Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-03
NO MORE MASS
CONVENTIONS
Representative G. A. Cooke An.
nounces Position of Mercer
and Henderson Counties.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CLEARED
In Event of His Reelection Will Sup
port Rock Island County Man
for Next Term.

Representative George A. Cooke, OF
Aledo. democratic candidate for re-
election to the general assembly from
this district, and who has been in ROCK
Island and vicinity the past week, went
to Moline this afternoon, being one OF
the sneakers in the democratic demon
stration there this evening. He VIII
nrobablv not return TO Rock Island
until after the election. Il am more
than pleased with the situation as lar
as democracy is concerned in ROCK
Island" said Mr.. Cooke. not only as
is affects my own candidacy, but with
what is of vastly more Importance the
welfare of the democratic ticket IN
general. Ny only regret is that | was
not privileged to spend more time here
in Rock Island, | have been so wei
received, and have been rendered so
many evidences of good Will. II is
big honor to serve such constituency,
and [ do not think any man can be falr-
" blamed for wanting TO continue, as
| do. to bear the relation TO this COM
munity for another term that it has
been nv good fortune TO enjoy during
the past two years.
Refers to the Mass Conventions.
"Now | have been informed that
norton of the members of the demo-
cratic party of Rock Island county do
IL M facts
which led to the holding OF the two
mass conventions in this senatorial
district. and 1 may be pardOned if
state those facts from the viewpoint
of Mercer and Henderson counties.
Two years ago we were, for the first
time, placed in the same senatorial
district For the past 20 years at
least Mercer county had never been
able TO enter into an arrangement with
any of the counties with which she
had been associated in a senatorial
district whereby she could secure any
thing but promise to have a repre-
sentative in the general assembly at
some future period. And we were
never able to OveTtake the time al
which we were to have a member of
the legislature.
After the last reappOrtionment,
leading democrats from Mercer coun-
ty conferred with a large number of
men who had always been prominent
in the democratic party in Rock Island
county. and who represented. as we
supposed. the democracy of the whole
county. The representatives from
Mercer county proposed to make
compact with the Rock Island county
democracy as TO the number of repre-
sentatives each county in the district
should have during the 10 years we
should remain in the same district, and
to agree upon the time when each
county should have a representative.
1t was proposed that Rock Island
county should have the representative
the first time inasmuch as it was the
largest county in the district. Without
a single exception the Rock Island
democrats who were interviewed on
the proposition agreed to it.
Pnrty In Wrong Hands.
But this arrangement never be
came effective. for the reason that the
organization of the county passed out
of the hands of the men who had for
merly been recognized as the Tepresen-
tatives Of the party in this county and
passed into other hands This occur
red before the time of the holding of
the first senatorial convention. And
the element who had secured control
in the democratic party of Rock Island
county, which has been known as the
LoOucy element. would not treat with
Mercer county upon any terms what
ever. Not only would they not treat
with Mercer county. but at the state
convention in our district caucus two
years ago they deliberately sought OPP
portunities for humilatinE us and de
nying us any recognition whatever.
even in the state convention. The dem
Ocrats Of Mercer county nave been
willing at all times to make such an
arrangement as above mentioned pro
vided they could find anybody who
could be relied upon rs representing
the democracy of Rock Island county