The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-21
ELECTION
Race and Religious Issues Figured
to a Large Extent.
How the Foreign Elements Voted
Talks with the New Mayor and His
Defeated Competitor.

CHICAGO, Dec. 20.-The police. or unofh-
cial returns Of yesterdays election for
Mayor. give Hopkins a plurality of LA.
The Republicans are looking into a number
of charges of fraud, but no decisive steps
toward a contest were taken to-day. The
official canvass Of the vote begins to-mor-
row.
In an interview to-day Mr.. Hopkins said:
18th result demonstrates one thing. and
that is that the American people are too
broadminded and too liberal to tolerate
appeals to national and race prejudice. L
hope that the contest will settle once for
all the policy of introducing such questions
into political contests. / look upon the
outcome, close as it is, as a great party
victory, rather than a personal triumph.
All sections of the party worked harmoni-
ously together and won in the face of hos
tile conditions. j desire to make this state
ment concerning my policy: / accepted the
Democratic platform in its entirety. / have
been elected on this platform and / will
carry it out to the best of my ability. The
public will see for itself how well 1 can
keep my word"
Mr.. George p. Swift, the Republican
candidate, says: The struggle was the
hardest and most bitter / was ever en-
gagged in. and in some respects 1t was I'M
precedented. L believe the circular attack
ing foreigners, which our committee de-
nounced as a forgery lost me thousands OF
votes. l know that in my ward some Of
my old friends refused to vote for me on
this account. I tried hard TO explain at
my meetings that | detested and repro
bated the sentiments expressed in the cir
cular, but, of course, it was impossible to
reach everybody. Considering that the city
went Democratic last year by over $500
majority, l think we made an extraordinary
fight. The odds against ~ were enormous
and we made a grand battle. Another week
would nave settled the contest in our favor.
L believe that we had practically won the
fight until the infamous circular came out"
The election turned to a large extent on
religious and race issues. The Germans,
Irish-Americans and the Poles
voted very largely for Hopkins. The Sean
danavians. Hollanders. Canadians and a
large proportion Of Americans voted for
swift. The returns from the Fourteenth,
Fifteenth. Twenty-seventh and Twenty
fifth wards indicate that the German Luth-
Grams nave returned 10 their allegiance 10
the Republican party in the northwest sec
ton and in Lakeview. They still hold out
in the Ninth, Tenth and Thirtieth wards.
HOW Ht lCnSIDl pl0JbOi(C oo0 nv
doubt helped to increase Democratic ma
~jorities in Irish and Bohemian wards like
the Sixth Eighth. Ninth, Nineteenth and
T~wenty-ninth. The Poles. however, seem
to be weakening somewhat in their allegi-
ance to the Democratic party, and the
Sixteenth ward, which was counted on for
1900 majority, gave less than 1000. The
Poles also voted to some extent for the
Republican C 'ndIdate in the Fifteenth and
Thirty-third wards. The strong labor wards
gave old-time Democratic majorities.
While nothing of a definite nature is
known of possible changes at the City
Hall, it is well understood that Mr.. Hop
kins is not DESTROYS OF upsetting things
any more than is necessary. Superintend-
ent Brennan, it is practically determined,
will remain at the head of the police force
Controller Wetherell Rep) wip be retired,
and his place may be taken by Hiram j.
Jones Dem.) Corporation Counsel kraus is
about TO retire, and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Sigmund Zeisler, who was one OF
the counsel for the defense in the Anarchist
trial, may be promoted TO ill the vacancy
City Sealer Burke will retain his present
position. and the same is probably true OF
Superintendent CrosSette, of the water of
flee, and Superintendent Mccarthy, of the
street department. 1t is taken for granted
by Democratic leaders that Mr.. Hopkins
will relieve all Republican officeholders and
fill their places with Democrats.