The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-09
93oflE COMMUNITY CANCER STILL
REMAINS.

The avalanche Of votes Filled up for Edwards
and Thompson In Tuesdays election represent
~ protesting voices Of the decent and laws
pg citizenship of Rock Island county
INIT continuation OF the conditions that
hsve brought this community into world dis
seputc during, the past few years. 1t was no
tice from these people that officials must eradi-
cate every Influence that has contributed to
the sequence OF tragic and deplorable events
that has necessitated the bringing On the
scene Of the attorney general of Illinois in a
final effort to permanently correct the condi-
ton and obtain punishment for those who may
be proved responsible for its promotion and
maintenance.
One Of the chief evils against which the
people, by their united vote. recorded them
selves, is the Rock Island News, the official or
gan Of the underworld. an alleged newspaper
devoted to the advancement Of lawlessness and
the public villification of any good man or
woman who might run counter to its aims or
accomplishments. This publication, which is
owned by John Looney, now fugitive from
justice, evading warrant of the United States
court charging him with thievery, has been
receiving money for advertising houses Of pros
sorts in the city of Rock Island 1t has been
used to whip into line law violators so that
> tty might become regular contributors to an
j m11unity pot shared between members of a
.3kicc ring. organization that controlled all
8e@Arworld concessions in the city.
Hbe Rock Island News is permitted to be cir
Gsd on the streets Of Rock Island to corrupt
and pollute the minds ofthe citys youth 1t has
been used as a weapon to bend officials and
courts to the will and desires of John Looney,
modern Jekyi and Hyde, posing before the
community as paragon Of virtue and civic
uplifter. 1t has been used by Looney to force
aNtf3cals to violate their oaths Of office and be-
: tray the trust placed in them by the people 1t
has been employed to wiring financial settle
ments from prominent citizens detected in So
cial indiscretions on pain of printed exposure
tndahgerng their business and social standing
N and breaking the bonds of trust between happy
husbands and wives. 1t has been an officially
protected scavenger whose misszon was to
COMPEL assent to the criminal trafficking Of
10oney and the underworld organization. 1t
has imperled the credit and standing Of sub
stsntial business institutions through its IT,
rades OF Shiny vituperaticn involving the pri-
vate lives Of strong men who had made err
rors of conduct that should have been left to
their own consciences for adjustment.
- TIE Rock Island News encouraged. promot-
r. defended and protected the underworld Or
Eapixation that exercised power over the city
S1oD&mDunty governments, that made them either
unwilling or impotent to function in the in
terest of the common welfare 1t was either
directly or indirectly responsible for the reign
Of lawlessness that resulted in the taking of
seven human lives in the city OF Rock Island
within Il few months. It encompassed the po-
lttfcal downfall of John G.. Miller and George
H. Richmond in Tuesdays county election for
no other reason than that they had courted and
accepted the support Of the obnoxious fnflu-
ences for which this slanderous publication
stood sponsor. x It caused H. M. McCaskrin to
lose his home city by 1900 votes in his race
for the legislature because there had been Gre
ated in the public mind suspicion that he had
been contributor of writings appearing in its
columns, although Mr.. McCaskrin denies ever
having had any such connection with Looney s
underworld organ
The people Of Rock Island county have
stood for the siandering OF their fellow citizens
by this vile publication just as long as they
Intend to. " serves no purpose in the COM
my other than to promote lawlessness.
6tAA and destruction Of legitimate 9etivities
Rerefore it cantbe considered in no other light
HhfEas community cancer that must and will
~ S@dicated. AZ
VI 3e0ck Island busihess men have
fnlol upon Chief Of Police William H.
H. mmons tosstop the circulation of this in
i4abkat publication on the streets of Rock
lad Chief Eitxsimmons has the power to
this relief to the people Of this commun-
md it win be : no more difficult proceed
u MI Than ordering the suspension Of the dice
d me- in the cigar stores OF the city. Rock
a69 business men and the other
lsfespecting people Of the city are ex-
1ptcting Mr.. Fitxsimmons 10 perform This dssir-
1eslask in the interest Of community decency
Ind safety. The Looney vice vultures. organ is
1T ing to cease - public menace, and Mr..
fssimmons may as we'll reap the credit for
performing this act Of civic and Official service