and many were obliged to leave early
in the evening on this account. the
speakers received the closest at
tention for period of two hours. and
there was liberal applause for the
firm and incorporating stand that
was taken in regard to the suppress
sion of high-handed vice and the cor
rection of the growing evils that blot
the fame IF our city.
The meeting was called to order by
y. F. Egan, chairman of the city
township committee, who introduced
as chairman of the evening John w.
WEIGH. That gentleman, in accept
ing the office, delivered him self of II
concise and well worded speech, cor
rectly summing up the situation.
1--WE are assem- bled, he said. not to
discuss the issue as democrats, but as
citizens who have the city's welfare
at heart. Eleven months of the year
we are accustomed to bewail existing
municipal conditions and to blame
the officers we have elected for per-
hitting them to endure. We lose
sight of the fact that the voter is the
one to blame for having elected to Of
flee men who never defined their po-
sition and who are not bound to live
70 nd ~ fafA IF hn
old parties does not hang upon the re-
suit of next Tuesdays election. but
the fate of the city to a large extent
does, and the voter has the opportuni-
ty for free choice
MIR. b anding's Speech.
V. NJ. Blanding, the democratic
mayoral candidate, was the last
speaker. He expressed the pleasure
it gave him to meet the people and re-
affirm the views he had previously ex-
pressed upon municipal issues.
Those issues" he said, ''have been
of gradual development, and they
have reached a degree of Importance
which amounts to crisis in the city'S
history. My address before the con-
vention which nominated me was I'M
studied. 1 did not know how the
delegates felt in regard to the issues
l did not know what the party's pol
icy might be or if it had q policy.
simply outlined, briefly, my personal
views. l said what 1 thought and L
meant what / said.
The issues of this campaign are of
comparatively recent growth. The
question of proper sanitation, for in
stance, has been brought forcibly
before the people of Rock Island
within the past few months, and
many families have suffered loss from
disease brought about by causes part
" or wholly under control of the city
authorities. Thus it is plain that the
head of the city's executive depart
ment has heavy responsibility rest
ing upon him.
Should Appoint with Care.
at is his duty to exercise the great
est possible care and Judgment in the
selection of the heads of the different
departments. The man who has
charge OF the water supply as well as
the man who superintends the clean
ing of the streets and alleys should
be chosen with as much reference to
natural fitness and special training as
the city health missioner, whose
efficiency demands the skill of tried
physician. To properly administer
the affairs of city the mayor must
choose for his assistants men in when
he has confidence aud men who have
onfidence in him. There must be
unity throughout the entire munich
pal fabric.
IS Ern Il nVsf
ment believe that the best apparatus
and alarm system is ever the cheap
est. The cost of modern appliances
is saved many times over when a sim
gle disastrous fire is avoided.
The Police Force.
But the department that is receiV-
ing more attention than any other,
probably, at this particular time is
the police department. Upon this de-
ponds the protection of citizens, and
to large extent the morality of the
city. The vast majority of Rock
Islands people are against the condi-
tions which prevail at present, and
from my personal standpoint 1 feel
that they have reached stage where
they cannot much longer be endured.
The average saloonkeeper is in favor
of cleaner conditions. He sees that
large share of what would be his
profits 90 to an element from which
he cannot at present divorce himself.
To cope with and overcome these
things the mayor must have a thor
oughly efficient police force. The
chief of police must be a capable,
fearless and honest man. one who
will report TO his superior conditions
as they exist and take steps to rem
edy them as he is directed.
"Citizens of Rock Island would
blush if they knew that the ease and
freedom with which gaming vices are
carried on here has been made sub
ject of general comment in commu-