Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-29
Deputies Are Friends of Gam
blers and Make a Farce
of Plain Duty.
WORST IN CITYS HISTORY
Dsgraceful Conditions to Remain the
Same if Bruner Is Elevated to
Control.

rOuT years ago when Edward Kit
tilsen had been elected by the voters
of Rock Island county to the office of
sherlf, he personally expressed his
thanks to The Argus for the uniform
ly fair treatment it had accorded him
during the campaign and declared that
his conduct of the Office would be such
that none who either supported him or
treated him fairly would ever have
cause for regret. Mr.. Kittilsen
had had long police rec.
ord in Moline, and there was
an impression generally over the coun-
~, where he was well-knOwn, that his
administration of the shrievalty would
be a credit to himself and to the of
fee. They naturally believed that one
of his experience would distinguish
himself in the larger office of sheriff.
In this connection The Argus does not
wish to be understood as attacking
Mr.. Kittilsen individually; rather is it
the purpose TO inform the public of a
truthful record of the office during the
term just now coming to a close. In
doing so The Argus proposes to deal
as fairly and justly with Mr.. kittilsen
as it did when he was conducting his
campaign four years ago. He is not so
much an issue in the forthcoming county
election as the record of his office is,
In view OF the certainty that there will
be no change in the policy Of its con-
duct in the event of elevation to the
shrievalty OF @ L. BrUnCr the pres
mt chief deputy to Mr. Kittilsen. This
is 4 statemcr- and charge that has
been made before and has not and
cannot be truthfUlly controverted. 1t
IS the personnel of his staff that has
brought discredit upon Sheriff Kittil-
sen, we'll meaning though he may have
been, and it is the conditions so es-
:ablished that the people are after.
Political Deal Carried Out.
1t is unlikely that the great body
of the voters are familiar with the
political deals that brought about the
present subordinate official alignment
in the sheriff's office. Both Mr.. Kit
tilsen and Mr. Bruner were Candi-
dates for the nomination for sheriff
four years ago. Z. z. Reynolds was
another aspirant. The latter possibly
would have won the nomination but
for a combining of the kittilsen and
Bruner delegates in the convention. .
3runer turned his votes to Kittilsen /
On condition. in the event of the Mo
inc candidates election, the former
was to be first deputy sheriff and the
candidate of the republican county or
ganization for sheriff in 1910. Kittil-
sen fulfilled his promise. The county
organization did likewise. And Mr..
Bruner is the nominee of his party.
g - ;oI Of
if Kittilsen was to seize a crooked
gambling device that had once
been In operation in the city.
The motive of the sheriff's act was not .
seriously questioned, and the public .
accepted the raid" as an evidence of
a sincere determination on the part
of the new county officer to free the
community of the gambling den. The
crooked device, it will be recalled, was
placed on exhibition at the county
building, where it was retained several
days that it might furnish an example
of one of the snares that lay in the
paths of the uninitiated, and a warn
ing to those who might visit gambling
dens. Hundreds of people visited the
court house to inspect the curiosity,
for a gamblers outfit is of consider
able curiosity to the great majority
IF people. Deputy Sheriff o. l.. Brun-
er explained the workings of the wheel
to citizens who called at the court
house The wheel was eventually de-
stroyed, as provided by law. The puo-
lie believed that Sheriff Kittilsen was
20 he a terror to the gambler, and 1t
was not even suspected that one of
the professional gentry would dare to
omen for business in Rock Island or
during the Kittilsen admin !
istration.
Started Out Right. i
Sometime later. as if to emphasize
his determination to clean IN the :
town. the sheriff made big raid He {
cleaned out gamblers and houses OF !
i'll repute. and in an interview volun- |
tariIv announced that while he was !
sheriff there would be no more gam {
bling or other form of lawlessness
such as he had attacked in Rock Is :
land county Not only The Argus, but
Sheriff Kittilsen's party paper. save
him full commentator for his course, J
pledged him support in carrying out :
his policy and urged him to keep up ,
the good work. \ few similar raids {
followed. and then all was quiet. !
Time went on, and gradually the ;
gambler began to gain footing in the :
,ity. Repeatedly The Argus pointed =
tut to the sheriff's office that several
If these dens were operating openly. =
No heed was given these warnings =