Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-18
BEATEN BY
HOODLUMS
C. C. Swisher, Senator
iaI Committeeman,
SIugged
COMING FROM ALED0
Dragged From Train at
Viola by Four
RoughS.

{. {. Swisher, of Moline, chairman
If the democratic senatorial commit
tee of the Thirty-third district, was
pulled out of passenger coach on
county. on his way home from the
democratic senatorial convention at
Aledo Saturday afternoon by four
tuughs, supposed TO be residents Of
Viola, taken to the side of the track
opposite the depot and beaten into
insensibility. So quickly, and at the
same time, 50 quietly, was the out
rage committed that the conductor on
the train did not realize what had hap
pened and had given tho signal TO the
engineer to pull out from the station,
when Il physician, who vas on the
train and had witnessed the assault
the conductor and brakeman, going
around to the outside OF the train.
found Mr. Swlsher unconscious. He
was placed on the train, and under
the medical care of the physi-
clan was restored to consciousness
and brought to his home at Moline.
He has since been confined to his bed.
lie is severely wounded about the
head and neck and face, where there
are evidences that a rock or some
blunt instrument was used by the das-
tards who committed the crime. IT
was necessary to take four stitches in
the upper lip.
The motive ~ thc crime i 80 fhr
Unknown. but 1 Is understood the
Mercer county authorities will en-
deavor TO ferret out the perpetrators
Of the deed and bring them to Justice
The case seems to be one for the Mer
Ger county grand jury to take in
hand, in order that the entire circum-
stances surrounding the outrage be
DEVELOPED.
Protested AaaIusr BoudIumIsm.
In view of the fact that the basis Of
the arguments raised by the Mercer
county papers for the action of the
democratic senatorial committee was
the hoodlum tactics that were en-
ployed in the vain effort to prevent
the straight democrats in Rock Island
from holding their city-tcwnship con-
vcntion this spring were such that the
O ~ safe place TO hold democratic
convention OF any kind was in Mercer
county, it seems proper to remark
that il has been developed that there
is a hoodlum element of a dangerous
character in Mercer county, too. And
it is about time that the party
there was adopting the same methods
that have been taken up by the party
here. of wedding il out.
Ii need hardly be said that there |
could have been no circumstance de !
Neloped in the proceedings at Aledo !
Saturday To justify resort TO violence. |
much less the riotous affair that oc-
CURED al Viola. There may have been !
some feeling in certain parts of the /
district and in Mercer county over the |
extraordinary action on the part of !
the friends of Mr.. Cooke in going to |
the extremes that were adopted TO |
make certain of his denomination. |
This sentiment was developed in the |
democratic county convention. but |
there was nothing on the surface To I
indicate that the spirit of ruffianism /
was To crop out i'll 80 intense a form |
later in the day.
To RepudIats Mass Convention
In the county convention which pre- .
coded the senatorial convention. after |
the nominations for the county ticket /
had been made. W. K. Wilmertcn. a 1
delegate, moved that delegates he Sc
lected TO the senatorial as well As the |
safe and congressional conventions |
This WAS direct slap At the mass |
convention called by the senatorial |
committee and had 1t carried would 1
have placed the seal of disapproval of 4
the Mercer county democrats on the 4
senatorial committees move. The /
convention. however. promptly sat |
down upon the motion, and delegates !
We're selected only TO the state and