Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-21
ELMoRE w. HURST.

had been spent, having grown from an
humble beginning to man OF az
fuence and influence among those who
saw the molding OF his wonderful
career, he was rightly regarded as
Rock Island first citizen
Outside OF Rock Island ne attained
renowu that was nation vide, as well
as state wide, and those familiar with
the opportunities that from time to
time had presented themselves TO him
net only recognized IN the man tha
inherent trait Of greatness and OF 1T
ness for any high Office he might have
been called to. but realized that great
places of honor and trust might
really have been his had not his char
acteristic modesty checked q worthy
aspiration.
In the field OF political activities in
the party he loved, as IN the pro
fessiou he graced and the world q
finance where he had made such
marked success, he was at once re-
garded as a leader deserving Of the
fullest confidence and honors, such as
come 70 few men,
In 1903 when through the tnstru~
mentality Of the democratic state or
gantzatlou the candidates for the
party nomination for governor were
prevailed upon 10 withdraw IN favor
Of some representative leader then
not IN the field. and who could COM
mand the support Of all factions, Mr..
Hurst was the man first thought Of.
To him the offer was formally
made by the state Organization, but be
refused to permit the use Of his name.
Former Vice President Adlai F. Stew
enson was then agreed upon and as is
known. was defeated by Governor
Charles S. Deueen by 1000 votes, Ger
tain elements and conditions in the
state, # was known, had caused the
democratic nominee the loss of sew
eral thousand votes, These elements
and conditions would not have been
effective against Mr.. Hurst, and it was
admitted he could readily have been
elected. In fact. Governor Deneen in
discussing the matter afterward with
Mr. Hurst IN the presence Of mutual
friends said to him: you are the
man I feared most of all"
Again in 1919 the eyes Of the de
mocracy all over the state turned to
the Rock islander as the ideal lead
er for gubernatorial hoDors. He con
sidered it for time, but when he
learned that his friend. Hon. Samuel
Alschuler of Chicago. was a candidate
he refused longer to be considered in
Il q oh pal @
10 the state convention in 1912 and
deIegate-at-large to the Baltimore ma
tional convention that nominated
Woodrow Wilson, and during the bal
l0ting for vice president Mr.. Alschul-
er placed his nomination before the
convention as the choice OF the Hi
nois delegation. The vote Of Illinois
was cast for him and there were scat
tering votes from other states, when
the chairman of the New York dele
cation informed the Illinois delegates
that on the next ballot New York and
New Jersey and probably Pennsyl-
vania would swing to Mr., Hurst. But
there and then he withdrew his name.
Governor Marshall and others have
announced their candidacy for this
honor" he said, and am not willing
to come in here at the last moment
and interfere, I appreciate the honor,
particularly because it is so unex-
pected, but I am not a candidate"
Following the convention Mr.. Hurst
served on the notification committees
Of both the presidential and vice
presidential nominees, and into the ma
ttonaI campaign that followed he
threw his whole strength. He was
placed in charge of the business mems
bureau at national headquarters in
Chicago and there he worked hard all
summer and until the election. He ar
ranged for all the Wilson meetings in
the west and was the directing hand in
the receptions given the president
ial nominee in Chicago and in Illt-
nois.
After the election he was promi-
nently discussed among those men
toned for cabinet portfolios, and later
was formally offered a foreign mission,
He could have had the ENTHUSIASTICALLY
TO Russia or Denmark or Belgium but
owing to the condition of his health
that had just begun to fail, he de-
clinat in all instances.
Professionally and In business way
he was tireiess worker. and in what
he made of himself affords an example
to young men. He was in the truest
sense the type OF successful man.
When it comes to the final word
from one who knew Mr.. Hurst in
ttmately, who had learned through
that intimacy the goodness Of his
heart. the unfailing warmth Of his
nature and the nobility of his char
aoter, 1t is sometimes difficult to put
in language what the heart dictates
He was so staunch and true. SO de-
voted and unfaltering IN his friend
ships, that only those who knew him
as he really was can understand his
loss. To those who SO knew him his
memory will be enshrined as precious
and enduring, 70 be thought Of only
with tears, while In the community his
ever present smile, his genuine hand
clasp his word OF good cheer and
good win VIII. indeed, be missed.
From his lips no word OF i'll 9or any
one ever came. He was incapable OF