Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-26
ARE TO CARRY OIL
Republicans Decide to Reorganize
the FIambeau Club That They
Had Four Years Ago.
MASS MEETING A SLIM AFFAIR
General Apathy Holds the Floor at the
Misunderstanding at Turner
Hall.

The republicans of the city held a
hatchet-planting at Turner ,hall last
evening, and incidentally decided to
resurrect the flambeau club that was
one of the best customers of the Stan
dard Oil company four years ago.
John Rinck, the hustling chairman
of the city central committee. had the
! hall done in holiday raiment, giving
| ii more the appearance of a Fourth
| of July fireworks party than a politi-
cal heart-to-heart. The city chairman
nestled on the platform in an embank-
ment of flags and pictures. There
were Autographs of the candidates for
president and vice president, and for
governor, and Yates and Lowden were
hung on the same side of the wall
to show that there were no hard feel
ings between them, and mutely sug-
| costing to the assembled hosts that
it were well for then to raise them
selves away from the unpleasantries
of the past.
When Charley Searle floated in and
| took a seat in the same row with NJ
NJ. Sturgeon Chairman Johnny's face
was Illuminated with a smile that cost
|
| just applied a lucifer John wanted
to shout for joy. If not a word had
been uttered or anything done in ref
erence to marching clubs Johnny
would have been satisfied that he had
been a success as a political peace
maker. Sam Ryerson served as sec
rotary OF the meeting
To Feel Out Sentiment.
William Sehnert, Charles Oberg, c.
F. GAZETTEER, DR.. G. &. Craig, ST., D. r.
McF'arlane, William Kennedy and A
G. AndersOn-puzzle: find the Yates
man-were appointed by the chair a
committee to feel out the party SEN
| timent as to the formation of ward
and central clubs and report at sub
sequent meeting. A proposition from
the management for the use of Turner
hall as headquarters for the fiambeau
club, the only charge to be for lighting.
was accepted. and the committee au-
thorized to employ a man tC are for
the hall from now till the closing of
the campaign.
Chairman Rinck said that he had q
fag-raising on tap. 1t would be I'M
furled TO the breeze on Eighteenth
| street between Second and Third ave
unexpectedly in front of the office
Epf the party organ. This paved the
way for the patriots. There had been
no enthusiasm. Harrison McCluslley
McCaskrin commented on the indiffer-
ence of the republicans. He did not
exactly say that they had cold feet,
but he might as well have said it.
Harrison pointed to the starry banner
floating over the head of the city chair
man, threw out his chest. struck a
dramatic attitude, and said he was
proud to belong to party that haC
| consecrated itself to the grand old
aag. Harrison was surprised there
were not more republicans at the
meeting. The hall should have been
packed to the doors. During the talk
on fiag-Taisings B. F. Knox remember
ed that there was a flag in his office
in the Fifth ward. 1t had been there
four years, and would be delivered
/ over to the proper parties whenever
it was wanted.
| Flag Hunting Expedition.
Brother McCaskrin knew of several
ine flags scattered over the city. and
ne moved that a committee be appoint
ID TO assist the central committee in
locating them. George p. Nissen did
not think it was necessary to call the
whole party out to find the flags. If
he central committee could not find
hem they were not to be found. This
"uffled Brother McCaskrin, and he
oppressed Indignation that anyone
should look so lightly upon n matter
Of such grave importance. The flag
was a sacred emblem, and too much
rare could not be taken in its preser-
| vation. MCCaskrin finally reused a
ripple of applause by winding himself
up in the national colors. but this was
patriotic purely. There was no po-
itical enthusiasm. 1t was the frost
lest assemblage of republicans that
has been held in the city probably
n years. Your old friend, General
Apathy had front seat.
There was a painful lull after the
business of the meeting had been fin
shed Chairman Rinck finally took
courage to invite some Of the leading
ights to open their oratorical batter
'es. Remarks were drawn from J. K
Scott. J. F. Witter r. w Olmsted. 3
> Knox. DR. Joseph De Silva, +. o.
Van Calder Tony Harper, c. J. Searle
l. a Mcdonald. V. &. c. Wenger. F.
: Robbins. and Ex-senator William
Payne. Col. Christian Frederick Gaet
Ier was in from Longview park also