Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-29

ing in Davenport storage house. The
gamblers are still in the city, and they
are here because they have assurances
that if the election breaks in favor OF
their candidate for sheriff they will
resume operations the day after the
result at the polls is announced. These
are facts that no man at all acquaint-
ed with conditions in Rock Island will
make a pretense at denying.
Gang in Control.
Second to Chief Deputy o. L. Bruner
in the Office of Mr.. Kittilsen are Phil
Miller and Dick Carnes. Will any
number of citizens of standing in the
community kindly come forward and
testify that they Influenced Sheriff Kit
tilsen in adding these politicians to
his official family? The records of
both on the police force of Rock Is
land in years gone by speak for them
selves. J. r. Brooks and Walter and
Arthur Kittilsen, the two latter sons
of the sheriff. are appointments against
whom no one can raise an honest pro-
test. But as to Miller and Carnes, it
/ is different. Neither was appointed
/ Immediately after Sheriff Kittilsen
took up his duties. They were named
one at a time. and everybody knew
what the appointment of each meant
Mr.. Kittilsen may have been woefully
/ ignorant, but the public was not.
! 1t may be interesting to note in this
connection that Mr.. Bruner has stated
that Edward Kittilsen, his present
chief. will not be on his staff in case
he is elected TO the shrievalty. But
you have not heard any limitations
that Miller and Carnes are not to be
continued as chief aides TO Mr.. Bru-
ner should it so happen that he wins
the shrievalty election. Miller and
CaTnes are the known friends of the
gamblers. Bruner. during his term as
chief deputy. has never taken a con
spicuous part in a raid on an operating
gambling house. or any other disorder
~ house. He has devoted himself 10
jury service and artfuIly lodged any
work that might get him in bad
The Situation as Ii Is.
Here is the situation in a nutshell:
With o. l.. Bruner as sheriff. the tax
payers will continue to have as the
Carnes. These three men today vir-
tually are in control of the sheriff's
Office. and have been since the election
Of the present sheriff four years ago.
The past four years have been the
blacklist in the history of the city of
Rock Island. so far as regards open
disregard for law such as it was in
the province of the sheriff to check.
There is absolutely no hope of an i'm
prOvement with the trio of men men
toned in control of the Office of sher-
off. If anything is 70 be expected. con-
ditions will be worse. This is not a
political argument. It is a plain state
ment of a situation that has besmeaTed
the good name of Rock Island until to-
day the city has an unenviable reputa-
ton from coast to coast.
There are strong evidences now of a
movement to change the moral condi- .
lions of the city by the adoption of a
new order of things. This will not be
successful without the cooperation of
the county authorities. If the sheriffs
Office is controlled and run for four
years more as it has been the past
four, the city will he helpless 70 effect .
a reformation.
Gamblers just waiting.
The gamblers are still in Rock Is
land. Their fixtures are in storage in
Davenport \ new sheriff will be
elected next month. The gamblers are
willing 10 take a chance on the result.
It's worth a months wait. they figure
TO themselves. and they are waiting
They have had four years rich har-
vest here. They have become a power
in the community through the effect
ing of an alliance with the au-
thOrities. If you have any doubt that
there is such an alliance, you have
but simply TO review in your own +
minds the chain of events of the past
few weeks in Rock Island /,
There was no purpose to make po-
litical capital out OF these circum- D
as they developed. There was
else to think about, and It
was the enforcement of law. regardless
Of politics, and the uphOlding of the
righteous course. But facts show for {
themselves, and the time for summing
up has arrived. The people have a
right to know what has been and what
10 expect.
Easy Going with OS.
If the power has been sufficient to
make Sheriff Kittilsen a party, wheth-
n innocently or not. to the stalls" at
ending the early administration of his 5
office, and to tie his hands afterward. ~
What more could be accomplished with
easy-going Os in absolute control? {
If O. L. Bruner is elected sheriff of I
Rock Island county, his chief aides
will be the present chief aides in the
,heriffs ofIice-Phil Miller and Dick :
Carnes. If o. l.. Bruner is placed in
charge of the sheriffs office. is there
my doubt in your mind that the Park,
md the Diamond, and the Turf will he )
n full swing within "a hours after the