The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-30
THE
CARTER HARRISON.

With the death of Carter Harrison
passes into history one of the most cele'
brated and unique characters in Ameri-
can politics. Carter Harrison was in q
measure what might be termed a great
man. 1t may be argued that he was
great by reason of his being the mayor
OF the greatest of typical American cit
les ut the time of the greatest event in
it's history. Mr.. Harrison, however.
was we'll known before tho Worlds fair
was thought Of. Chicago had had other
mayors before him, and several came in
the interregnum between his fourth
and fifth terms. But 1t is safe to say
that people knew Of Carter Harrison,
even while out of Office, who could not
have called the name OF the man who
was at the time mayor of Chicago.
What brought Mr.. Harrison 30 promi-
nently before the people Of the country
was that distinctive individuality which
would haro made him marked in any
walk Of life. He was a mar of advanced
and liberal ideas, radical in many
things, but with the courage Of his con-
victions and the ability and intelligence
to bring the great mass Of the people to
his way Of thinking. As q oampaignsr
he was perhaps without an equal; as
mayor Of Chicago he developed execu-
tive ability Of a high order, and his
financial management of the city's az
fairs was one to be proud Of, while pub
lie improvements received a stimulus
under his administrations that resulted
ia pushing Chicago to the front rank Of
American cities. Mr.. Harrison had his
enemies; his opponents have repeatedly
charged him with representing and pan
dering to the slough" element; but
no one has ever charged him
with official corruption; and as to the
element he represented, if it was as his
enemies claimed, then the great major
ity of the people of Chicago would have
to be classed as "tough," since he was
their, idol as mayor; and except for
campaign purposes no one would be
bold enough to make such a charge
against the Chicago business men and
the Chicago ~workingmen, who were al
ways numbered among his strongest
supporters. Mr.. Harrison was a man Of
firmness and nerve in an emergency.
The latest test to which these qualities
we're put was in August last, when
serious riots were threatened In Chi
oago. A crowd Of the unemployed had
been having noisy parades and meetings,
where much Incorporate talk was in
dulged in. Several people were injured
and affairs looked serious for a time.
While a crowd Of several thousand rest
less people was holding a meeting on
the lake front, Mayor Harrison appeared
and made an address in which he i'm
plored those present to maintain the
peace, adding that they certainly would
not gain anything by public disturb
ance, and declaring that at any risk he
would put a stop to paradss and demon
STATIONS. His presence and his words
had a remarkable effect and the trouble
was over. Had Mr.. Harrison's life not
been cut short by the hand of an assas-
sin he would have witnessed the close
of the great exhibition which made
Chicago for six months the true "hub
of the universe" Even as it was, he
saw success where jealous rivals had
predicted only failure. The Columbian
exposition will be part of the history Of
the nineteenth century; and indissolu-
bly, linked with the story of that event
will be the name of Carter II. Harrison,
"the best mayor Chicago ever had"