Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-14
OPPOSED To
AN INQUIRY.
Republican CounciImen
Vote Against An
/. Investigation
OF RECENT ELECTION
Aid. McCaskrin Serves
Notice of a Con-
test. aa
OF RECENT ELECTION

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sf.-----
The meeting. of the city council
last evening must have been satisfac-
tory to the spectators, as the spirit
of contest was in the air from the
fall of the gavel till adjournment
No sooner had the formal opening
order been disposed of than motion
was made that the council canvass
the returns of the election judges
Aid. McCaskrin Immediately offered
an amendment to the effect that
the council go behind the returns of
the Judges and investigate the report
cd fraudulent and illegal voting. The
alderman made Z lengthy speech de
filming his position, stating that he
had witnesses present to prove at
least one fraudulent vote. Said he:
I'll carry this to the supreme court
if you fail TO uphold the full obliga-
tionS of your Office. 1 know there
was Illegal voting by tens in the
Fourth ward and that minors voted in
the Fifth. I'll show your illegal act.
Aldermen, do your duty
City Attorney Talks.
Aid. Kennedy gave the city attorney
a cnance to earn some of his salary
by asking for enlightenment on the
amendments from the legal stand
point. Mr. Scott waded through a
mush@ of geneTalities and plausibili-
ties the gistl of which seemed To be
that the council was not competent
to pass on anNquestion of legal ma
ture. "I-woild not recommend that
you undertake it, he said.
Aid. BirkeI arose i'm defense of the
amendment and said that he knew
personally of eases of illegal voting
and that one man not even a voter
had voted seven times. For this rea-
son he felt that the council should
investigate the matter.
To this Aid. Kennedy made slur-
ring return. founded on neither fact
nor reason, and Aid. Birllel showed
commendable self-restraint later on
in the evening. when that gentleman
resumed his tactics. by refusing to in
dulge i'm Il dispute (which the other
seemed to. be working for.Jf
Calls Magistrate johnson.
The sensation of. the evening came
when Police Magistrate johnson was
accused of Illegally swearing in a
vote. The situation was intensified
when the illegal voter appeared be-
fore the canvassing committee and
swore that he had voted for Mayor
Waldo Becker in Davenport at the
last election in the Iowa town, and
that Magistrate johnson had sworn
him in, cCgnizant of the fact that he
had resided in this state only six
months. The magistrate was present
with some of his friends to register a
vigorous denial. The republican end
of the committee took Mr.. Johnson'S
word for it promptly and seemed
pleased that he was so ready to clear
the skirts of the party from any faint
which may have attached itself there
to. There were several in the room
from Missouri, for their countenances
seemed to wear the maximum imprint
of incredulity.
Judges Are Confirmed.
The McCaskrin amendment was
lost to 5. The mayor on motion APP
pointed a committee of five, Aids. An
derson, Birllel. Eckhart, VILLAS and
Blochlinger, to canvass the vote.
While this was being done recess
was taken. y majority and minority
report was submitted by the commit
tee, the majority report recommend
ing the acceptance of the returns as
made by the election judges, the mir
nority made by Aid. Birkel recon-
mending further time for investiga-
ton of the alleged Illegal voting. The
sprang a motion that the
report be tabled. a proceed
ing out of all keeping with recognized
courtesy of parliamentary rule. The
mayor protested, but the bunch lined
up again and the motion went
through 10 to 4. The council ad-
journed after Aid. McCaskrin had
given official notice of contest.
The OmciaI Vote.
The following is the result of the
official count of the vote on the city
officers as accepted by the council:
MAYOR.
w. c. Maucker, d., 1,116; William
r., lily; p. j. Carlson,
s., 143; G. w. McCaskrin, l., 1.614.
CITY CLERK.
H. c. Shaffer, r., 1901; w. Bragdon,
S., 354.
S. r. Kenworthy, D., 1,77s; J. X.
Scott, r., BASS.
CITY TREASURER.
II. b. Simmon, d., 1879; X T. An
derson, r., 2.126; 4. FiNaris, S, 212.
ALDERMEN.
First ward-D. Mckinney. D., 22O;
F. Westbay, r., eco; w. Orth, Jr., s.,
50.
second ward-H. c. Webbing. D.,