Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-31


Historically, the year 1907 has been
normal one for Rock Island, Witnessing
rs it has the advance characteristic OF
The city for years, and with few events
that stand out as of more than usual
Importance However, the city has
had two such events this year, the
winning of the Three-Eye league base
ball championship, and the creation OF
a fund of s135,0O0 for the purpose of
bringing to Rock Island substantial
new industries. The Islanders went
to the top of the percentage column
in an intensely exciting finish, and the
city ended first for the first time since
the organization of the league.
The foundation of the Industrial COM
mission and the creation of the fund
for new factories is likely to mark a
new epoch in the citys history. The
money, only one-fifth of which has been
called in so far, was raised entirely
by popular subscription among the bus
mess houses. merchants, professional
men, and individual citizens of the city.
A. thorough campaign for the fund was
undertaken by committee of so citi-
zens acting for the Rock Island club
and the Rock Island Industrial commits
sion. This committee of so has now
been organized as a permanent boOs
tiers association.
Events in Politics.
In nolitinc tho vaor caw l,nucual daval
opments, and the launching of the citi-
Zens' movement. This organization NAM
ed a full city ticket, but withdrew the
head of the ticket at late hour, and
threw it's strength to the republican
candidate, H. C.. Schaffer, who was cleo
ted, after hot campaign, over George
w. McCaskrin The citizens, however
elected three aldermen, DR.. Louis Os-
from in the Seventh ward. H. J. Prick
in the Fourth. and J. r. Tuckis in the
Third.
The spring election saw also
the expression of disapproval of
the voter when the office hold
er failed to tact in accord with ex-
pressed public opinion Every alder
man who voted for the obnoxious Cen
trail Union Telephone company fran
chse ordinanceI against which public
opinion had besn strongly expressed,
was defeated fq reelection. The tele-
phone company attempted to force the
ordinance .thrSIgh the council, and af-
ter this attempt was defeated. mass
meeting of eli zens was held at the
/. Rock Island club and opinions freely
EXPRESSED In regard to the ordinance.
The company did succeed in fore
ing the ordinance through. but a week
later when the disapproval of the vot-
ers generally was shown, the aldermen
and the mayor had a contest to see
which could first undo the work of the
earlier session, The council voted to
reconsider the adoption of the ordi-
nance. And while the injustice to the
people was made right, the voters re-
membered, and none of those aldermen
were returned to the council.
LoOney Indicted.
The year saw the indictment of John
Looney and a number of his associ-
ates on various criminal charges There
were "a of these indictments returned
charging conspiracy to bride, conspir
acy to extort, bribery, extortion
and libel There are still 29
of these cases pending, the two
which were called for trial at the Sep
TENDER term having been dismissed on
pure technical grounds.
The latter part of the year has been
marked by a general stringency OF
money, but the situation has not been
severe in Rock Island. The banks put
in force the rule requiring 60 day
notice for the withdrawal of savings