Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-31
DEMOCRATS HAVE
A RALLY AT CLUB
Stirring Speeches Are Heard
From Candidates and
Others.
Mr.. COOKE ON HIS RECORD
Says He Has Nothing to Apologize
For-He Has Been
Misquoted.

H. W. NldJIueWS, OF Milan, CdnlludIe
for congress; Hon. George A. Cooke, of
Aledo, nominee for minority represent
alive, and J. W. WEIGH and J. W.
| CaVanaugh. of this city. we're the
speakers at the democratic local head
quarters on Eighteenth street Satur-
day evening
Mr. Cavanaugh, the president of the
| club, acted as chairman of the meeting.
| The room had been provided with seat
ling accommodations for 500 persons,
and the platform was decorated with
| the national colors and Autographs of
| the candidates on the national and
| state tickets. Mr.. Matthews was the
| first speaker. He spoke at the outset
Of his early associations and school
! days in Rock Island. Then he launch
ed into national issues.
Il believe the time has arrived in
the history of this country" Mr.. Mat
thews said, when the people demand
a reimbursement Of the tariff schedule.
but let it be along careful and correct
business principles, as not to jeopardiZe
any of our institutions industrial or
commercial. Our industrial institu-
tons that are working under the tariff
laws are wholly within the law and
should receive careful consideration.
/ am opposed TO the present high tar
IF. believing that under this policy
our infant industries are enabled to
turn out multimilliOnaires by the score.
and these colossal fortunes are piled
up from the conscientious of the peo-
pie.
Where Protection Pinches.
Il am opposed to a protection that
makes the American citizen pay from
20 to 80 per cent more for goods man
uiactured in our own country than for
eign citizens are obliged TO pay for the
same goods. l contend and insist that
| this high protection does not in any
way allow. oblige or compel the manu-
| facturer TO pay higher wages. Ii is
left altogether with him what wages
| he will pay and the excess of the pro
! lection over legitimate expense and
profit goes into his own Golfers | am
not opposed TO the accumulation of
wealth, but do seriously object to the
enriching Of the few az the expense of
the masses. We are constitutionaIIv
and uncOmpromisingl opposed TO
trusts and combines. believing that
they are menace to the financial wei
fare of the people; that they restrict
legitimate competition in trade and
seriously interfere with the high moral
standard to which we aspire And if
the present laws are not able TO grap-
pie with the situation | would lose no
time in enact;ng laws that would pro-
duce the desired result. We are oppos-
ed TO corruption. fraud and extrava-
gance in high places. believing it a
mighty poor example 10 set before the
people. l want 10 tell YOU. my friends.
that extravaganza and waste in the
civil and miscellaneous expenditures
OF this government, according to the
most reliable statistics. is to say the
least monumental. the amount being
sufficient in one year to build hard
roads complete in three states"
Mr.. Matthews was enthusiastically
received. his speech making a SPLEEN
did impression
Standing His Record.
Mr.. Cooke said il was not easy 10
account for the apathetic condition OF
the voter in this election. The repub-
hcan party said that it was because of
/
ministrative policies. but the democrats
had a different theory. He believed
the day when votes were made bv
parades had passed. The citizen was
doing his own thinking. forming his
opinions from reading the newspapers.
which kept him posted on the actions
of both great parties and the utter
ances OF the candidates on both sides
He knew, long before election day.
what he was going TO do when his bal
OF was handed nm. He was not con
/ eTted by The spcll-binder. as he was
( n the old DAYS. Mr.. Cooke there
| 'ore urged upon the democrats
nrough their proper organization. the
necessity for seeing to it that every
'emocrat voted on election day Get
ing out the vote should be the watch
FoTd. He believed the democrats had
, splendid chance TO sweep the coun-
r. this fall, including the state of Hi
1o.s. The republicans have been claim
ne Illinois by 100000. but if ii was safe
ny that margin he could not under
stand why the national committee was
sending in the big guns of the party
q talk to the voter. Coming down to
MS own candidacy Mr.. Cooke said that
he had no apologies to make for his
record. in the legislature the past two
years. II had been attacked by the in
dependent candidate. g. W. McCaskrin.
but that gentleman had madet state
nen,s that were misleading. The in
tention was 10 mislead. Mr.. Cooke
said the house journal was the best evi- /
dence. and he was willing to stand
upon his record there.
should Investigate.
Il was open to tho voters of the
state. Those in the district who had
been hearing the stories that Nc
CaskTin had been telling ought
not 10 pass judgment on his
say 50. Mr. Cooke said that he intend
ed remaining in Rock Island county