The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-19
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DOODLE IN CHICAGO.

Ten years ago Chicago was passing
through an era of political corruption. On
the SpOls question both parties, while
Ostensibly bitterly opposed to each other.
acted as a unit. The existence of a solid
combine in the Board Of Aldermen was no
more doubted than the circulation of the
blood For money any ordinance could be
passed. Without money nothing went.
Crime went UNPUBLISHED. vice laughed at
its censors, the pulpit numbered away and
the press grOaned, but nobody minded them.
4 journalist whose homo was not in Chi
cage, but who happened 10 be there in the
spring Of 1882, proposed TO a leading editor
10 undertake a crusade against Doodle in
the style of tie crusade which had over
thrown Tweed IL New York. The editor
replied YEARLY:
What is the good? Everything thar can
be said has been said. There is no secret
about anything. Every one knows how
widely corruption has spread and how
deep its roots are They are all in it. If
you should make war on these people the
odds are that you would BE- sandbagged or
locked up on some trumped-up charge"
Not many years after that the Haymarket
tragedy occurred. Half a dozen policemen
were killed in broad daylight by ruflians
catastrophe was the natural outgrowth Of
the anarchy begOtten of Doodle. When the
lawless class saw that the authorities were
as lawless as themselves they naturally
gave the rein to their instincts. The event
had the effect of waking up magistrates and
police TO the fruits of their deTelction of
duty. II startled the police especially.
They began to realize that. in the natural
course Of things, they would be the victims
of the disorder they had winked at. They
perceived that for their own sake they must
turn over new leaf. And they discovered
that the necessity for a reform had been
simultaneously discovered IN the States At
tOTuey'S Office and by some OF tie Judges.
A change came over the spirit Of their
dream. They found that tie Haymarket
asSaSsins were typical members Of the
dangerous class which they hal allotted
and they resolved TO lay heavy haud on
them. The asSasSins were ctUght and some
of them were hanged; cOgnate scoundrelS
were arrested and laid by The heels in jail.
AT the head of the reform movement was
States Attorney L0ngenecker, one Of those
intrepid, untirng men who generally turn
up in emergencies 10 supply the persevering
vigor which such movements require in
their leaders. He prosecuted the II 1ymar-
ket murderers. His life at that time was,
no doubt, in great danger His political
pros poets were said TO have been ruined by
the hostility he had aroused among the
friends of the anarchists. But he pursued
the even tenor of MS duty regardless Of
threats and risks. and never rested till jus
tice Was indicated
Now he has taken up the Doodle Alder
men. In Chicago, as here, the municipal
government has been in the hands Of the
b3odlers. At the City Hall money IS as ON
nipotent and public interest as unconsidered
as they were ten years ago Attorney
| Lopgenecker appears to have secured evil
! dence Of the facts. Il is said that he has
! found witnesses who viii testify that the
| Aldermen took money at their homes, in the
! street. in the Council chamber itself. The
measures which they were bri0ed to pass
are known, and unless there is a spontaue-
GUS combustion of the books aud bank ac-
counts Of tie bribers the truth viii come
| out Happily, too. they appear to have in
/ Chicago q Grand Jury which is not afraid
/ to do its duty, ami which is not liable to be
/ dissolved during the discharge thereof by
/ court which IS under Doodle control Ii is no
wonder that the correspondents describe
| the situation as painfully strained.
Not the least ominous feature in the case
| is the fact that the States Attorney is as
sisted in his work by able counsel retained
! by the leading newspapers at their own ex-
! pense. a day may come when some Dis
! triet Attorney here may feel 1t to be his
! duty to arraign cur booders for their n0to-
! rious corruption; but. with two or three ex-
/ ceptons, there are no newspapers here
| which could afford TO figure in the case by
counsel acting as amici euie, unless they
| followed the example of the Hon. Creed
| Raymond in the case of his nephew. Edgar
L.