Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-22

support of both Mercer and Hender-
son as promised and assured, instead
of presenting the name of one candi-
cate to be voted on at the primary,
the names of three will appear on the
ballot, thus much bewildering the
democrats of Mercer and Henderson,
who have not the opportunity to know
either of them, but the promise has
been made and the obligation is due.
in addition to all this the editor of
this paper and other democrats in the
presence of the candidate from Hen
deTson county and this request two
years ago, assured leading democrats
Of Rock Island county that we were
standing by Henderson county's can
didate a. all hazards at that time, but
that in two pears we would support
Rock Island county man whoever
might secure the endorsement of that
county. OF course the primary law
that has since gone into operation,
| has changed the method of choosing
! and does not give Rock Island county
an opportunity to give endorsement to
any particular candidate, but does not
change The obligation of Mercer and
| Henderson county democrats. as made
| by representatives of the party assem-
| bled in the Keithsburg convention.
After the Keithsburg convention, in
which the delegates from Mercer
county stood solidly for Henderson
county. there was threatened bolt
by Rock Island county democrats and
II was to pacify them and prevent any
rash action which might defeat the
nominee of the convention that all
the promises and assurances thus
given had their effect, and all talk of
a bolt subsidized. We call attention
of Mercer county democrats to this
matter az this time because the
pledges we have made to Rock Island
county democrats in the presence Of
| the Henderson county candidate two
years ago, when we were putting
forth every effort to secure his cleo
! ton, places us in position where
| we could not now be honest and be
silent on the subject. We take it for
granted that every democrat in Mer-
Ger county who votes at the primary
will vote honestly and according to
the dictates of his own conscience,
and will appreciate any information
which will enable him to vote more
intelligently. No promise was made
to any particular candidate, or indi-
vidual who might be a candidate.
hence. every Mercer county democrat
who remembers he promises made,
and feels obligated thereby, is entire
| " at liberty to select whom he pleases
from the Rock Island county candi-
dates.
Has Had the HOnOrs.
Mercer county, with the aid OF
Henderson county, was honored by
having the one democratic member of
| the legislature from this district for
two terms. when. to fulfill the prom
Use made Henderson county in the be-
ginning of the fight with Rock Island
county six years ago, gave their sup
port to Henderson county two years
ago to secure the election of any can
\ d:date that county chose to represent
them. which was to be for one term
and the debt to Henderson county
was completely paid two years ago.
1 Mercer county democrats. having nc
candidate of their own, will of course
vote as they please at the August pri
mary for a candidate to go on the
democrat ticket for election in No
vember, but the delegates to the
Keithsburg convention two years ago