Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-14
independence and Independence.

in politics. There is the candidate
who represents independence in
thought, independence for the time
being, at least, in concentrated poll
teal action, and there is the candidate
who represents independence purely of
his own creation prompted by purely
selfish motives.
Yesterdays press dispatches told of
an instance where negro in Kansas
City. had filed petition signed by 67S
representatives of his race command
ing that his name be placed on the in
dependent ballot for the Office of may
or. That petition, sClf-circulated, wds
representative purely of self-centern1
political action That is the kind of
independence that is abusive of the
spirit and letter of the law and the
privileges of the elective franchise. 1t
is the direct antithesis of the principle
that the Office should seek the man,
rather than the man the office.
1t Rock Island examples are present
ed of the two sides of the Independent
| idea in politics. The citizens non-par-
tisan movement, for instance. repre-
SCENTS concentrated independent politi-
cal thought. as an outcome of which
men have been sought to serve, rather
than seeking to boost themselves and
seeking to be boosted. There is not a
nominee on the citizens ticket whose
candidacy was not earnestly solicited
and urged. This is a truth worthy of
statement for the truths sake. if moth
ing else.
Presented in contrast with this rep
resentation of independence in political
movement is the chronic candidacy of
| George Washington McCaskrin, with
which the people of Rock Island have
been afflicted in practically every cleo
| ton since before the present century
lopened. 1t began in the aldermancy of
the Fourth ward, reaching out from
that to the mayoralty in two cam
paigns, not neglecting the legislature
in the meantime, and making flash
at congressional honors as they passed.
And going even so far as to contem-
plate a horseback campaign for the
lgubernatorial chair of the state.
And in every one of these campaigns
the sole idea, the simple ambition of
McCaskrin has been the guiding
thought. His has been a candidacy
self-created, based on a petition self
circulated and fostered by campaign
of self-laudation for self-aggrandize.
ment Can anyone in Rock Island re-
call the occasion wherein McCaskrin
uttered one woru III concentration OF
support of anyone aspiring for office
but himself? Two years ago he was
indignant that any other candidates
should have the effrontey to get on the
ticket under the same caption with
which his name appeared. He was, and
ALWAYS has been, prolific of abuse and
SANDER and blackguardism of anyone
who opposed him for office, or who
out of office, has exercised the free
born right OF Crit,cising either hi:
method of campaigning or his course
as a public official. That is the Nc
Caskrin notion of indcpendence-inda
lpendence so far as it spells McCask
rim, and regarding independence under
any other name as unworthy of re
speCt.
During the McCaskrin campaigns il
the past Inc Argus was frequently CT;
ticised and often blamed for giving the
self-bOOsting candidate too much con
sideration. Many there We're who felt
and they did not hesitate to expires!
their feelings to The Argus, that sucl
self-ccntered movements ought to b.
condemned and not even so much a!
Icountenanced The Argus considered. new
ertheless, notwithstanding that McCask
rim was self-centered candidate. IL
} had followers. and until he had bee!
tried and found wanting he was TO
the sake of those who believed in him
entitled to fair show At no tim
: was the support of this paper giveI
| to his candidacy. He was treated wit
consideration, that was all.
Mayor McCaskrin, the self-centere
candidate, has now been tried. H
has been found as selfcentered as
p public official as he was as a cand
f date. His entire administration ha
been one of McCaskrin. by McCaskrr
: and for McCaskrin. He has been 4
> intolerant and as abusive in his att
: tude toward all who have disagree
:. with him in his official conduct, as h
t was in his disposition as a candidate
S He has been shown to possess til
I wrong idea of independence both in
candidate and in public official.
This is an age of Independent poi
teal thought. 1t is the trend OF tn
times. But that independence of though
is an element that does not look for sci
< glory and singleness of purpose. 1t
=, an independence of thought that
broad, not narrow; that is generou
!, not selfish. 1t looks to better cond