Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-18
CRAIG IS IN LEAD.
Only Avowed Candidate to Date
for Republican MayoraI
Nomination.
BEEN AT WORK FOR YEAR
Opposing Faction Seeking For Moses
New Face is De-
manded.

DR.. G. G. Craig, ST.. is credited with
having the pole in the race for the re-
publican mayorality nomination. for
he appears to be the only one consid-
cred among the available timber who
has been devoting his energies toward
building up a convention favorable to
him. If his foot does not slip at the
finish, the doctor is Sanguine that the
prize will be his. 1t is the browning
ambition of his life TO be mayor of
the city. and he has had his wires in
a constant hum for upwards of a year.
But the doctor is not the only one
whom the republicans are discussing
as having the required qualifications.
Is is not SO much a matter of filling
the office satisfactorily that is very
ing the republicans. The uppermoSt
question is to agree on a man who will
pull the biggest vote. for there is not
manifest among the party leaders that
air of confidence SO apparent on the
approach of preceding municipal cleo
tons. Conditions have changed.
There has been a revolution i'll senti
ment. Men who have been voting the
republican ticket all their lives in
Rock Island openly declare they will
support the coming spring 4 man who
is outside any combination; that they
have wearied of playing To the same
old dance music.
Knox Ii Holding Back.
B. +. Knox, former mayor, has
been talking to some of his
following about announcing his
candidacy, but il is said that Mr.
Knox has all he wants of that office
Still he is a factor to be reckoned
with in settling on the nominee. VIII
liam McCOnochie. present incumbent
of the office. has announced unquali
fledly that he will not enter the con-
test But his honor has made asser-
tons of a similar nature in years gone
by a republican of some standing made
this remark last night: why would
il not be appropriate for some alder
man 10 introduce in the council an
ordinance alternating the office OF may
or between Knox and McConochie,
and after they have passed from life's
activities, the office to be given over
to the keeping of their heirs" That
is the situation in a nutshell. The re-
publicans are demanding a new face
in the mayors chair They want a
new man, but he must be one who
can win. That is what they are all
saying. If the right man is not trot-
ted out, they say. they will turn and
give their votes TO the nominee of the
democratic party.
c. J. Larkin and III. III. Cleaveland
have been mentioned prominently. but
both have been sought rather than
seeking. Neither has given his final
answer. it is stated. but all the while
the doctor keeps forging ahead, build
ing up his ward organizations. The
doctor of course has the favor of the
present municipal administration.
How far that will go towards secur-
ing for him the nomination remains
for developments to determine. But
the doctor is not in favor with theI
Knox following, ii is said. So repub-
licans say that the nominee must be
one who will be satisfactory To all fac
tons for there are still factions in the
republican party. the soreness that
grew out of the governorship struggle
in the county one year ago. which had
its bitterest scenes in this city. not
having been healed.