Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-26
SPEECHES STIR
CROWDS IN The
BUSINESS CENTER
Advised by Harry M. McCask-
rim and E. h. Gardner, Peo-
pie Throng Street.
TOLD TO DEFY THE POLICE
In Getting Paper Attacking Mayor
Schriver-Fire Department
Called Into Play.

Rock Island had last evening what
to the outside observer might have
had the appearance of a near riot But
Il was not really a riot There was
some excitement for the instant and
there was a crowd in the streets that
was looking for something to happen,
and had something happened that
would have been regretted afterwards,
II would not have occasioned surprise.
Fortunately, the crowd finally dispers-
ed, and what threatened to be an IN
welcome novelty in the streets OF Rock
Island was averted just as crowds
were pouring in by the carload from
Moline and Davenport to see what
was doing in their neighboring city.
Stirred by the speech OF Harry NJ =.
McCaskrin. candidate for the republi-
can nomination for states attorney,
talk OF z. II. Gardner, social
list, who spoke from the same plat
form In Market square, a crowd OF
several hundred people turned the bus
mess district into what approached a
mob OF curiosity seekers, with here
and there q trace bordering on excite
ment.
ADVISED TO USE FORCE.
After speaking at some length in be
half of his own candidacy, Mr.. Nc
Caskrin informed his auditors that
they could receive free copies Of the
suppressed Looney publication con
tanning the scandalous attack on May
or II. VI. Schriver at the office of the
sheet In the Dooney building, and thai
their numbers were sufficient 10 over
power the public officers should the
police attempt 10 thwart them. Thus
McCaskrin, seeking 20 advance hi.
candidacy for the republican nomina
ton as states attorney, advised the
men who listened to him. TO 90 to tbs
building and there free copies could
be secured. He further advised then
10 go In a body, so that their desires
could be gratihed
POLICE DO GOOD WORK.
Hearing this. the police who wer
IA the crowd rushed TO the Loone
building and prepared 70 withstan
he crowd Twice they repulse
hose who surged about the doors
but finally someone led the wa
through a rear door and IL is sal
that hundreds of copies Of the objec
tionable sheet we're distributed. On
man took a bundle. saying he wa
going home and burn them and JUS
save that many people from readin
H. Second avenue between Eigh
tecnth and Nineteenth streets wa
blocked and I'm order to dispense tn
crowd and save 1t from itself the pc
lice turned in an alarm for the fir
department. telling the tiremen {
turn water on the crowd should
refuse 10 break up. Accordingly, tn
fremen did the work. Some of tn
-rowd cut up the hose. putting a
end to the water method.
GOES TO THIRD AVENUE.
Finally the scene OF the affair turne
from Second avenue 20 Third avenu
and surrounding the police station
When officers attempted to arrest OF
fellow he broke from them throug
the assistance of some Of his friend
A few shots rang out on the air an
that helped to send a few toward Il
outskirts OF the crowd. SomeoI
glanked a brick at the police static
windows and that started a brick-b
tusillade.
Finally. McCaskrin, in a rig, roo