Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-14

! ThOmpson's talk Andrew Lawrence of
( Chicago came into the building and
took his place on the platform. After
( Judge ThompsOn's speech was over
Mr.. Harrison called on Mr.. Lawrence
! for a speech and when the editor
arose he received a great ovation
from the Chicago people. Mr.. Law
renee was the speaking hero Of The
meeting. He was the plumed knight
of the gathering. He was the key
note orator. He pitched the key and
the other speakers spoke in tune. He
was cooked and primed for the coca
sion, and he poured hot shot into the
state organization ana all its friends.
After Mr.. Lawrence finished, Con
gresham Graham of the Springfield
district was called on by Mir. Harri-
son MIR. Graham took the floor and
held it for - minutes. He is q
windy fellow. He has the ability 70
use words without saying anything.
Mr.. Graham was, most of the time, a
soft and purTing echo for Mr.. Law
renee: q photograph into which Mr..
lie wrence had talked, giving back his
words. minus their yigor and viril-
ity. Mr.. Graham's remarks occa-
stoned some surprise among those
sitting around the reporters tables,
who knew him personally.
felt that fnasmuch as the state
organization was being roundly de-
uounced. II had a right 10 a defense.
1t is the rule in civilized countries
everywhere that the accused shall be
b,arJ IaF1ro Ind ar,0-+ Sc y,as-oI ~
them. Even condemned murderers
are permitted TO defend them selves,
and before Judgment is passed upon
them they are asked if they have any
thing to say why Judgment should
not be pronounced I felt then and
7 feel now, that the state committee
had a right TO be heard in its own be-
half at this meeting: and so ] wrote
a note, addressed TO Mr.. Harrison,
telling him that l wished to be heard
briefly in defense of the state COM
mittee. and asking him if he would
give me a chance to be heard. This
note I passed up to him while Mr..
Sexton of Chicago, who followed Mr.
Graham as the next speaker on the
program, was making his talk. Mr.
Harrison read the note, looked at me
and shook his head decisively.
When Mr.. Sexton finished his
speech, Mr.. Harrison came TO the
front of the platform and said that
he held a note in his hand addressed
to him by Mr.. Wheeler, asking for
the privilege of being heard at this
meeting. He said that I could not
be heard; that this meeting belonged R
to the progressive democrats" and /.
that he did not propose TO have II I
broken into by Roger Sullivan or any
OF his heuchmen. At the close Of his (
remarks l got on to my feet and ap-
pealed to him as a fair man to give
me a hearing. I told him that if he 1
would give me even five minutes !.
should be satisfied. Then, again. his .
friends pounced upon me and 4
buffeted me about as If I had been a 4
feather pillow. 1t was then my 4
friend. Rees, of the Springfield Reg /
lister. came to my rescue. I had been
with Mr.. Rees for go /
years. knowing all that time that I (
had been associating with a kind .
hearted, mild hammered genial man.
! did not know him, for ! had never
seen that side OF his nature appealed
TO. But when the Chicago fellows
bounced upon me, Mr.. Rees got busy
and rushed into the melee. In savage
tones he told the Chicago fellows 10
ne, telling them that II they
put me out Of the hall they would
have 70 put him out too. His con-
duct was generous and courageous in