Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-03
IS A FINE FlzzLE
The Hopkins Meeting in Rock
Island Proves q Lament
able Failure.
A SLIM CROWD TURNS OUT
Representative of SENATE Undesira
bIes" Gets Genuine Sum-
mer Frost.

q
fair the Hopkins gathering of last
Saturday night was frost. While
the ratio in attendance was five to
one in favor of Foss, the contrast in
enthusiasm was even more marked,
END then it wasn't much. The man
from Aurora. whose chief claim to
distinction reposes in being one of
the senate undesirables," realized the
nature of his reception quite as we'll
as anyone, and his discontinue was
plainly evidenced throughout his stay
| in the city What was true of the
reception given the speaker on the
square was likewise so of the recep-
| lion at the Harper house. While it
must be said that Representative Foss
was accorded at least the courtesy of
meeting respectable party represen-
tation at the hotel both before and
alter his public meeting, including a
eoodly share of the party leaders and
| the party rank and file, those who
went to pay their respects to Senator
Hopkins were confined in the main to
Rock Islands affable postmaster, Cap
| tain Hughie Mcdonald, DR.. Joseph
De Silva, who presided at the meet
ing. one Eddie Schoede of WATERFOWL
and one or two others. who by the
| elace of those mentioned were per-
lnitted to shake the hand of the can
didate for reelection to the upper
l>Eouse of congress.
Senator Hopkins address was as
weak as the demonstration in his
honor. 1t was absolutely boyish.
Apart from the time devoted to self
laudation and self-boosting. the senator
INDUCED himself in ridieplously exag-
serated statements as to the political
situation in the nation Notwithstand.
ing that he is on record as having
said within two years that the only
J, Republican in the country who could
beat Bryan this year was Roosevelt
he in substance ventured to predict
Saturday night that Bryan would not
; carry state in the nation. And this
was a par with the absurd ulterances
that made up the burden of his talk.
DIR. Desifva Presides.
Senator Hopkins spoke at s O'Clock
On Market square, occupying wagon
: as platform, rather than speak from
the upper part of the public building
. DR.. Joseph DeSilva presided at the
meeting, and was the only oc
: oupant of the platform besides the
: senator. Even Rock Islands affablt
postmaster preferred position on the
edge of the crowd
Dr. DeSilva arose with an almos
audible groan when it came time t.
make his little speech He had beer
coached, it seemed, by the senator
. sented the junior from Illinois wa.
really touching. The doctor had tear
in his voice as he told the scatteret
few of the audience that the senator,
E record is one the state may be prou,
OF, and that Hopkins is ,one of tn,
: greatest men of the age, and so on il
a regulation style.
= Senator Hopkins was obviously an
moved when he arose to speak. HI
began by talking of "these beautiful
t cities" and their possibilities in man
e ufacturing lines. But it needs re
= publican administration, he argue
g weakly!ato develop these possibilities
( He insisted that the election of Brya
e would be ''indiscreet" He praise
$ Bryar's personal qualities, and spok
of him as a good private citizen, al
interesting man of great persona
B magnetism. But he's dangerous t
the great interests he added.
e At just about this point in the ser
ator's address, the caliope of tn
steamer W. w. broke forth in shri
& tones of alleged melody, and the SCI
ator's annoyance increased. FINAL
= he stopped, and looking reproachfull
:" toward the river, said: What is tia
thing. anyway. 1t certainly has a dol,
full sound"
Answers No Charges.
Recovering his composure in
measure, the senator continued. n
went over the political history of til
Il
= the republican party is the only part
! capable of running the affairs of stat
- and that the democratic party is
,f menace to civilization. He final
A. rerehed present times, and referre
- briefly to Tafts political career, poin
n. ing to the administration of Taft
v. the Philippines as sufficient proof
70 he secretary's ability to fill the off
e of president
TO Then Senator Hopkins reached Il
ar subject he really wanted to talk abou
II, and he spoke of his own candidac
in He very truthfully said that the Off,
n which he seeks is one of the most ii
ar. portant ON which the people of Il
re- state will express themselves next ST.
"a. urday. He told of the old method al
". the present manner of choosing Unite
nm States senators, and told of the co
n vention which nominated him six yea
age. He declared that he has alwa
been loyal to the republican party al
lie has never cast vote not approved
tpoocavoIfs "ff vet, coud ANN 49,. -