Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-14
Adlai r.. stevenson.

The Peoria Star, an Independent pa
per with republican leanings, wrote
the following editorial. The Stars edi-
tor, Eugene Baldwin, is probably as
well posted ON the record and charac-
ter of public men of central Illinois as
any man in the state, and what he
says in this editorial about Mr.. Steven
son and his career should be consid-
cred authentic and reliable. The Stars
article shows that charges which have
been made against Mr. Stevenson's
loyalty when young man are entire
ly false. Mr.. Stevenson's record is an
open book. free for the inspection of
any citizen. The Stars article fol
lows:
1--WE have been frequently Emporium
ed to write something upon Adlai Ste
venson and his war record. The facts
of the case are simple enough. Mr..
Stevenson was states attorney of
Woodford county during the war He
was democrat and intimate more or
| less with the democratic leaders. At
that time W. w. O'Brien was the lead
ing force in the democratic party, and
there is little doubt that in 1868
O'Brien organized the great peace
meeting that was hoped would start a
fire in the rear and compel a with
sdrawal of troops from the front There
/ are many men in Peoria who remem-
Der the details of that meeting, how
l
how O'Brien distributed revolvers
i, which it was afterward shown were
paid for with confederate money. 1t
was charged afterward that Mr.. Ste
venson was a Knight of the Golden
Circle and had organized lodges
never heard at the time that he was
figuring in this role. He has always
lbeen a conservative, fair-minded, cour-
lteous gentleman, not at all the type OF
a man out of which conspirators are
made. On leaving Metamora he went
to Bloomington, and he represented
1.-THE Bloomington district in congress
for many years. During one cam
Ipaign this charge of belonging to the
knights of the Golden Circle was
thrown up against him, but he denied
1T and refuted it. Now it pops uI
again, and is. in fact. the only argu
ment that the opposition have Mr.
lStevenson has been highly honored by
the people. He was assistant postmas
ter general and he had manliness ani
independence enough to appoint demo
; Gratis to Office while Cleveland wa:
jfussing over civil service reform Tht
public endorsed Stevenson and dis
countenanced Cleveland. Afterwards
and in consequence of his action, which
Judge Worthington of this city called
public attention to at the national con
lvention, Mr.. Stevenson was elected vic,
president. He bore himself with dignit,
and decorum in his high Office. H,
was prominently mentioned as a can
didate for president. but he made n,
livery strenuous effort to secure it ant
since retirement in 1896 he has livet
in Bloomington, respected and love,
by his neighbors. He is now in tn
full maturity of his powers, in the au
tumn of life. 1t is something to hi
, credit that his enemies must plung
: into the forgotten past and allege tina
, As years ago he was too Jealous a PAL
tisan. 1t shows that in his official lif
Mr.. Stevenson has conducted himsel
,, with dignity and propriety. That h
will, If elected make an executive VIII
will be a credit to the state, goes with
! ,out saying"