The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-02
YOUR DUTY IS TO VOTE.

In the histor,. Of Rock Island county in which
there has been aroused more intense interest
than In the one scheduled for Tuesday Of next
week. That interest has not been aroused by
political issues, nor by men necessarily. But
Il has been engendered by revelation and ex-
. posure a condition of Haunted lawlessness
unprecedented or unsurpassed In any county in
the state Of Illinois within the memory Of living
man. The Argus pleads guilty to the charge
that 1t is responsible for the creation Of the in
terest that has brought under close scrutiny
the men who are seeking iavors at the hands Of
the Rock Island county electorate next Tues
day. Some good and worthy men are likely to
suffer unjust defeat because Of the indignant
note that has rung throughout the county az
the people, trusting in the faith Of their oficals
10 fulfill the trust that was reposed in them, have
witnessed evidences OF official liberation Of and
alleged connivance with vicious activities that
could prevail only through authoritative assent.
The exposure can't help but have salutary
( innuepce on the future of Rock Island city and
[ county. 1t has brought home to the door OF the
II average voter fuller sense of his individual
Responsibility in the affairs Of a government Of
which he is an integral part. 1t will result In
his weighing more, carefully the who
come before him seeking to direct the machin-
ii cry of the government under which he and his
81 neighbors are to live 1t will give him the JUS
+ tifcation and the courage to vote his convic-
tions instead of his party label in choosing be-
tween men seeking the same official trust 1t
4 win clothe him with sense of duty in holding
men whom he engages to represent him to ac-
count to him for their record of service. Their
q prediction promises will not be accepted as
mere scraps of paper.
The Argus honestly endeavored to crcum-
4 vent the lawless revelations that are certain
to upset calculations of county elections under
normal conditions. The Argus would have pre-
ferred to have seen officials make good than
10 have seen them fail. 1t is not a source of
credit or satisfaction to The Argus that some
man or men seeking election are to 60 down to
defeat because Of exposures that it has de-
xaveloped through insstence that the laws be
n enforced. The Argus would have preferred
that the full credit for law enforcement should
have been reaped by the men the people had
put in office sworn to enforce those laws. But
u the admonitons and demands of The Argus
z were either ignored or acted upon too late to
have the credit accrue to those who could have
been the gamers by the process
III, The Argus wants to see every legal voter in
Rock Island county. men and women alike
turn out and cast their ballots at the election
| next Tuesday SUCH an expression Of the cleo
torate will indicate to the newly chosen officials
no matter to what party they may belong, that
they are going to be held accountable to the
people for their, Official acts. Their obligation
TO the people won't end. as it has in the past,
I when the votes are counted. 1t will only have
then begun.
Rock Island County has had healthy
awakening by the events of the past few
months. The period Of darkness has passed
The guilty either will be cast into political
Oblivion or will be held answerable to the courts
for their derelictions. The Argus has driven
the lawlessr element from control Of the city
and county governments. 1t remains for the
electorate to choose next Tuesday the men it
expects and will compel to hold the county
Government aloof from lawless domination the
next four yeara The electorate Of the city of
Rock Island will be expected to exercise sim
ilar prerogative at their municipal election
next spring. The Argus feels that it has rem
'dered full service to the people of Rock Island
city and county in. uprooting and eradicating a
condition that was disgracing the name and
Atrangling the progress Of the community.
The Argus now trusts the people will be able
70 help themselves.
ISL You have your bill Of fare in the ballot pre-
pared for your consideration next Tuesday.
Take time in making your selections, and then
vote them, regardless Of party or prejudices
chat might Obscure the real issue-the keep
I ing Of Rock Island county safe and decent.
3St pEnICnS LAST STANn