Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-09
DEMOCRATS TO
PURGE PARTY
Meeting Called at Lincoln, ILL.,,
to Remove Legislative
Graft Stain.
LEADERS OUT WITH CALL
Outcome of the Conference Recently
Held at Peoria Dealing With
the Same Subject.

Gratis of Illinois Will assemble at Lin
coin Wednesday, July 20, to remove
the foul stain that has been cast upon
the party by the charges of graft and
corruption in the Illinois general as
sembly. An official call, signed by a
number of prominent leaders of the
party, was sent out this morning and
those behind the conference declare
that a large number of politicians
will gather at Lincoln to participate
in the proceedings
The conference is the outcome of
the conference held at Peoria a week
ago, when plans Ito reform the state
were discussed. A number of demo-
Gratis attended the Peoria meeting
and it was decided to issue a call
| for later general meeting. Fac
tional bars will be taken down, it
all members of the party.
Plans Are Approved.
Plans for the conference have been
discussed for several days and the
call is approved by Congressman
| Henry T Rainey of Carrollton, Mayor
Fred J. Kearns of Belleville, Con-
gresham James NJ. Graham of
Springfield, former Congressman Ben
F. Caldwell of Chatham, J. NJ. Riggs
of Winchester, Lawrence B. String
er of Lincoln, Louis F. Post of Chi
cago, editor of the Public, and others.
1t was originally intended to hold
the meeting at Bloomington. Lin
coin, the home of Lawrence B.
Stringer. once a candidate for gov
ernor. asked for the conference and
the change in the meeting place was
decided upon. The call follows:
To the democratic voters of
Illinois-Political conditions in
this state, as the outgrowth of
graft, corruption, and venality in
the legislature, require radical
and heroic action on the part of
all true democrats, to the end
that such a stigma and foul
stain shall be removed from our
legislative body and from our
party by the election of honest,
capable, incorruptible and ire
proachable democrats to aid in
making laws for the government
of this great commonwealth and
ures to hold legislators respOn-
sible at all times to their constitu-
ents.
Duty of Patriots.
Illinois, through its patriots
and statesmen of the past, has
achieved imperishabIe fame and
renown, and it is the duty of
every patriotic, honest and lib
erty-loving citizen in the present
political crisis in this state, to
exert all power and influence
to remove the shame and dis
grace brought upon the state by
the action of certain legislators
in betraying the great trust and
violating the confidence reposed
in them by the voters. The best
way to restore true representa-
tive government in Illinois is to .
select none but trustworthy men
of the highest character and fit
ness for public office.
To secure this cherished OBJ
ject we, whose names are here
unto attached, do issue this call
and earnestly urge that demo-
Gratis from all sections of this
state assemble in conference at
Lincoln on July 20, at l p. M,
for the purpose of repudiating
and condemning the action of
those democrats in the legislat-
ure who were unfaithful to the
sacred trust reposed in them by
their constituents; and to take
such further action as may be
deemed necessary to win the
confidence and support for our
party of all voters who desire to
secure good government and
thereby remove the blot and re-
proach from the fair name of
the great state of Lincoln and
Douglas.
Committee of Seven to Meet.
Chicago, July 9.-The first meet
ing of the committee of seven" ap-
pointed at the Peoria conference 20
institute a campaign to clean up the
legislature will be held Monday noon
at the City club. Chairman Walter
S. Rogers made the announcement
yesterday.
'PopinpiDo with Mondov,c r1aafipU