Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-20
SULLIVAN TALKS
OF WOES OF The
RETAIL MERCHANT
Beset With Competition From
Every Side He Is Polit-
ical Nonentity.
PLEADS FOR NEW REGIME
Rock island Business Mems Associa-
ton Adopts Resolutions Favor
ing Bridges and Jail.

That the retail merchant of today is
ever experienced in business and that
| the only remedy for these conditions
is for the merchants to get into poll
: tics and secure some representation in
the law making bodies. was the asser-
tion made in the address of Thomas =.
Sullivan of Chicago. before the month
ly meeting of the Rock Island Bust
ness Mems association at the Rock Is
land club last night.
The session was opened at : o'clock
with a dinner. More than so members
we're present. Music was furnished by
the Metropolitan quartet and eight
selections were rendered. w. S. Nc
Combs, president of the association,
acted as chairman and turned the
toastmastership over to William b.
Mcintyre.
f. II. Guyer made the frs; talk of
the evening, and brought out many
important arguments in favor of the
bridge and Jail bond issues. The as
ISOLATION passed resolutions recon-
mending the board of supervisors for
placing this issue before the people
and pledging its support at the polls.
Mr.. McCombs was instructed TO ap-
point a committee 10 work in con
junction with the other committees on
the project. VI. II. Sexton also made a
talk favoring the bridge and jail bond
issues.
MIR. McCombs was also instructed
TO appoint a committee to go before
the city commissioners with a resolu-
ha+ oIH Mo Of
street cars stopping on the far side of
the street be readopted as a matter OF
public convenieI ce.
Mr. Sullivan was mex: introduced by
Mr.. Mcintyre. He is former president
of the National Retail Merchants as
sociation and Is now a member of the
Illinois pure food commission and
democratic candidate for congress
man-at-large.
Refers to Candidacy.
He opened with a brief reference
to the reason for his candidacy, say
ing:
Gentlemen and Fellow Merchants:
AS q retail merchant l have been
successful and have no cause Tor com
plant. even when We consider all the
calumny heaped upon our business by
fake reformers, selfish and greedy Of
fce-holGers and notoriety seeking and
subsidized publications. This line OF
attack / paid no attention to. but with
the pride of my business Unborn into
me my feelings we're hurt and l was
induced to enter into this contest to
Justify my position in the claim that
those whom | am identified with are
men of business capacity and loyal 10
one another. md are able to discern
what is for their best advantage.
IF you had the pride in your voca-
ton that possesses me. you would
feel as | do here tonight; YOU would
feel as l felt the day. but a short time
ago, when a prominent and success
full office holder in the city of Chicago
said to me that the retailer as a politi-
cal factor, as a force in politics. as an
influence in determining political
questions does not weigh one pound.
Retailer the Goat
Gentlemen. ! want you TO help me
refute these accusations. | want you
to take cogniZance of the fact that the
machinery of this government. the
sentiment OF the people is up in arms
against the local retail interests of this
country today. This sentiment has
been created by an unfriendly press,
by men who seek our destruction in
order TO obtain some selfish personal
These people claim that
the business of retailing is an unneces- !