Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-03
The Results of the Election.

The Results of the Election.
The chief satisfaction to be had from
the results of the municipal election in
Rock Island yesterday is found in the
rebuke of misrule and the enforced re-
tirement of Mayor McCaskrin. In view
of all that has been said during the
campaign, not losing sight of some of
the things that have escaped the lips
of McCaskrin himself, extensive COM
ment nthis point so far as The Argus
is concerned, is unnecessary.
The Argus is content that anyone
but McCaskrin should have been Sc
lected mayor of Rock Island. 1t says
this for the citys good. 1t would have
preferred the triumph of a democratic
candidate, but since the party had no
nominee in the field for this office, there
is no occasion for waste of words on
this score. Mr.. Schaffer ought to make
model mayor. He can if he is so dis
posed. He has the advantage Of ex
perience in city affairs sustained by
the reputation of being upright, honest
and courageous.
He is doubly strong in having en-
dorsed the principles of the citizens
association, which was essential to his
election, as the returns demonstrate.
He owes his election to James McNa-
mara, his opponent up to the eve of
election, as much as he does to his
own party. The Overtures which his
friends and supporters, officially and
otherwise in the republican party. made
for the removal of Mr. Mcnamara from
the race, and the agreement he entered
into as a condition of that withdrawal,
binds him to the principles of good mu-
nicipal government. He cannot betray
his trust. He is bound to resist the
ring, which although harbored under
the banner of the republican party
and allied with the most odiOus eIe-
ments in the community, has
sought to operate in both parties to
prey upon the successful one in the
control of city affairs. He stands
pledged to ignore and if necessary re.
pudiate that element
Mr.. Schaffer is bound by the condi-
tiOns of his election to give to the citi.
Zens of Rock Island a business admin.
istratiOn. a conservative yet progressive
administration, and, above all, a clean
administration. He is capable of meet
ing these requirements, and The Argus
believes he will not prove dsappoint
ing.
That the nominees on the citizens
ticket for the other important office!
failed of election is to be regretted, anr
glance at the figures shows that tn,
republicans could see no one who di,
not appear under the party appel
lation Men as qualified as thei
own nominees for positions of public
trust. and fully as deserving, wer
slaughtered by the spirit of party gree,
and the Unsuitable desire for party gaiT
There is no going back of this state
ment, and the outcome does not reflec
the spirit that the leaders exhibits
when, in stress of desperation, the
sought salvation for the head of it
ticket at the hands of the citizens as
sociation which its spelbinders and a:
pirants for recognition had attacke
from the moment it sprang into exis
ence.
AS far as the aldermen are concern
ed, it is a significant phase of the ele,
.tion that every alderman standing fo
reelection who defied public sentimer
on the telephone franchise, went dow
to defeat.
There is no disposition in ute
ing these few words of truth to involv
the result in acrimonious debate. TIL
battle is over. A disturbing influenc
in the community has been eliminate
1T is hoped, permanently. Rock L
land may, IL it will. prove the bette
for the scourge through which 1t ha
passed 1t has had the worst possibl
Let us hope for the best possible
has suffered the pangs Of discord