Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-27
1.-THE Sheriff Evades"-Not q Ques-
ton of Politics.

1'SAAh6' commencing IuEIuST vi I'll
ieplorable state of affairs in Rock Il
and, says:
II the law and order people are
defeated in their fight against the
gamblers in Rock Island, it will be
only temporarily. Such a defeat
would so stir the people that it
would in the end be better than a
victory. Usually the gamblers
know enough to take their medi-
cine to begin with, and thus avoid
a larger dose and more continu-
GUS treatment.
Sheriff Kittilsen, according to
The Argus, has decided that he
will not reply to the Dispatch's
reasonable demand for informa-
ton. But he makes explanations
evasions.
The law and order people come
= straight out and admit the truth
when they are asked why they
did not apply to Sheriff Kittilsen
or the Rock Island police in the
~ OF AhObeAASOg OuN bAS 6ACA IA anu
the police in their turn are resort
ing to evasions. The reason that
the law and order people did not
in the first place go to the sheriff
or the Rock Island police was that
they felt sure that there would be
no results if they did. The gam
blers, the law and order people
say, seem to have a way of being
prepared for any attack from those
quarters. Therefore it was decid-
ed, in order to get the goods" on
the gamblers, to have the raids
made by constables. When these
constables needed help. both the
police station and the sheriff's Of
fee were appealed to, but there
was nothing doing. This gave the
gamblers new nerve, and they
themselves called on and got the
aid of the sheriff to get the gam
bling paraphernalia away from
the constables so that they could
get it out of jurisdiction of court.
Now Sheriff Kittilsen is quoted
as saying that he feared the law
and order people would not help
him get the evidence if he partici-
pated in the trouble in their favor;
further he declared in effect that
States Attorney Magill is bluff
ing when he says he will push the
fight against the gamblers.
Now, 1t is a sure thing that Sher-
iff Kittilsen is putting up a bluff
AS to Mr. Magill, he can yet dem
onstrate just how much he means
by what he says.
The Rock Island Argus of Sat
urday quotes Sheriff Kittilsen as
below. While it is probably true
that The Argus would have said
less if Kittilsen had been elected
on the democratic ticket, instead
of on the republican, the Dispatch
does not see any reason for In
PRODUCING party politics into the
controversy. 1t is a question or
cleanness and lawfulness against
the species of robbery that exists
in Rock Island under the name Of
gambling, robbery because guilt
BILE young men are enticed into
these places and fleeced out of
their money; worse than robbery,
because these same young men
are thrown up against the vice
and drunkenness in the midst of
which these gambling lairs find
Judgment. The Dispatch recog-
nizes no politics. when an officer,
by whomsoever elected, shirks his
DUTY.
The Dispatch then reproduces TIL
Argus interview with Sheriff Kittilsel
md accompanying comments. The Al
gus Is in full accord with the position
If the Dispatch, that the deplorabl
conditions at present prevailing il
Rock Island over-reach every consid
sration of politics, and the entire al
itude of this paper since the first raft
vas made has borne out this position
{ has at no time discussed POI
tics in the same connection, o
It all while the crisis has beer
lending. 1t may be that the Dis
'dICn IGdlly NLoI hNu NOil
itions been reversed, with the rul
ng sheriff elected by democratic votes
The Argus might have said less ant
therefore, put itself In marked contras
With the attitude Of the Dispatch il
,lacing moral welfare above poiitica
considerations. But the facts hardl!
ear out such an assertion. The Argu
as criticised democrats in Office tim,
nd again for failure to discharge thei
uty, and if it so happened that Mr.
was a democrat, tied up as h
5, The Argus would condemn him a!
RELY as any one. Those who are ia
ALTAR with The Argus know this to b.
rue. In view of what has been said
owever, a brief recital of the facts al
hey pertain strictly to Sheriff Kittil
en- and his relations with The Argus
hay be given for the information of the
dispatch.
Immediately following Mr.. Kittilsen''
lection, he came to The Argus Office
nd personally thanked the paper fol
s fair and unprejudiced treatment o.
i'm during the campaign. The paper
= Yoinf 70 a oil