The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-11-10
TIE cowARDIcE OF OFFICIALS


- 1s1sri1g today. through the cowardies Of ito
59wn officials. These officials have permitted
70 BE- offered for sale in the streets publica-
4ica that has for years been engaged in the
promotion and protection Of public lawless--
1sss and public debauchery; . printed scaven-
ser, appearing under the suise Of newspaper
nat would not be tolerated for single issue in
Any other civilized community Of 900 souls
IA Thomas Cox, when chief Of police, refused
- suppress the lawless resorts that John Loon
~ collected tribute from under the pretense of
1dvertising in his filthy paper appearing under
ne name of the Rock Island News because
Tom Cox was afraid John Looney might print
eDnaething about him that might embarrass
him in the eyes Of his neighbors. Thomas Cox
= no longer chief Of police and the lawless
resorts that Looney accepted money for adver-
using and protecting are out Of business.
Il Mayor H. n Schriver several years ago
treated John Looney to beating that put him
n hospital because he printed q story about
the mayor concerning an alleged social indis-
cfetion. This incident melted riot that ne
osssitatsd martial law and the presence of
etate troops to bring order in the city Of Rock
And an unhealthy and Improbable place of
residence and departed for other climes.
Less than two years ago John Looney re-
thrned to Rock Island and resumed the cam
paign Of public slander through the medium of
hts filthy paper. offering to other citizens the
same insults that brought an attack upon him
By the mayor that put him In hospital. Mayor
Schriver had knowledge Of the vicious activi-
ties Of John Looney that could not help but
eventually involve and .discredit his admins
ration. Mayor Schriver refused to heed the
warnings Of his good friends to curb the de-
teiopment Of the Looney underworld govern
nent.
Mayor Schriver gave . policemans star and
permit to carry gun to John Looneys son
that he might help enforce the edicts Of his
father among the denisens Of the underworld
and coerce and terrorise unoffendins citizens
and defy the authority Of officers Of the peace.
John Looney encouraged his son to become 20
ypblicly defiant and o6icious that there was
dother riot in Rock Island under the admins
uation Of Mayor Schriver. That riot was
slased in Market square Oct. s. Young Looney
hid with his life for posing a. policeman.
John Looney has flown. but he has left be-
A1nd him bis slimy trail in the form Of his a.
lesed Newspaper, which is being turned out
flom the Looney roost under the direction Of
lAwrepce Pediso. few weeks ago driven from
tenancy Of the Sherman hotel, where he
opuldn't pay hts rent after he had been COM
Delled to cease operating the property a. q
hcuse of prostitution. bootlegsing Joint and
nmblinG den. Podigo. character With charges
q carrying concealed weapons and violation Of
We liquor laws hanging over him in the courts,
q permitted BY Mayor schriver and his police
DEPARTMENT to circulate and sell in the streets
q Rock Island an indecent publication that il
i1citng and enceurasins lavlessnsss. villifying
lswSabiding citizens and holding mp the COM
mnnity to ridcule and condemnation before the
qIen Of the world.
Mayor SchEiver. under the police powers Of
TIE city. has the authority to stop the sale Of
loonsy's vicious publication. Mayor Schriver
might read the hand writing in the returns Of
last Tuesdays election. Rock Island is going
to b spared . continuation Of the degrading in
finance Of Losuey's sltmy publication, and
Mayor Schrker might % well get little credit
mr. helping in the municipal cleanup, one Of
the principal ohJectives Of which is to relieve
the city Of the curse and blight Of Looneyism
and all that he stands for.