Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-21
A STATEMENT BY J. MCCAIN DAVIS.

A STATEMENT BY J. MCCAIN DAVIS.
oppose the third for governor of Illinois
No ought to be governor of Illinois for three
consecutive terms.
Such has been the unwritten law in Illinois for al
most century It is law which until now, in the
whole history of the state has sought to violate
The governorship was originally a term Office
not by the unwritten but by the written law Prior to
1870 the constitution barred self succession in the Of
flee of governor -.
The people believed that when they to elect
governor-the most important Office within their gift
they should have free ard untrammeed choice;
that the prestige power the in Office should
not be used to prolong his tenure of office.
And they wrote it in their constitution It plain
common sense. But if it was good law so years ago
it is hundred-fold better
For an amazing change has in a half century
From few clerks in modest little state house. the
patronage of the governor has grown until his ap
pointees directly and Indirectly numbered
by the thousands. He controls vast political organ
ization composed of the expert wirepulers and
manipulators that lucrative offices will commend-an
maintained at public expense.
In 20 years the state machine has grown enormous
y In the view of many who part of it, the machine
is invincibe. 1t has proved its power repeatedly; 10
proved it conclusvey in 1908, when it forced the
The same power-the same machine-the same "in-
vincible organization seeks to overthrow tho
precedent of hundred years. to thwart the unwrtteB
law which heretofore man has dared defy, to
mate and elect the present governor for the third
time and thus to perpetuate the state machine in its
existence and its autocratc power.
There is no personal feeling in this statement. I
not condemning personally the who hold Of
fees. denounce the system system sufficiently
un1e M nv diO9r tn
defeat the real will of the people.
Abolish the third term in the governors Office
that is the only remedy now at hand for state of
things both dangerous and intoerable. The remedy
lies in the hands of the voters.
am not a chronic critic of the machine. believe
in party organization, but not in personal machine
designed to perpetuate individual in Office of
great prestige and power.
That is one great issue of this campaign.
There is another issue-one that must become of
even greater magnitude unless the people effect
change of conditions.
refer to the extravagant of money to
nomination for governor. 1t is aleged-and though
specific proof is not available, abundant crcum-
support the assertion--that in this primary
campaign candidate for governor has at his
mand s1Oo 900, another $500, 600 another S35o00o
Where does this money come from? {
1 do not pretend to know do not pretend to say
from what particular interests it But it
comes from somewhere; it does not from empty
pockets; it does grow bushes. And assur-
ed that back OF a $500, 900 campaign fund there is
somebody who is interested in seeing particular
made governor of the state.
The big campaign fund is public danger. 1t is
dangerous than the jackpot for it is beyond the reach
of the law
As candidate for governor, can claim neither
machine big campaign fund appeal to the
people, to their deliberate judgment, to their good
1 making promises to mountains
only to give the people fair honest, decent adj
ministration of the Office of governor
j. MCCAIN DAVIS.