The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-14
AGAIN DIFFERING WITH
MR.. SCOTT.

ftlCfty Attorney John X. Scott was quoted In
RkitAer newspaper last Saturday as express
satisfaction at the suspension of the Rock
knd News. Looney's underworld publica-
1t is only natural that Mr.. Scott should
IL with ali other good citizens in voicing such
Atentiment But Mr.. Scott IL also quoted as
1Sterttng that there was no legal means by
ich that indecent publication could have
I'm prevented from circulating In the streets
" lRock Island, leaving the inference that
lhbney had voluntarily retired from the field
& Response to public protest.
III sThe Argus doesn't propose letting MIR. Scott
III away with any such excuse among the
Nipple OF Rock Island. Mr.. Scott perhaps will
Hall that Looney's indecent publication was
1fwen from the streets Of Davenport during
IL administration OF Mayor Lee Dougherty.
he Davenport mayor at that time must have
Uncovered some legal means justifying his ac-
tbo The Argus doesn't believe that Mr.. Scott.
{4table lawyer that he is;>will print state
Int over his signature in The Argus, a privi-
b he 10 most cordially invited to embrace
1S3ing that he knows OF NO legal grounds upon
kAach Looney's News couid- have been at any
the suppressed as public nuisance.
sFThe Argus wishes to tell the citisens OF
t}nck Island that Mr.. Scott possessed the
toker to suppress Looney's indecent news
iSber, and in failing to do so he ignored the
Mines Of the great majoritysof the people of
~ city, in whose interest he is paid to act as
Tai counsel. Looney did not suspend his al
J tted newspaper until he faced the prospect
u nm injunction that was to have been asked
TOR by the attorney general Of the state. The
attorney general Of the state was preparing to
take an action in behalf of the people Of the city
ttat Mr. Scott could and should have taken.
Il Mr. Scott and the city administration per-
qhtted Looney to,make his farewell bow to the
SSople of Rock Island with story that sounded
ii Though it might have been revised by a
tapted representative OF the city administra-
gu. The News died with lie on its lips in
t3erting that 1t had finished it's mission in
liking Rock Island clean. On the contrary
Kinney had always been known as the per-
lal promoter. defender and beneficiary Of the
4kkk Island underworld. When that under
tttld was wiped out he was without revenue
~ News was merely. the weapon with which
Money forced submission to his despicable
: 11sctices.
The Argus prints these statements that the
i3Hlic might not get wrong angle in reference
To the suspension of the Looney publication
E6dney himself charges that The Argus put his
it4ecent weekly out Of business. The Argus
ddesnt mind accepting the blame. In fact, al
4shas said before, 1t is proud Of whatever re-
{ ansibility belongs to it in connection with
III operation What The Argus really did dc
III to show the people that the chief reason
fbtsthe inactivity Of their officials against con
4fbns that were throttling the progress Of thu
dE was the Looney publication This was the
0tt that Looney held above the heads Of ON
dds you have been paying to protect your vel
fife and the welfare Of your city. The Argu.
accepts full credit for arousing the people
aklinst that menace until they decided to bring
+ tn attorney general of the state in to do fol
tkSm what their sworn ofacials refused to de-
because they were afraid Looney might print
spe4ething about them in his filthy paper that
\ Would not look good in the eyes of their neigh
] III.
THE Argus wants to be fair with Mr.. Scott
HQtit also wants Mr.. Scott to be fair with The
An6As and with the people that Ii represents
Ad the vote that was cast at last Tuesdays
ef44ion ought to convince Mr.. Scott and the res!
tfhe city administration that the people OF
H& Island have been satisfied that The Argus
h4ti not been playing politics. as the city ad-
miplstration and the Looney News have beer
charging, but has been steering them by Z
course that will eventuate to the betterment Of
the community. the peace and contentment Of
The people, and the progressl and prosperity Of
old Rock island, the oficially sponsored fare
will Of John Looney. = fugitive from justice, tc
tle contrary notwthstandiug