, 1874-11-10
CQoK COUNTY ELECTION,

arc making all possible capital out OF the fact
that this county boa givon heavy Democratic
majority, aud rsvorsad the credit OF Chicago aa
ono Of tho Republican cities OF tho Union. OF
course tho general cauaes which prevailed in all
parts oi tho country had their effect hero, but
thoy rero aggravated by tho impolitlo course
adopted by tho Republican County Conventions
Tho objective point in this county uaa tho
election Of three momhoEa Of Congreaa. The
Republicans had but to hold their own they
had nothing to overcome. Tho Opposition held
their conventions first. They maao excel
lent selections for Congress-, considered
as means OF combining strength. Thoy
selected ono candidate, Al American by birth,
but intimately and cloaely identified in ovory way
with the Irish population; auothor candidate
was q wealthy but respectable citizen Who had
proved himself man Of integrity in a local
Office; and In the Third District thoy nominated
an American lawyer Of ability and Of uaimpcacl'-
BILE character as a gentleman, and Republican
until 1879. TAese selections were we'll mnao for
tho several districts In which they vera to
operate. Tho snno party a}so put IN nominaton
for Sheriff gentleman OF Irish birth. but popu-
lar among ali classos, but especially with his
countrymen; and for Coroner German highly
esteemed among his nationality. Horo was An
admirably arranged pian to combine tho Coltic
and Teatonic voters III solid column, and at the
same time attract tho native vote to the general
excelepcc Of tho whole tiekot. Tho throo can
! aidatos for Congress were placed In tho neld
backed by county ticket which added greatly to
their strength.
With this programme Of hattlo before them,
how did tho Republican wart.-icadess aot2 Did
they consult the possibilities Of uniting strength
did they do anything to bronk down this formid-
! ablo alliance OF the Opposition2 They know that
the aamo substantial Opposition In November.
1873, had carried the county by $4,000 majority,
aud, if that oppoAtIon should poll its full voto
! without being divided. like majority might ba
! repeated. Notwithstanding this knowledge, the
Republican County Convention eourted dofest
by renominaslpg Bradley for Sheriff aud Btophena
| for Coroner. Had they aelectel any two Of tho
| prominent 1rish-Ame1lcauB aud Germans who
wero suggested for Sheriff md Coroner, and Of
fored tho Opposition any proto1t for diHorganizn'
| tion. they would hayo entered tho contoat will
tho victory assured In advance. Instead oi
| mooting tlia dc1terous combination Of national
itioa by an equal ono, md thereby strengthen.
Ing their oandldates for Congress- and their Leg.
iHlativo tickets, til oy chose to load down the
! Congressmen with nominees who had nc
| strength in themselves, and whose nominations
camentcu tho opposing combination. Mr. Brad.
| ley had been Sheriff for two torns ho had beeu
connected with that office for many years; he
had naturally mnls auch onemios that ha Lad
always run behind lis ticket; many Of Ills dopu'
tics wero unpopular, and his election offered nc
places to tho outs, while that OF bis opponnn
promised general aweop. There was an ides
that he ought 10 rctiro; "third torns" wero no,
popular; aud Ills doioat wns inevitable from the
first. Tho defcat OF two Republican candidates
for Congress-, and the reduction Of tho vote o
tho other to nero nominal and even ye
questionable majority, WIS tho repult Of tht
superior sagacty in tho make-up OF tho Opposi
ton ticket. and The absence OF any Huoh aagaolt.
| on tho part Of tho Republican leaders. Hence
| the 1oas Of two congressman, aud perhApa tn,
loss Of All three; also of throe State Senators
md four or Ave Representatives, whom tho Ro
publIcana might hayc elected. Draius MOD.