Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-05
Tuesday, April 4, 1905.
The End OF Bossism I'm Rock Island
Politics.

Politics.
The municipal election in Rock Isl.
and sounded the death knelI to boss
ISM IN local politics. Weary beyond
expression of the same old story. the
convention eliminated by one man, the
republican party proved as anxious to
put its heel upon the odious practices
that had grown into the control of its
party affairs as the democratic party
had BEEN. The alternating system in
the mayoralty chair had become so OBJ
noxIous as to be almost a nuisance,
and the rank and file determined that
there was but one way to end it, and
that at the polls. What The ARGUS
said a little over two years aqo when
IL gave its efforts to the cleansing pro-
cess in the democratic party, that
sooner or later the republican party
in Rock Island would have to meet the
same issue, and recognize the fact
that it would be better to have no party
than to submit to an organization so
dominated, has come true. The demo-
cratic party though losing in its main
ticket made gain in two aldermen in
the council and is in better standing
before the people today than it has
been for several years. The republi-
can party is in a state bordering on
hopeless Generalization from exactly
the same causes from which the demo-
cratic party had formerly suffered.
But failing TO do what the democratic
party did it has been stricken down
through the political boss.
Some months ago The Argus spoke !
of the trend of the times in Rock Isl
and toward non-partisan movement !
in local politics, not necessarily involV-
ing the elimination of party orsaniza- !
tons, but in a union of the influences |
and strength of both parties for what /
might prove the highest good for Rock |
Island, on the broader principle of I
good citizenship and municipal prog
ress. There were great many in the /
republican party who took kindly 20 |
the idea, but the bosses did not. The |
bosses stood out against anything con- |
trary to the drawing of party lines, and |
through one Of the most unpopular /
combinations ever made in the annals !
of Rock Island politics a man was nom- |
mated for mayor who, standing square
ly on the theory that party adherence |
should be Of first consideration, ap-
peaIed for votes on the declaration |,
that he had never voted for a demo |
crat in his life, not even his own SON. |
in-law. That was drawing the princi- !
pie of party fealty in local politics |
rather close. Yet il but voiced the /
spirit of the system out of which came |
the republican ticket. And it was this |
that the people had grown tired of.
AS to MIR. Cavanaugh's candidacy. to
use his own expression, no apologies |
are to be offered. He came as the |
choice of a reorganzed and better Par
ty. He had led its organization in its
successful campaign for a higher ideal, |
and he was the logical leader in its /
campaign to uphold the party standard.
No one realized better than MIR. Cav
anauah the peculiar conditions prevail |
inu in Rock Island of a minority party |
where the people were so pronounced |
in their determination to sweep off
the earth the system of bossism that
the greater party had failed to clear
itself of. The failure of union labor |
to rally to Mr.. CaVanaugh's side is of
course a source of great disappoint-
ment to him. and is natural subject
Of comment throughout town. Standing !
as he did the undisputed representa-
tive of labor interests, those who have |
held to the theory that their cause has |
been overlooked by political conVen-
tions, can not say again that they have
not had the opportunity to honor de- |
servedly popular and recognized /
champion of their cause in conspieu-
Gus manner. Perhaps the only explain
alton that can be given is that the
Iaborinq people were so anxious to
place the stamp of their disapproVai
upon the republican party in its rela-
ton to the campaign that they over
looked the opportunity offered in the
minority party, and thus gave their
supuort to a candidate who under the
stress of conditions seemed more like
Iy 10 win.
OF MIR. McCaskrin, the mayer elect
II need hardly be said that he owes
his success to no one more than to
himself and his unique career IN the
field of local politics. He has already
won his share of honors for one 50
vouno in years and in point Of resi-
denoe in Rock Island as compared
pared with either of the other candi-
date. And so while both parties may
congratulate themselves in the death
of rol:.f~zl bossism, the one through
IT'S own exertions and the other
throuoh the instrumentaliay of the
people. both should likewise Join IN
extending to Rock Islands boy mayor.
4I,eir best wishes. and the hope that