Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-22

made possible the election of an exc
cutiye who is not really competent 20
run a peanut stand. Hard work ami
enthusiasm on the part of members Cf
the Citizens association will give il 4
victory at the polls in April.
j. w Welch said there is no doubt
that the movement will succeed. Ii is
not antagOnistic 10 NEE but to meth
DDS. The. hands of the candidates
heretofore put before the. people have
been tied by their pledges made to Sc
cure their nominations. The representa-
| tive element of the city now has a
chance to declare itself and it is pre-
pared TO do so.
NJ. II. Sexton said he had taken a
deep interest for years in starting
such campaign as has now been IN
dertaken. He had worked on commit
tees i'll the interests OF various public
and semi-public enterprises. but he
never saw the enthusiasm so strong
for anything as ii now is for the citi-
zens' movement The various con-
mittees have had big task They
have been approached by those who
are out for nominations by the Old pa
ties asking endorsement. but have ii
ways turned deaf ear TO them Stron :
men had been suggested for the vari
Gus offices who had declined to run
for business or other reasons. and Il
number who appeared strong had beer
found willing but on investigation has
been deemed not available material
The situation had been canvassed witt
great thoroughness. The platform
cannot fail TO meet with the approval
of all conscientious citizens and tho
ticket chosen is strong. 1t is only nee
essary for all to do their parts to win
Text of Platform.
Following is the platform of the Cit
Zens' Non-Partisan association:
, Believing that the people of ROcl
Island should be made acquainted will
the purpose of the Citizens Non-PaT
tisan association. this statement 1
submitted in full confidence that, al
fOrded the information and the OppO,
tunity, our citizens will give cOrdia
support to the candidates presented Il
them by the association. at the comm:
municipal election:
We believe in decent. sane. and d
derby administration of our city's bus
mess affairs. the lack of which is st
verely felt at the present time; witt
out. however, favoring radical and in
e practicable measures
I Elect ON Merits.
We believe that candidates for a
\ city offices should be nominated an
! elected on their merits, irrespective :
5 their past or present political or rel
s gious affiliations. or their rationale,
e or station in life. and with the singl
II end in view of securing honest and CT
Fable official servants.
+ We believe in the strict enforcemeI
y of merit rules in the selection of a
n city employees. without regard to the
e political affiliations. and to insure II
IL desired character of service. we are
re the opinion that the city should acco,
lie to its officials and employees compe
e. sation fairly proportional to the I
e. sponsibilities and labor involved.
We believe that partisan politics
rs the selection of city officials by par
al organizations, or rings or faction
n within parties-inevitably leads TO
lie efficient government Politics should
cs divorced from every department of o
as city government Party rule has fl
To quently led in the past. and, if cont
We ed, will lead in the future, TO the