Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-08
WOODMEN ON JOB
AT SPRINGFI ELD
Mighty Protests Brought to
Bear Against Passage of
Donahue Measure.
MAKE STRENUOUS FIGHT
Head Officers of Society and Many
Prominent Rock Islanders Seek
Defeat Of Bill.
Especial TO The ArEus.l

Especial to The Argus)
Springfield, H., April Sit Is ex-
pected now the Donahue bill will be
postponed in the senate until next
week. The insurgents have aban-
doned hope Of securing the passage of
the Donahue bill In the senate, and
are now trying to agree on another
bill, which they hope to start tomor-
row.
Sentiment in Springfield is very
strong in favor of permitting the Mod
ern Woodmen organization to run its
own affairs. 1t is believed that moth
ing will be accomplished this week
and that postponement until next
week will result in an overwhelming
sentiment in favor of the Modern
Woodmen officers position.
Springfield, H., May S.-The fight
over the now somewhat noted Donahue
bill in the Illinois legislature, is the
subject of no little discussion in this
city today. While the supporters of
the measure are working vigorously
with the senate in an effort to dupli-
cate their feat of forcing the bill
\ through the house, the Woodmen head
| officers and the loyal members are put
| ting up a determined resistance. Head
| Consul A. r. Talbot is directing the
/ fight and ex-Head Consul W. A. North
/ colt is also on the ground as are many
Rock Islanders.
INSURGENTS MIsNAMED.
Mr.. Talbot summed up the situation
! graphically in a talk TO the workers
when he said: while the supporters
of the Donahue bill claim to be insur-
gents, in the modern political adapta-
ton of the term, they are the very op-
posite. They are the real stand pat
tiers. Instead of progressives they are
re-actionists'
The fact has been brought out con-
clusively that the Donahue bill was
forced through the lower house purely
through politics and the dread by each
representative that if he failed to sup
/ port it, his seat would be jeopardized,
Notwithstanding that the majority of
them felt that il was an unjust and IN
reasonable measure and detrimental TO
the order.
WILL MEET HALF WAY.
! While the senate is considering the
bill, the same pressure will be brought
TO bear upon the members in hopes of
another victory for the directors TO
the head camp decision, but the order,
backed by every fraternal society in
the state, is prepared to meet the insur-
gents on equal terms. From now on
1t will be demonstrated that the Dona-
hue bill is a two-edged sword and that
those who are coerced into support
ing it will have to answer for their act
TO the members of every society in the
state.
WOODMEN WELL ARMED.
| The Woodmen and their aides in
fighting the bill are well armed with var
ious kinds of ammunition, argumenta-
tive and otherwise. Among them are
some of the best orators in the United
States. Prominent among those who
spoke eloquently before the senate
committee which has the bill, was Hon.
William McEniry of Rock Island.
This morning the workers called up
on Governor Charles s. Deneen in a
body to voice their protest to the pas
sage Of the bill While the executive
was on-committal. it is not divulging
a secret 10 say that he will be the
happiest man in Springfield if the bill
is killed in the senate before coming
to him for approval