Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-25
SEARLE TAKES
FRAMEUP TALK
TO COMMITTEE
Independent Candidate Lambasts
Republicans for ~Secret Com
binatiOn" Defeating Him.

took his grievances against the Re
publican party~before the meeting
Of its county central committee il
Memorial hall in the court house
today and ripped ''frameups" anC
secret combinations" up one side
and down the other.
And when he had concluded
the committee, which had beer
called to place Official en-
dorsement on the candidacy of c
z. Dietz OF Moline and Captain
Oscar Carlstrom Of Aledo, as nom
inees Of the G. o. P. for delegates
to the constitutional convention
had been informed of the follow
ing by Mr.. Searle, who was defeat
ed in the primaries and is making
the campaign as an independent
candidate:
Mr. Searle protests the en-
dorsement of the committee
for Mr.. Dietz and Mr.. Carl
strom.
An open combination outside
and 2 secret combination inside
of Rock Island brought about
Mr.. Searle's defeat at the Re
publican primaries.
The meeting OF the commit
tee is merely cheap advertis-
ing for Mr.. Dietz and Mr.. Carl
strom
Mr.. Searle last spring was
invited to let by-goues be by
cones and unite his support
for Mr. Wood of Moline to be
candidate for supreme court
Judge
But evidently Mr.. Searle's pro
test made little impression on the
committee. for after he had con-
cluded the body endorsed Mr.. Dietz
and Mr.. Carlstrom.
Suffice to say, the action of Mr..
Searle brought to the campaign
what it has thus far lacked to make
It eventfUl and the challenge
thrown down before the G. o. P
candidates promises to develop a
spirited contest out Of what other
wise might have been tagging af-
fair IN addressing the committee
Mr.. Searle said:
protest such action because
this election is in no sense a par
tisan election and how a candidate
runs, or a man votes at this cleo
ton, cannot and should not, be
made by this committee. a test of
party fealty. What man contends
that we ought. to draw party lines
in making a new constitution? The
fact is, it was a great legislation
mistake and l think generally so
regarded, to make these nomina-
tons through party primaries, For
that reason many, especially the
To Of
the primary, when they had. to an
nounce their party utilization.
Protests Combination.
81 protest against this action be-
cause do not believe that these
gentlemen, especially Mr.. Dietz.
got the nomination fairly. l will
not stop to speak of some of the
means used and that I utterly con-
denim, unless you desire me to. But
two general phases of their cam
paign I want to particularly protest
against These gentlemen made an
open combination outside Rock Is
land, but a secret one in Rock Is
land. The people we're urgently
asked here, publicly, to vote for one
Rock Island and one Moline man:
but secretly the word went out to
vote for the combine This was a
manifest deception on the voter. So
far as I am concerned, would not
want a nomination by deceit or
false pretense. But l want to speak
of another phase still more emphat-
ically. Our sister city of Moline
seems to be under very close lead
ership. They seem able to hand
pick a candidate, and then the cry
goes up Vote for a Moline man
That seems to be the only quaIifca-
ton required. Such a practice has
been long continued and is con-
stantly growing worse 1t is mani
testify unfair and unjust to the
people of both Rock Island and the
balance of the county. This prac
tice makes it impossible for Rock
Island or the county ever to get al
office. If Moline wants it, and Mo-
line usually wants it. / protest
against a solid Moline on the same
grounds the Republican party has
so bitterly protested against a
solid south. as both unfair and I'M
patriotic. Last spring the Moline
gentlemen. and Mr. Dietz in par
ticular, came down and said let
hygones be bygones, let US stop this
practice; you come down and unite
with US on our Mr. Wood as a
candidate for the supreme bench
and twill be your turn next" We
did that and in absolute good faith.
But what has been our reward.
This Is the third time since, when
Moline has "hogged" it. So far as
l am concerned, l earnestly pro-
test against this practice and pro-
pose to beat it if 1 can.
Graver Reason.
But I protest against this &C
ton for a still graver reason. do
not believe these gentlemen repre-
sent the views and interests of the
great majority Of the people Of this
district. / believe this country Is
in a grave condition. 1t is a condi-
ton l have been predicting for 90
years would come; and have in my
feeble way been fighting against.
This country has been fast becom-
Ing an autocTacy; a money autoc
Tacy. I utterly despise that kind
of a government and social condi-
tions. The great money classes, by
means of combinations. corporate
financing, stock exchanges and
boards of trade, are acquiring q
wealth and power believe must be
checked If we are to preserve our
democracy. These great combina- !
lions have been too long ruling US
with their invisible government, in /