Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-25
THREE INQUIRIES
Are Made of Republican Mayor
atty Candidate BY Citizens
Nonpartisan Speaker
SATURDAY NIGHTS MEETING
James Mcnamara, Hope Thompson,
and Others Heard in Market
Square.

In the course of his remarks in con
nection with the Citizens Nonpartisln
association meeting ON Market square
Saturday evening, Hope Thompson.
who presided. said that every indica-
ton is that Mayor McCaskrin is down
and out in the present campaign, and
that the fight is plainly between II. c.
Schaffer and James Mcnamara for the
mayOrality. The situation is simply
that the majority of the people have
determined that the present admins
tratiOn must not be continued, but are
not determined as to which of the 9th
er tickets will best accomplish the
change. He put the problem as one
of Kidding the city of McCaskrinism
either by returning to the old Tepubii-
can machine control or by elCcting the
non-partisan ticket Stating that 10
did not regard McCaskrin as a serious
factor in the campaign. he directed his
remarks at the republican machine
and in this connection propOundod the
following three questions:
Does Mr.. Schaffcr endorse the cam
paign of abuse and ridicule which IS
being carried on by the republican Or.
ganization"
4 Particularly Pertinent Inquiry.
why is John Looney supporting
Mr.. Schaffer for the mayorality!"
Has Mr.. Shaffcr in his official CT
paCity as city clerk been influenced by
the republican ring, and will he be in
tluenced by the republican ring if he is
elected mayor"
He did not attempt a discussion II
the first part of the first question. but
of the second part said that the rCpuh
lican machine will naturally be the
power behind the throne in case of
Mr.. Schaffcr's election. OF the scculd
question as to the support Of John
Looney for the republican nominee
Mr.. Thompson said it indicated that
LoOney and the interests he represents
propose to continue to prey off the
city.
He devoted considerable time to the
republican campaign methods. and OF
the third question did not attempt an
answer except to state that he fcl,
that Mr.. SChaifer personally did not IN
spire the attacks made on those idonrt
fed with the Citizens association, bat
credited their instigatiOn to the repub.
liCan hcelers and spell binders. lie
maintained that those who were idcn
titled with the association had beCom,
none the poorer republicans or demo
Gratis, and declared that the real lead
ers of the republican party would NJ
stOOp to such campaign methods as IL
charged the republican ring here viii
employing.
He based the nOnpartisan campaign
on the proposition of a clean capabl
business administration. and employc.
the argument that for a private bust
ness of even much less maguitud,
than the city administration an iuCapa
bic business man or a lawyer 'wn
never earned a fee large enough :,
pay his weeks board for a week
would not be selected.
improvements Essential.
Mr. Thompson said that the difIicu
ty is not that the residents of the cit
have different aims. but that they hay
different views as to the attainment J
their objects. There is no qucstiO
but that we all want a better city gO'
eminent. a better police department,
more efficient fire department, mo
public improvements, lower taxes
possible, and all other things that <
to make a good city. The difficulty
that we do not agree as to the methO
of obtaining these things. We certai.
ly are agreed that we want a bCtt,
police dCpartmcnt-unless the ma
who robbed Benefits store is in til
audience every man here agrees as
that. We want department that WI
prevent such occurrences as the Be
nett burglary and the brutal holdup
an aged couple in their home at
o'clock in the evening, and a depaI
meut which when crime is commit,
will bring The DpTDCtr atOrS to Justice