Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-13
SOME SHORTCOMINGS
IN CONVENTION CALLS

The Argus is frank to say that il
can see no occasion for the issuing OF
two calls bv the democratic county
committee fer county conventions, or
any good aim To be served by such
course. The idea advanced by John
Looney that this move was design
ed in the interests of harmony is alb
surd. The spectacle of Looney posing
as an apostle of democratic harmony
was the feature Of the gathering. The
scene he created at Turner hall on the
occasion of the last democratic city
township convention is still so fresh
in the minds of the democrats of Rock
Island that comment on this or other
political escapadeS in which he has
figured would be superfluous at this
time. The issue in which the demo-
Gratis of Rock Island are interested at
the present time is not so much that
of presidential preference as decent
politics, pure and simple. In the mat
ter of choice for the presidency the
party is abundantly able to express
itself without aid from Looney or
anyone else. and whatever the senti-
ment of the majority may be it will
sion of it.
So far as The Argus is aware there
was no purpose on the part of repre-
sentative democrats in any part of
Rock Island county to dictate to the
county committee the program ii
should pursue in the arrangement for
the county convention - or conven-
tons. as it happened to be. 1t was
earnestly hoped that whatever action
the committee might take would indi-
cate Il desire for brOadminded fairness
and that no opportunity would be left
open for snap or brace caucuses, and
many of those whom committeeman
consulted urged that the committee
action be so designed. People have
right to differences of opinion on all
questions political, and questions OF
personal inclination may well be en-
tertained without undue advantage
being taken of those of contrary
ideas. The only fair way under such
circumstances is to accord all the
right to expression up to the time at
least that the majority has the right
unhampered to express itself. \ ques-
ton of Judgment on a presidential
preference SnOulNl not pt lCNi-
either as subterfuge, or as a means OF
allowing oGious elements once repudi-
ated to regain influence in party af-
| fairs. \ rightful aiority will always
control under fair circumstances
and so it should be.
1t is on this account that The Argus,
while not disposed to impugn the mo-
| tives of the committee in adopting Il
cut and dried plan of procedure, does
not hesitate to deprecate the fact that
the committee should have hesitated
| to place every safeguard about the
privileges of the party as a whole for
! free and legitimate expression.
If there can he any valid reason adj
vanced for holding two conventions
| instead of one. and of handicapping
| the nominees for county offices by
putting their nominating convention
off until August. with the opposition
candidates already the advantage of
a month in the field ahead of them,
The Argus would like to know it.
| If there is any goou reason why the
convention-aS long as a change in
past methods was asserted to be in
order in the interest of harmony ana
fairness-shOuld not have been held at
the court house instead of Turner
hall. the scene of the last democratic
city-township convention, The Argus
would like to know it.
If there can be any good reason adj
vanced why caucus to be arranged
for on the spur of the moment, and
not included in the call, or necessarily
| given reliable public notice of in adj
vance. is more in the interest of har-
mony and fairness than Il properly
regulated primary. The Argus would
| like to know il.
! =
The arguments raised by those who
commended for one convention. to be
| held at the court house the latter part
of the present month, with the pri-
maries provided for by the county
committee, and the time and place
and manner of conducting the same