New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-08
LESSONS FROM THE CHICAGO ELECTION

LESSONS FROM THE CHICAGO ELEC11o''
No one denies that the result If the Chicago
MayOralty contest was triumph OF the CHI!
worst elements. and that party policies or prill'
ciples had little if anything to do with II.
Harrison. to be sure, talked with characteristic
effrontely and vehemence about being the reg
Mar Democratic candidate, but it seems hardly
possible that intelligent Democrats who remem-
bered the way in which he deliberately defeat
ed the party two years age could have been
impressed by such a claim Or locked upon nm
as other than what he iS-the representative OF
the rumshops the gambling houses ana klndred
places. These were his main support. 1hey
made his nomination possible They were the
most potent force in his canvass, and they are
still rejoicing in the most hilarious way over
the successful issue of his campaign
In other words, the same combination OF the
vicious and depraved classes that makes II
possible for Tammany Hall to maintain con-
troll of New-York year after year gave Chicago
as n prey ID Carter Harrison. lie Is the kich-
and Croker of Cook County. His machine Is a
Western duplicate of the Wigwam, less elabo-
rate but not more decent. lie looks upon
Chicago as the Sachems look upon thiS uh-
fortunate municipaity-as an object Tor spolia
tion-and his attitude toward the NATIONAL De-
mociacy is precisely that of Tammany friendly
when it paws to be friendly and treacherouS
when it pays to be treacherouS. Because Vi
This striking resemblance it is emlnently de-
sirable that the lessons which Harrison sue
cess contains should not be lost sight OF by the
leaders Cf the antiTammany forces that are
preparing TO wrest this city's government 1roh'
the political brigands now infeStng II.
The weak point in the opposition to Harrison
was vital one. There was deplorabe lack OF
p,oper organization. Apparently the leaders
Thought that with the local newspapers. save
one. solidy arIayed against him there was Ia
need for careful attention 10 practical poli'icai
work. such as Harrison bestowed 50 eiieNiV'ly.
They forgot evidently. that iii contests OF ms
kind the press frequently cXerts less Influence
than might be expected. The Chicago papers
did their duty ard it is in no way discredltable
that they We're not more effective. llad 'ne'r
efforts been supplemented by thorough or
eanization in every election precinct Throughout
the city. the result would certainly have been
less humiliaiing The managers OF the ref)im
movement know HARRISON and they surely are
aware that he is an exceptionally able organ
izer but this knowledge docs not appear Ia
have made them feel the necessity OF adopting
the same means Of warfare for the friends OF
good government were but scattered mob a.
against the well-organized army OF the an-
dacious demagogu
This mistake is entirely familiar to us here.
1t has been made regularly III every con-
test that has been undertaken against Tam
many during the last half dozen years. Inc
work of the campaign except fugitive az
tempt here and there, is never begun until "A
few weeks before election Then, with an un-
disciplined, unorganized and even rebelllouS
body of recruits. we rush out against the most
perfectly organized political army that exists
in this country and wonder at our overthrow
Are we always to make the same mistake that
the good people of Chicago made thus repeat
ing our own errors, or arc we to learn something
from Carter Harrison?