Rock Island Argus., 1901-10-28

Speaker Sherman with prepared re-
ply to the speech of Gov. Yates. Says
the Macomb statesman:
81 don't know what is the matter
with his exceilency. 1t ought to'be
gratifying to the public for him 10
remain in one place long enough to
get sight of him. Since mis- inagura-
ton it requires an expert wing shot
to bring him down to Illinois earth
He has been hitting only the high
places in his fight across the ooun-
try
mo attack was made on state in-
stitutions or the persons composing
the boards. No criticism OF any pub
lie charity or tue efficiency or hn-
manity of the management OF any
such charity or state Institution was
made. The criticism WAS OF the sys-
tenn of maintaining numerous boards
for the management of like lnsita-
tions supported by the state.
The governor Is superseasitive,
He seems to think those who favor n
union of the board thereby attack the
institutions. The governor Ieseats
any suggestion thai Improvement Is
possible. IL may be So under his ad-
ministration. IL was not under his
predecessors, who welcomed better
| things. l reiterate that IL he had
been friendly TO the union OF these
boards it would have been done last
session. l specifically state that he
was opposed TO the bill. whatever his
post-mortem views now are.
''It is notorious that every effort 10
advance such a measure with civil
service system. based on merit and
not on pull. was thwarted by the
governor and his friends. Does he
remember his civil service speech at
I the Auditorium theatre q few days
1 before last election? He promised
his support to this measure there.
When l attempted to help him carry
/ out this pledge to the people learned
that his patronage must not be re-
duced. Some unfesling wag even
remarked that such legislation would
not leave enough of a pay roll to sup
ply the governors relations'
The governor got the bill on the
22d of February, 1901. to examine
He had it. without suggestions, till
April %, eight days before the ad-
journment of the legislature. The
Chicago press commented on his con-
| duct, so as to move him 10 action.
Then he called in certain Ct his friends
and asked that tue measure be pushed
His sudden haste to advance il de-
ceived no one. 1t was killed by pro
tracted executive nursing.
The system of special attorneys.
found by the attorney general to be
unlawful, has paid out in the past as
high as $4,000 annually for these
purposes. The canal board alone has
paid out more than k27, ,OO0in he last
two years. That system is Perpet-
uated by the present government. He
is now considering how to get up a
test case to avoid the attorney gen
erals opinion and save mis- spoils.
lis he now in favor of the bill pre-
pared by the com mittee of the former
state board of charities, and will he
remain so long enough for the next
legislature to act on it? VIII be ad-
wise his friends to support il? If he
| convened the general assembly in ex-
! traordinarv session, will he include it
in the call? 1 favored such 3 measure
in the last legislature and will do so
any time hereafter"
The little disagreement between the
two republican leaders in Illinois
seems destined to develop into col
loquy of most entertaining nature.
THE M'KINLEY MEMORIAL FUND.