Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-17

years the sIdle OOdLu VI CHu
a majority of whom are obscure politi-
cal henchmen of these same bosses,
has been steadily reducing the taxa
ton Justly due from the railroads and
other corporations, and thus throwing
an additional and unjust burden upon
the other taxpayers of the state.
During these Is years of power these
jackpot bosses have repeatedly turned
a deaf ear to the demands of the peo-
pie for a direct primary by having en-
acted a series of imperfect laws, know
ing them to be imperfect, that we're
declared null and void by the supreme
court. one after another, as often as
they came before that court; and, not
until 1910 did these jackpot bosses
permit the passage of an act that was
within the limitations fixed by the
court Even that law does not give
the people the power they should have
in selecting candidates.
The peoples demand for the initia-
tive and referendum, twice asserted by
popular vote and by overwhelming ma
jorities, has been ingeniously evaded
and finally denied.
The advisory primary vote of the
people governing the selection OF a
United States senator was repudiated
by a republican general assembly with
the connivance of a republican COVER
nor, and the will of the people OF the
state thus set at defiance by scan
dalous cabal, of which Deneen and Lor-
inner were the leading spirits. And
while that bold crime against the dig
nifty and authority of the people was
being framed, with its tragic sequel OF
confessions of bribery and criminal
prosecutions and death, Deneen and
Lorimer, according to the sworn testi-
mony Of Deneen, were meeting at the
state capitol daily and there discuss
ing the possibility of the supreme court
voiding the then existing primary cleo
| ton law, and whether or not, if such
decision was handed down, Busse,
then mayor Of Chicago, would employ
the police force to drive them Ode
neen and Lorimer) from power in Chi
cago. Could there have been a more
logical setting for what followed?
Now the republican bosses are all
at each others throats-Deneen, Lori
mer, Busse, Campbell and Pease and
/ their followers and satellites in the
state. They have grown rich and pow
erful, and no longer are in agreement
about how to divide the spoils. They
cannot again fall back upon the So
called protective, but in truth, the rob-
Der, tariff, and the delusive full din
ner pail" and for once find themselves
with no cohesive strength to further
delude the public. Such being the sit
uation Of the republican party and its
leaders in this state, the time has ar
rived, in my judgment, when the pub
lie will not longer be misled and impos-
ed upon by the discredited and dis.
united firm of political Office brokers
and their parasitical followers.
The steady adherence of the demo
cratic party to the policy of tariff for
revenue only is at last to bear fruit
and the public, over long exploited and
!
ready to turn to honest doctrines and
progressive democratic measures. Be
lieving this to be the condition of the
public mind, 1t is my firm conviction
that the democratic party is about t
return to power in this state and also
in the nation, pledged to the enactment
Of laws governing corrupt practices a
election, election of senators by direc
!. vote OF the people, the abolition O.
. that instrument of venality and favor
itism in taxation, the board of eoualiz
, alton, the enactment into law of tn,
I initiative and referendum and otbe
progressive measures which will re
store representative government an,
assure the people OF permanent con
troll OF the functions and prerogative
: that have been wrested from them b,
) the forces Of special privilege through
} the debauching of corrupt public sery
ants.
( In other words, I believe the tim
has come when jackpot government
: must go and when the honest manhoo
e or Illinois will rescue their common
+ wealth from the wickedness, favori
ism and corruption that are over
r whelming its good name.
e Therefore. I have determined to TO
: low the advice given me by my man
/. fellow democrats and fellow citizen:
S and submit my name to the consider;
) ton Of democratic voters at the DR.