Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-20
IS LOOSE AGAIN.
The Boy Mayor Runs Wild on
Still Another
Tack.
THIS TIME A HAND BILL
Which Reflect More Than Ever
Generally irresponsible Ma
ture.

circumstances seem TO justify To the
handbill circulated last night by Rock
Islands erratic mayor. IL has never
been any part Of the policy of this pa
per TO take note of the vaporings of
Irresponsible sheets of any nature. and
il is very apt 10 be contended by many,
and not without reason. that it i'll be-
comes the reputable newspaper to take
cogniZance of the rawlings and rantings|
of those who may be afflicted with
maniacal tendencies. But there is an
exception in this particular instance.
Ii is the office alone that Mr.. Nc
Caskrin holds-and this with due
apology TO all his predecessOrs-tha
suggests even SO much reference as
may here be given 10 the latest species
Of freakism on his part. While both
in diction and photography the circu-
lar that he sent forth last night is
characteristic of the man, and for
which he assumes entire responsibility,
there is enough in il TO reflect the
promptings of influences more evil
| than the boy mayor with all his folly
could ever be, because those other in
| fiuences, still lurking in the shadows.
are the more cunning.
| Vindicates All That Has Been said.
But let the absolute authorship re-
pose in the mayor. if he so wills. And
| so accepted. il cannot but vindicate in
fullest form all that has been said or
could possibly be said of his extraor-
binary capers. designed 10 draw atten-
| ton 10 his own personality, of his vile
and uncomfortable tongue, and alto
| gether of his entire unfitness for the
office he holds. Little as such specta-
| cles affect The Argus. at whom they
| are directed, it is the sense of humilia
| ton that all people share over such
| conduct on the part of the person who
IS filling the office of mayor, that is to
be deplored. and it is on this account,
as much as anything else, that The
| Argus desires it understood that il
does not propose to enter upon con-
tinued or protracted newspaper or
handful dissertation with the present
mayor of Rock Island. Suffice is ii to say
on this point that the mayor has never
been denied access to the columns of
The Argus for any statement. he may
have desired to make in defense of
himself or otherwise, and that privi-
Ilege is still open to him, and will con-
tinue to be for any defense or argu-
ment he may feel inclined TO indulge
IN. with the only attendant require
ment that he employ language becom-
ing his Office. At all events, there viii
be no more reply 10 handbills so far as
The Argus is concerned.
AS to the substance of last nights
| oi ic in, hoI writ =,
800 reward penalty. for The Argus to
present TO the states attorney "suffi-
cient evidence 10 convict one-half. one
third, one-fourth, One-fifth, one-sixth
one-seventh, One-tenth or one-eleventh
Of the eleven places that you say har-
Dor lewd women and were in operation
last week. See exact statement OF
Argus in side column"
After an indulgence in silly person
alities. the charge is made that The Ar.
gus has sold out a democratic candi
date. and that it has abused aldermen
and city officials into forfeiting the
streets TO corporations. The bill
which otherwise is made up
Of nonsensically boyish adden-
la and postscripts, concludes
with the signature, your old college
chum, George W. McCaskrin." AS the
circular is addressed ito the public, -
and the entire arraignment is in the
| second person. the nature of the sig
nature will strike the average mind as
really the most unkindly cut of all.
, There is but one phase for which the
mayor should be accorded due credit
he did not mention the name of the
college.
: CARRIED Reproduction.
/. The article which. II is alleged in the
) circular. is reproduced from The Ar
) gus. is garbled both in language and
) contents; but. taking up the challenge
for what it is worth. the information
, which the mayor seeks may be had in
complete detail by application by the
mayor al The Argus Office Not that
The Argus is DESTROYS of capturing the
boy mayors 800. which he would
. much better apply TO other uses. Ii is
, not the mission of a newspaper to act
; as an informant for criminal proceed
; ngs. Its dealings are with the public
II is quite content TO permit the officers
Of the law 10 enforce the law. The Ar
gus has charged the existence in Rock
Island of dives harboring women.
and the names of the places are at the
) disposal of the mayor whenever he
) may desire them. And, let it be un-
derstOod. the term dives harborins
women" does not apply alone to dis
reputable houses where degraded wo
, men abide. but TO saloons which women
. frequent. as well.
But The Argus goes into too many
homes 10 discuss the revolving scenes
hat characterize the dens of vice thai
. have gone unnoticed in Rock Island
> since Mayor McCaskrin became chiei
: Of police. IL is sufficient 10 call al
tention 70 the fact thai such conditions
. exist II is feeble indeed for the may
/. OF OF Rock Island. who lives In the
. business section and who BIZ virtue %