, 1875-09-19

under the Inv of 1872, and it is already well
fitted to their wants. As soon as the validity
of this objection was recognized, the Associa-
ton prepared another general Law, which the
Legislature passed They then made Sec
ond mistake in counting upon the hearty CO.
operation of the respectable voters to vote
down the charter OF 1872, and in underesti-
mating the persistency of the ofice-holders,
who saw herein an opportunity to keep their
places beyond the time for which they were
elected. The respectable voters stayed away
from the polls, but it would not have made
much difference if they had voted those
having possession Of the ballot-boxes stuffed
and counted the votes to suit their own pur-
poses.
1t was at this juncture that the Citizens
Association developed their greatest strength.
They refused to submit to the contamination
of fraud in the charter election, which, if per-
mitted to stann, would render honest cleo
tions impossible in Chicago for ell time to
come They Immediately instituted proceed
ings in court to expose the frauds and defeat
their results. They failed in their injunction
proceedings merely on account Of the unpar-
alleled recklessness Of the Board of Aldermen,
who scoFed at the mandate Of the Court.
Still the Citizens Association persisted They
have succeeded in getting favorable decisions
from two Of the Circuit Judges, and have
gone to the Supreme Court with 8 fair pros
pect of victory. # the final decision is
against the charter Of 1872, and the practice
of ba1lot-box stufing receives lasting rebuke,
the people Of Chicago will have to thank the
Citizens Association for the good work;
without them the fraud would have been sub
mitted to, and precedent would have been
established which nothing less than popu-
lar uprising could avert.
There is still plenty of good and effective
work for the Citizens Association to do.
There will always be in a large city like Chi
cago. There is not week nor q day when
come scheme for plundering tax x-payers is not
working in the brains of political marauders,
and unless some such association is watching
the departments closely the jobs cannot be
averted. The following passage from Presi-
dent MAoVKAGH's report is not an exaggerated
statement OF the case:
The city il to bs repaved, and "job" Is in con-
tempatt0u II needs tho A88Uc3tiQn TO see that When
Chicago is rcpaEed It shsu te done in tho most I'M
proved manner aud honestly. The Police Admins
traton OF this city is simply absurd, and must be
formed in permanent manner. The building Of tbs
Cou1tHouse, uness watched by this Association, and
watched thoroughly, will be tho greatest piece Of rob-
bery and corruption ever west Of the Al1eghe-
Mes The City Council and County Board about
equally prolific In outragcs upon the people, and need
the constant supervision OK Association such AZ
hnaf f,ru fnh hn F.nh
specimen Of rascaity III Of these Boards. Ab~
szact jobs contract jobs, Illegal salary jobs the we'll
established trade In franchises ind the whole motley
troop Of rascatiea, will march BY usual from years
end to years end unlesa halted BY some Citizsns' As
sociatton.
In view Of this condition, it is to be hoped
that the Association will turn out in force
next Tuesday evening and elect officers who
will prosecute the work in hand with the
same vigor and earnestness that have charac-
terized it so far