Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-12
THE PUBLIC IS Thunderstorm
OVER ACTION OF THE COUNCIL

ject. The council had proceeded with
its ordinary business, when Mayor Nc
Caskrin announced the presence of Mr..
Richardson, and asked if there was any
objection TO hearing him. There was
not Mr.. Richardson made the remarks
appearing in the council story on this
page Then he retired, and the coun-
Gil took up the thread of its business
where it had been dropped. So il pro-
ceeded for fully an hour and a half.
Alderman Lawler was about to read
the electric inspectors ordinance. when
Alderman Smith asked how about the
telephone ordinance. and if there would
be any harm in having it read What
followed is also told in the detailed ac-
count of the council proceedings.
Up to the Mayor.
At any rate. the ordinance went
through. and it is now up to Mayor
McCaskrin TO determine its fate
There is more or less conjecture as to
what he will do The natural SUPPOSE
| ton would be that he would veto it
before it cooled off after passing the
council, even though in doing this he
would dump the council, with which
| he has been working in concert Of
late. and which. through a strange COM
| bination of which aldermen have ven
tured the assertion that last nights
course of procedure was a part, has
given cooperation to his hearts desires,
not the least of which was the con
firmation recently of his favorite sole
candidate for chief of police.
II But One Sentiment Among the People.
The people know none of the inner
workings of the telephone ordinance
passage but they know how they feel
on the subject themselves They are
surprised. and while no explanation
/ can be made for the vote in general,
and regardless of how severe may be
the condemnation or conjectures The
II Argus believes for its own part that
one of the aldermen who voted in the
affirmative was misled He is new
member of the council and naturally
leaned upon his colleagues for advice
and counsel. If he has made an error,
II il is an honest one. Not one of the
other aldermen who voted for the
measure deserves any defense. land
perhaps does not seek ii. The four
aldermen who stood for the public are
receiving unstinted praise The tem-
per of the public is unmistakable.
| President Myers Surprised.
| President Fred T. Myers of the Rock
Island Business Mems association. who
is attending the state convention of the
| Illinois Retail Merchants at Peoria.
| was called up by The Argus over the
| long distance phone and informed of
J the passage of the ordinance. He could
: scarcely believe il 1t is certainly
surprising. in view of the expression
of sentiment which the business men
and citizens generally gave at the
meeting at the Rock Island Club, two
weeks ago" said Mr.. Myers. 'All the
aldermen were there on that occasion.
Speaking personally. and as the head
: of the Rock Island Business Mems as
sociation, | wish. to go on record as
! condemning the passage of the ordi
, nance"
President oysters Views.
DR.. G. l.. Eyster, president of the
Rock Island Club. said, when his views
were solicited by The Argus: Such
, an act is unprecedented. when the
council knows so well the feeling ex-
listing in the community If public SEN
timent was ever worth anything as q
guide to the public's servants. it sure
ly ought TO have been so in this in
stance. 1t was practically unanimous
and unmisrakable. The councils course
is difficult of understanding
President Hart of Labor Congress.
81 President Archie Hart of the Tri-
: City Labor congress expressed the
!, greatest surprise at the councils ac-
= ton. in speaking to an Argus repre-
sentative today. Il should not have
q been more surprised had | been sud
, denly struck with a club" he said
o land the union laboring men represent
Y ed by the Tri-City Labor congress will
/ feel the same surprise and astonish
: ment In view of the position of GER
i tain of the aldermen and their repre-
o sensations to us through our business
D. agent. F. w. Herges. and otherwise >
e he added. we were given TO under
$ stand that that ordinance should not
- become a law without the union men
1t being first given an opportunity 10 at
t. least be heard on the question of union
e labor. That the council should pass
e the ordinance. in view of the protests
made by the citizens. is astonishing
Of As president of the Tri-City Labor con
W gress. | can say that the ordinance as
= it stood was obnoxious TO union labor
Of and the councils action will meet witt
Id the disapproval of union men,
Of Feeling has run so high today ovel
le the passage of the ordinance that there
has been talk of an indignation meet
e ing.
e. CITIZENS tn u0In