Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-06
FINISH OF THE
!. BITTER FIGHT
DRAWING Near
People Will Express Choice for
Candidates at Primary Elec-
tion Saturday.
LIVELY COUNTY CONTESTS
Republicans Are Split Over Several
Places-Animated but Friendly
Democratic Races.

iudy tut ptOple VI lilc Stdte III
for the first time vote for party candi
yates under the new primary law which
went into effect July l. The shortness
OF the time from the date the law went
into effect and the election had its eff
fect OIL the campaigns, and candidates
have resorted to new methods to meet
the new conditions. The candidates
have found it necessary to get closer
TO the rank and file of the voters, and
two methods have been developed in
addition TO the cd Misunderstanding,
speech-making practices. The candi-
dates have relied conspicuOusly on
printers ink, both in display advertis-
ing and reading matter in newspapers,
and they have flooded the mails with
letters to the voters. Tons of cam
paign matter have gone through the
Rock Island pOstoffice, sent out by can
didates on the state tickets, and on the
county ticket as well. The skirmish
for nominations has probably never
been livelier than i'll this campaign.
In This County.
In Rock Island county the situation
seems to indicate that of the half doz-
en- candidates for the republican NOM
ination for coroner, John F. Rose, the
Moline undertaken, will land the place
ON the ticket, although he will be Civ
ell something of chase in the count
by DR.. c. r. Foster DR.. J. E. Assay and
c. F. McNabney.
Not satisfied with the coroner nom
ination, Moline has its hand out for
the nomination for states attorney.
and in the fight for this place centers
the greatest interest. The contest is
between John X. Scott of this city,
the present incumbent of the Office, and
Lawrence NJ Magill of Moline, G. G.
Wenger of this city is also candi-
date, but seems likely to cut little fig
ure. The favorable outlook for Rose
has had the effect of giving added
strength to SCOTS candidacy.
Has Been Bitter.
The contest in the republican ranks
have all been bitter ones. and such that
their effects will probably last after
the nominations are made. This is
probably most true of the contest for
state representative. The surface in
dications are that Thomas Campbell
of South Rock Island and Frank E.
Abbey of Biggsville, the present repre-
sentatives. have all of the republican
machine power back of them, and that
their nomination is the great aim of
the men controlling the machine. The
two men, however, have found them
selves in a very embarrassing situa-
ton, for they have been given the Off
cial endorsement of the state brewers
organization as well as that of the An
ti-Saloon league, and it is rather diff
cult to explain this situation to the
voters. The very conflicting endorse
ment is generally taken to mean that
Campbell and Abbey have been playing
to both sides. How much the endorse
mcnt of the Anti-Saloon league will be
regarded when it is considered that
the same men have been endorsed by
the strongest liquor interests in the
same official manner, remains to be
seen. and the same is true of the IL
quor endorsement in the face of the
Anti-Saloon league endorsement
Have Strong Opposition.
There are three other candidates
J.. B. Strayer of South Rock Island
c. f. Gazetteer of this city, and Charles
A. Clarke of Mercer county, and be
tween them they are giving the two
present republican representatives q
decidedly unpleasant time.
MIR. Strayer has been making prin
ters' ink campaign largely, and while
not favoring prohibition, he is {
temperance candidate-what he terms
q local option republican. Mr.. Strayel
today issued letter again protesting
against the Anti-Saloon league ell
dorsement being given to Campbell
and Abbey, and denied to him. HI
also argues that in Rock Island count!
both votes should go to Rock Islant
men. He claims that because one vot'
goes to Campbell it should not neces
sarily follow that the other should q
to Abbey. In other words, Mr.. Straye
SAYS he wants one vote, and he doe
not care who gets the other, but h
does not believe that a vote for Camp
bell should mean necessarily a vote 10
Campbell and vote for Abbey.
c. F. GAZETTEER has been making
strong campaign and seems to hav
particular strength among the liberia
element in Rock Island and Molin
and the Mercer county towns MI
Clarke has largely based his campaig
on geographical claims.
The primary seems likely to be
test of the machine strength.
Looks Like Deneen Here.
Locally the indications are tha
In the contest for the gubernatoris
nomination, Governor Deneen will wi
easily over Governor Yates. Tn
fight between Congressman Foss an
Senator Hopkins for the senatori;
nomination has been warmly wage