Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-21
HALL WAS WELL FILLED.
Many witnesses to LOoney's Rowdyism and
PolIcea' Breach of Faith.

PolIces' Breach of Faith.
The doors were Thrown open to adj
nit the delegates at 7:4j and the seat
ing was accomplished with compara-
lively little confusion. The forward
part of the hall was reserved for the
delegates and was separated from
the back part by heavy rope. WheI,
the outer door was crowded such a
crowd came in and filed the back of
the hall as to show the wisdom of the
precautions that had been taken to
give room for the delegates.
When the convention was ready for
business there were upon the stage
Chairman j. W. Cavanaugh. and Score.
tary J. p. Sexton. of the city commit
tee: Capt. George Lamont. Charles Nc
Hugh. j. J. LaNelle. and Paul Kersch,
who had been appointed sergeants-at-
arms by Chairman Cavanaugh, and
members of the press. The squad of
police were lined up along the east
wall where paraded Looney. John Linn
had front seat where he could be
coached conveniently.
At sos Chairman Cavanaugh called
to order and instructed Secretary Sex
ton to read the call for the convention.
Before he had read two paragraphs
Linn. acting on n bunch from LOOney.
got upon his feet with motion to
dispense with the reading of the call.
Il move that John u. Looney be chair
man." he added. The shouting of the
Louney gang at once began and
Chairman Cavanaugh permitted the
reading of the call to proceed.
Mr.. Sexton stuck TO his task
and continued reading. Will Linn
turned toward the crowd and went
through motions as IL putting the
question to the house. The next mo-
ment he pointed Looney to the stage
and the latter peeled his Oyercoat and
jumped upon the roStrum. First he
showed Mr.. CaVanaugh out Of the way
and rushing at MIR. Sexton. who was
still reading. he pushed him into the
flies and for an instant stood in the
center of the stage alone. At this
juncture Capt. Lamont. acting in his
capacity as sergeant-at-arms. bore
down upon the disturber and crowded
him To the west side of the stage and
nearly Off among his own delegates.
Here Loouey found finger hold and
falling with him across a table.
In another moment the police. who
had followed close upon the heels of
LOuney when he made for the stage,
had pulled the two apart, but not un-
til Looney had struck Capt. Lamont
in the face and head, despite the fact
that the latter was simply holding
him and restraining him from doing
other violence on the stage. The
police then took Capt. La
mont into the flies. escorting
Looney TO the center of the
stage. where three or four guarded
him and prevented any further efforts
on the part of the seargeants-at-arms
To do their duty. In vain they were
protested with 10 remove LoOney from
the stage as a disturber and permit
the business of the meeting to be
transacted in an orderly manner. Thus
matters went on for 45 minutes. the
officers of the convention standing
with Looney before the crowd. When
either started Ia speak bedlam began.
Night Captain Kramer. who was in
charge of the police squad. after re-
peated requests had been made. under
took to address the house in the inter
eSts of peace. but he met with rather
n noisier reception than anyone else
had received. Finally he admitted that
he could do nothing. Then it was that
Chairman Cayanaugh called upon all