Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-11
RIOTING IN MOLINE
DisgracefuI Bra ~Is Mark Repub.
lican Caucuses OF
Last Night.
LowDEN LOSES ONLY ONE WARD
Yates-Deneen Forces Winning In
the Fifth-Rock islanders
Help Out.

Rioting marked the caucuses of the
republican party at Moline last even
ing for the choosing of delegates to
the county convention, the Lowder
element packing the meetings in al
wards excepting the Fifth, where the
Yates-Deneen forces triumphed after
one of the most disgraceful brawls
that ever attended political gather
ing in the history of the city.
Pandemonium reigned in the Fifth
ward meeting, which was held at Van
Daele's hall, from the moment that
Ward Committeeman Fred Frisk rap
ped for order until the crowd dispers-
ed in fear of arrest. Frisk, who is a
Lowden supporter, called for nomina-
tions for chairman, and his name and
that of DIR. f. A. Edlin, a Yates man,
were offered. On an aye and nay vote
Frisk declared himself elected, but a
division of the house was demanded.
which showed Edlin to be the choice.
and he secured the gavel.
Rush for Chairman.
There was united rush by the
Lowden crowd towards the chairman
in an effort to wrest the gavel from
him and take charge of the meeting.
Sheriff w q. Heider. who is a resident
of the ward, mounted a chair and
pleaded for peace in the name of COM
mon decency. He was hooted and
jeered. but held the fort, the only
thing that saved him being his official
authority.
\ Dayenporter who had been rung
in to help along the Lowden support
ers left the hall on order of the chair
man. This further enraged the Low
denites. one of whom engaged in
personal encounter with one of the
men opposed to him in the meeting.
and they left the imprints of their
fists on each others anatomy before
they were separated and elected.
The delegation favorable to Yates
and Deneen was finally railroaded
through, and the gathering broke up
1t is understood that contesting
Lowden delegation will be presented
to the convention from this ward
The Lowden managers claim they
have all the wards solid except the
Fifth, but the opposition claims there
are a number of the delegates in those
wards who will vote with them. Lar
ry Magill claims practically the whole
of the Moline delegation will support
him for denomination as legislative
candidate.
LOOney Crowd In First.
In the First ward a hack load of
men was delivered by the Lowden
managers in Rock Island and helped
to carry the caucus. The Yates and
Deneen supporters allowed the push
to have its way and after the dele
gates had been appointed held. con-
ference of their own and named a
contesting delegation to be presented
at the county convention.
In explanation Of the situation in
the First ward, Supervisor Albert Ed.
who is ward committeeman, stated to
The Argus today that the caucus was
carried by floating voters brought in
from Rock Island under direction of
John p. LoOney. There was not only
n hack load, but n street car full.
Speaking of the caucus. Mr.. Ed said:
Il called the caucus to order. j. a.
Godehn was nominated for chairman.
house was called for, and L appointed
w. j. Davis and L. c. Handing to
make a count. While the count was
being taken this Rock Island crowd
came in and merged into the south
east corner of the hall. Upon the
count being made and announced.
that 4. G.. Swanson was elected chair
man. he having 125 to 80 votes for J.
\. Godehn. a motion was made, after
the secretary had been chosen, that a
committee of three be appointed to
select n delegation to the county con-
vention. / offered a motion that the
delegation be selected by ballot. At
this time Mr.. Banding took occasion
to deliver a Lowden speech lasting
about ten minutes. / answered him
and asked for fair play, inasmuch as
there was a division of sentiment in
our ward on the governorship, and
called for point of order, as Mr..
Blanding's remarks were not bearing
on the motion before the house. We
were ignored at every attempt to be
heard by the chair, and after making
several futile attempts to be heard on
different motions, 1, as ward commit
teeman. called caucus in another
part of the hall, electing j. \. Godehn
chairman and myself secretary. a
committee of five was appointed to Sc
!ect delegates. This committee was
composed of W. A. Davis. Nels Pierce.
Albert Ed, Emil Heimbeck and J. J.
Creedon. \ resolution was thereupon
adopted that we vote as unit on all
questions pertaining to the orpa MIA
tion of the county organization. We
are not only satisfied that the Looney
crowd enabled the Lowden forces to
override the legitimate republican
voters represented in the ward. but
there are some who went into the
caucus with us who claim that the
Looney crowd was under his personal
The Moline Lineup.