Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-01
Rock Island County Democrats Vote
Enactment by the General
Assembly
MASS CONVENTION CONDEMNED
Review of the Senatorial situation
in the Thirty-Third
District.

primary election law and the improv-
ing of county roads, and ratifying the
convention held on the 2Gth of last
May and all its acts, were adopted at
the close of the democratic county con-
Yention held at the court house yester-
day afternoon, at which an excellent
county ticket was placed in nomination
and delegates to the congressional ana
senatorial conventions chosen.
1t was representative, harmonious
gathering of the party members. and
was well attended considering that it
was the second to be held within a
month. This was especially true of
the country districts, where il was
hardly expected that the farmers
should lay aside the work that is
crOwding them at this season of the
year and come to the city for a days
attention to politics.
Senatorial situation Discussed.
The situation that confronts Rock
Island county in view of the nomina-
ton by the mass convention of George
w. Cooke, Of Aledo, as a candidate
for minority representative to succeed
himself, was gone into pretty thorough
ly. S. ID. Hicks, of Moline, believed ii
should be made an issue between Rock
Island and Mercer counties, Rock ISL
and to have its delegates go instructed
to q senatorial convention to vote for
the nomination of two candidates for
the general assembly, Mr.. Cooke to be
one, and the other TO be from this
county. Both names, according to his
plan. should be placed on the ticket.
each entitled to one vote and a half
This would give democrats in Rock ISL
and county. of whom there were more
than there were in Mercer, the priv
lege of casting three votes votes for
their candidate.
George p. Stauduhar was of the
opinion that a repetition of the judicial
contest that was had two years ago
might be avoided through having a
candidate from Rock Island county
placed on the ticket as an independent
democrat. and he offered a substitute
to the motion of Mr.. Hicks that the
whole question he referred to the dele
gates in conjunction with the Rock ISL
and county committee. with permits
sion to take action along the lines that
he suggested if it was deemed advis-
able to do so.
Moore Opposed to Two Nominees.
w. r. Moore said he did not want
any split voting in his. If he was to go
on the ticket he wanted TO be there as
the choice of the democrats of the dis
trict and entitled to the fun vote of
his party He was satisfied that Mr..
Cooke mad already filed with the secre-
tary of state his credentials as the
of AIpdn N-pD-
ton. FOR Rock Island county now to
recognize his nomination, as it would
be doing by concurring in the motion
offered by Mr.. Hicks, would necessari-
lily produce another proceeding
such as was gone through
two years ago, when Mr. Cooke tri-
umphed before a tribunal composed of
the county judges Of the three coun-
ties embraced in the senatorial dis
trict Mr. Moore wanted none of that
in his. He moved the tabling of Hicks
motion.
T. J. Medill was opposed to hamper
ing the delegates with instructions of
any character. They should be left
free to act as the exegencies of the
situation demand when the proper
time arrives. Chairman Marshall
agreed with Mr. Medill. and was of the
opinion that the entire discussion was
not in order. and on his suggestion the
motions before the convention were
withdrawn.
RESOLUTIONS Are Presented.
The report of the committee on resO-
lutiOns was thereupon presented by r..
J. MedilI with a supplementary report
| no of
the convention of May %, both of
which were adopted. as follows:
We condemn the action of any COM
mittee of the democratic party in call
ing and holding mass conventions for
the nomination of any officer. We be
lieve that the best interests of the
people demand the passage of a pri-
mary law. which shall require the Sc
lection of all delegates for the nOmi-
nation of candidates be held by all
parties on the same day and during
the same hours and surrounded by the
| same safeguards as govern general
elections. the expenses thereof TO be
paid the same as AT elections, and
We urge upon the next general assem-
bly, the passage of such law.
Recognizing that uniform system
of permanently improved roads and
highways are essential to our proper
development and substantial progress
and with an earnest desire to pro
mote the least burdensome means TO
secure such a system of public roads
for our districts, counties, state and
nation. therefore be it resolved that
we endorse any practical plan which
shall equalize the cost in the construc-
ton Of good public roads. That we
favor what is known as the state aid
plan which has been in successful op-
Grafton in some of the older states for
the past ten years.
We therefore urge upon our repre-
sentatives as the next general assem-
| bly, TO enact a general law for this