Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-24

Former Illinois Senator Sure
Enough Comes Back From
Down and Out Club.
is HEARD AT THE THEATER
With Others He Attempted TO Stir En-
thusiasm But Mention of Roose-
welt Alone Succeeded.

|
from the down and out club 10 come &c
Rock Island last night and attempt &C
jolly the dropping spirits of the local
machine-soon also TO join the contin
gent of the down and out Waltz Ne
Around Again Willie" was the key.
note of the former senator's effort.
| Nevertheless the meeting at the Hi
nois theater was a failure. AS last
resort, when it became known that
| Governor Cummins of Iowa could nor
be here. former Senator W. f Mason
was sent for and he came with Alder
man Alling of Chicago. The Chicago
men were met with a band. and a
score or more republican office hold
ers. candidates. and politicians gath
cred at the Harper house. About s
O'Clock the little company moved brave
| " to the Illinois theater, where the
show was pulled off.
Proud Showing.
About half of the 50 chairs placed on
the stage were filled with representa-
tive republicans. to make a showing.
The stage party was of the same char
acter as was the reception committee
officials, down to cOnstables. Judge
c. J. Searle presided. and after con
siderable delay. started things of with
a lengthy talk leading up to a highly
colored sketch of President Roosevelt.
1t is a fact that throughout the even
ing. about the only thing that could
get any show of enthusiasm from the
very small audience was boost for
the president Finally Judge Searle
introduced Congressman James Me
Kinney as the first speaker.
Blamed IL on weather.
The congressman tried to blame the
lack of a showing and the lack of in
terest on the weather but the joke fell
rather fiat He told of his own can
vass. and then started off on a talk
about prosperity, Iivening up his re-
marks with a few choice lots of Stats
tics that had no bearing on anything
in particular He finally declared that
no law is perfect. and cited the Hi
nois primary law. passed by repub-
lican Legislature. as a horrible exam
pie. on account of its complicated re-
quirements.
Andrecn Tries II.
When Congressman Mckinney had
finished Judge Searle introduced Pres
ident Andreen of AUgustana college.
who made an effort to do something
for the county candidates. He warm
ed up on Roosevelt. and managed to
arouse some little show of interest.
Then he went on down the list,
through Deneen. Mckinney. and the
candidates for the county Offices. and
as he went on the interest dwindled
proportiOnately. When DR. Andreen
had made his noble effort for the
county ticket. Alderman Alling was
called on TO do likewise for the state
ticket. and he met with about the same
success. He, too, saw that there was
no enthusiasm to be aroused except
by Iaudng Roosevelt. and after ram
bling in a discussion of state and ma
tional political history for q while. he
broke loose on the president, and de
clared that there was no alternative
but Roosevelt as the next republican
candidate for president. But. as sec
ond choice. he said should it occur
that the president as he has repeated |
ly declared will not become a candi- |
date. he suggested Speaker Cannon. |
This was greeted with some scattering |
applause. and after putting in a few !
words for Smulski for state treasurer, |
the Chicago alderman and candidate |
for county judge gave up the floor 10
Billy Mason. who made the final effort |
of the evening to arouse the natives.
SearIe Makes Apologies.
Chair
man Seare apologized for the failure
to have Governor Cummins as plan
ned and admitted the disappointment Il
In having to secure someone else II
While he did not say il in that way, II
Judge Searle in effect tried to excuse II
The committee in charge for having to
present Billy Mason. though he made
I desperate effort 70 give the impress
sion that he thought no one would
miss Cummins as long as Mason was
On hand. He went into an unnecessary
explanation that Mason was once a
United States senator but is now prac-
icing law as private citizen.
The senator himself was less reServ-
I'd. and declared that he is a politician
)ut of a job. He said that when he is
lead he will be a statesman. Last
night was the first time that the sen
atOr has made a stump talk in this
and il was evident that he
made a discouraging start. He lodged
county and state issues, and by talk
ng trusts and President Roosevelt
made fair impression. He spoke at
ength about trust legislation, and was
careful to tell lust what he had had Ia
10 with it, and then recited the history
If the Panama canal, with some pref
y things about the president Finally
lie started on the rate bill and con-
;luded by bringing out some state
nents worthy of notice. He detailed
he delay of the republican congress
n passing the bill, and cited his own
difficulty in getting a vote on it. He
declared that in this case. for the first
ime since its organization congress