, 1876-09-09
CHICAGO IN THE LEGfSLATURE.

CHICAGO IN THE LEGISLATURE.
Thorc is an active preparation by tho
political committees and organizations OF
this city and county getting tho machinery
in order for nomination OF candidates for the
oflcea to DO elected exclusively in this
county. The Republicans llnyo already pro-
gressed 20 far as to call tho Conventions in
tho throo districts for the nomination of can-
dilatos for Congress. These Conventions
aro to be held on the 28tla Of September, and
tho candidates seeking the nominations are,
or will be, active in preparing for that strug.
gle. Tho Dewocrnts will be in readiness
about tho Same time. There are several
county officers to DO elected this fall, and
Conventions will DO held to nominate caudi.
1atcs for these.
The people Of Chicago, however, have
moro nt stake in the selection of candidates
for tho Legislature than they have in the
election Of county officers or oven Of Con-
grcssmen. This county hns n groater popu-
lation, a grcator amount Of business, greater
production, and greater capital invested in
oil ways, than any one Of several States of
tho Union. In point OF population this
county exceeds either Connecticut, Vermont,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Delaware,
Florida, Arkansas, Oregon, Ncyaaa, No
braskn, Minnesota, West Virginia, or Colo
rndo. and is nearly equal to Mainc, South
Carolina, Kansas, or Maryland. In each of
theso states tho election of the Legislature
is u matter of engrossing interest, while
hero, in this county, which is so deeply in-
terestcd in tho Legislature Of tho Stato, the
selection of mclnbora Of tho Legislature ia
mere matter Of chance,-the nominations
being generally given to mon who, without
character, ability, or experience for any pub.
lie service. are Of necessity least fitted for
tlat particular duty which requires MI these.
Chicago and tho county arc entitled to q
Representatives md seven Senator's OF
these, four Senators, 1IA1NEs, KruoE, Duzlr-
LEn, and Ron1NsoS, hold over. Senators nro
to DO elected in tla Second District, which In
composed Of tho prcsont Third md Fourth
Wards mud Hyde rark; In the Fourth Dis
trict, composed Of the present Eighth,
Eleventh, and Twelfth Wards; aud i'll tue
Sixth District, composed Of tho present
Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Eighteenth Wards.
In oach of tho sevon districts threc Repre-
scntativcs havo to DO elected. Under tic
minority r1lo, those delegations will be
divided politically. It is almost practicable
in advance to ascertain which party will bo
in tho majority, and therefore elect tho two
menbera in each of these districts. In a
partisan sense, therefore, there cau bo no
particular struggle, bocatlso thero can hardly
DO doubt In moro tllan one caso as to tho
politics OF tho men who will 10 elected.
Wo write this on tho assumption that
tho candidates On both slea will
bo personally nnobjcctionablo but, taking
tho experience Of past years, tho r,,le has
been for both asdos to silence criticism md
discrimination by nominating on both tickots
mon who are equally unfit for tho office. We
appeal, therefore, to both parties, In tie In
terost Of the city, which is t',e suffering VIC
tim OF m accumulation Of bad Legislation,
to romcdy tho woaknoss with which Chicago
has boon hnbitually represented at Spring.
field. The Republican party las taken tho
wiBe precautIon to separate tho nomination
Of candidates for the Legislature from the
nomination Of all other candidates by calling
Legislative Convention in each district.
Why should not tho Democrats do tho
same, md taon sotoct as delegates for
these Legislative Conventions mon who aro
not asprants themselves, hut who aro intor-
eated In having tho city intelligontly repre-
sontea ut springaeld7
Tie taxes lowed In Chicago, OF all kinds
general. special, city, county, State, and
town-do not aggregate less than SO, ,0OO, 900
annually. All tpeso taxes Aro levied under
tho authority Of State legislation, and while,
theoretically, Chicago has bcen represented
in the making Of these laws, practically sho
has had no voice. Her delegations, oven on
tue most vital questions. hayo always been
divided. made up OF opposing factions, anl
largely composed Of men entirely ignorant
and unyersed In nil tho dotaila Of municipal
affairs.
Chicago 10 now In most. ..lnmentable con-
dition. The Revenue Inv Of tho 6tats is
sadly deficient and tnapplicable to city like
Chicago. Now that tho defects OF tho law
arc experienced by other parts Of the State,
this city, by sonding to tue Legislature
delegation Of competent. intelligent, and
experienced men, who will act unitcdly
for the common interest OF Chicago,
will uuqueatiou4bly be able to &C.
euro careful revision OF that law,
When tho Legislature discovers that the
State tax is not collected In this county, but
IL sot aside and IL loat wheneyer any person
formally objects to paying It. It 10 possible
that tho Chicago delegation will meot with