Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-18
CLAIM RECALLERS
ARE ROUTED BY
WITHDRAWALS
Information as to Who Is Back
of Movement Cause of the
Change of Position.
ISSUE IS ONE OF DECENCY
Citizens Ordinarily DlspIeased With
Administration Unwilling to APP
pear in Wrong Light.

There is gloom in the camp OF the
promoters Of the recall movement in
Rock Island today, with every appar-
ert indication that the elements that
are seeking to wreak vengeance upol
the administration have been routed.
That is they will be routed, If the pc
titions are presented when confronted
with the counter roll OF Withdrawals.
This, according TO the information CIV
en out at the city hall. II is claimed
there that the number who have for
mally taken their names from the pc
titions originally signed number at
least 300 and that others are coming
In steadily.
Reports were prevalent last night
that the promoters of the recall were
hurrying in the lists with a view to
filing the petitions at once to get them
in before others could get of, and
thus take their chances on having a
sufficient number Of bona fide voters to
make the recall effective. Something
happened 10 prevent immediate &C
ton, however, and hence the depress-
ed feeling among the leaders. One
citizen who has been in favor OF the
recall and has been in touch with the
movement is reported TO have stated
that signers had been known TO go
20 those who had solicited them with
request 10 be taken of, but that the
request had been refused, and this
may have had the effect Of increasing
the number who have gone to the city
hall with their notices.
RECALL NOT THE ISSUE.
THE recall is not the Issue at the
present time" said one citizen. THE
recall is all right in It's place and when
used for the purposes intended. but
the issue in Rock Island today is law
lessness seeking vindication at the
hands OF the people. Decency and
good citizenship are at stake. There
fore as rapidly as the people who sign
ed the recall in good faith find out
who Is at the bottom OF 1t, and tina
they and many OF the others who ma!
have gone into the matter and become
identified with II in good faith arr
simply being used. perhaps withou
their knowledge, 10 help discredited
saloon keepers - discredited alike by
the law and by the respectable ele
ment Of the liquor interests-get re
venge and place men OF their owl
choosing in the city hall. there will b.
one grand rush TO get off those peti
tons"
PLEASED WITH PRESS ATTITUDE.
In the course OF one OF a numbe
OF communications sent TO The Argu
on the subject a writer says: 1T
indeed gratifying TO note that our pa
pers are enlightening the public in tn
matter OF the recall petitions now bt
ing circulated 1t is time we shout
know just who are back OF this move
meut and what their motives are: ais
whether the city officials elected by
majority Of the people, are to b
changed because IA disgruntled Ell,
ment opposed TO law and decency an
even now obeying the laws unde
pressure, would like TO make change
and substitute some officials of the
own choosing-it is even stated thes
selections have already been mad
We all know that the recall starte
under the excitement last March pro
I'D a dismal failure. Since then eveI
effort has been made 70 discredit OF
administration. Acts of the commit
sion for the city's advancement M
opposition and have been misrepr
sented The names are known OF g
those who attended the meeting in II