Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-23
A STATEMENT BY J. MCCAIN DAVIS.

STATEMENT BY J. MCCAIN DAVIS.
oppose the third term 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 the state has sought to violate
The governorship was originally term Office
not by the unwriten 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 and untrammeled choice;
that the prestige and power of the in office should
not be used to prolong his tenure of Office
And they it in their constitution It plain
common sense But if it was good law so years ago
it is hundred fold peter
For an amazing change has come 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 political organ
izaton composed of the most expert wrepullers and
manipulators that lucrative offices will commercial
maintained at public expense.
In 20 years the state machine has grown enormous
ly In the view of many who part of it, the machine
is invincibe 1t has proved its power repeatedly; it
proved it concusvey in 1908, when it forced the
nomination of the incumbent of the Office.
The power-the machine-the same Gin
vincibe organization now seeks to overthrow the
precedent of hundred years. to thwart the unwrten
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 it's
existence and its autocratic power:
There is no personal feeling in this statement.
not condemning personally the who hold Of
fees. I denounce the system-a system sufficiently
powerful unless met by extraordinary opposition,
defeat the real will of the people.
Abolish the third term in the governors office
that is the only remedy at hand for state of
things both dangerous and intolerable The remedy
lies in the hands of the voters
am not chronic critic of the machine. I 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 ssue-cne that must become of
greater magnitude unless the people effect a
change of conditions
/ refer to the extravagant use of money to
nomination for governor. It is alleged-and though
specific proof is not available, abundant. circum-
support the assertion-that in this primary
campaign candidate for governor has at his
mand 500, 900, another $500 600 another $3.50 o00
Where does this money come from9
do not pretend to know. I do not pretend to say
from what particular interests it comes But it
comes from somewhere; it does not come from empty
pockets; it does not grow bushes. And
ed that back OF a 100000 campaign fund there is
somebody who is interested in seeing particular
made governor Of the state.
The big campaign fund is public danger It is more
dangerous than the jackpot for is beyond reach
of the law.
AS candidate for governor, claim neither a
machine big campaign fund. I appeal to the
people, to their deliberate judgment to their good
l am making promises mountains
only to give the people fair, honest, decent ad-
ministration of the Office of governor
]. McCAN DAVIS