Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-12-01
FOR BETTER ALDERMEN,

1t should he the aim Of every good
citizen to help next spring to return to
the City Council the best men available
to represent them In that body. As ut
present constituted, the City Council
contains about the poorest class and
quality Of aldermanic timber that was
ever sent there. Many of the wards
might as well be represented by cigar
signs as by men who now pretend to
discharge the duties Of civic fathers.
The voices of some of these men have
never been heard In the Council cham.
her except when voting aye upon some
doodle measure. As for the improve
mcnt Of the wards. the introduction Of
local measures of value-in fact. the In.
terests Of their constituents generally
they never seem to bother about such
things. Now such men In the position
of aldermen are positive dctrimcnt
To the community. They rctard the
growth and Improvement Of the city,
and are clog on The wheels OF develop.
ment. The Eagle could name more
than n score such men whose terms en-
pire next spring, and all or nearly all
Of whom will be coming up for re-elec.
ton again. The voters Of the various
wards should see to 1t that these mems
records are rakcd up and discussed.
Men who on every measure introduced
before the City Council are on tile. The
ward clubs aud precinct organizations
should have them In their hands. and
citizens should he able TO discuss these
points rather than the political views
Of the outgoing aldermen or the new
men seeking election. After all. 1t
makes very little difference what the
political complexion OF the City Coun.
ell Is, for politics or political questions
have really no place In that body. DC.
casiOnally, Of course. difficulties arise
chief executive belongs to n different
party from the majority of the council
but justice compcls the statement that
the legislative wing of the municipal
government Of Chicago has seldom Ia.
ken an unfair advantage to hamper the
executive wing or interfere In any of
Its rights or privileges. During the
and then some unworthy attempts to
make political capital AT the expense of
the Mayor These, however. were con-
fined almost entirely To the small-fry
members Of the Council, and were
never pushed to the limit of forebcar-
ancc. They were also the exception to
the rule. The Council has no patron
age 10 dispense, ana It's political com
plcXiOn l., therefore. Of no Importance
tOnny party. For these reason tile Eagle
urges that the question Of the pOliti-
cal affiliations of the candidate for al
dsrmanic h0nors should cut no figure
as compared with that of his personal
fitness for the position sought and his
character for honesty and integrity.
Chicago will need an honest and capa.
bic city Council next year. Whether
the present city administration or some
spring. it will have hard task in steer
ing through the financial shoals and
quicksands that will lie In It's course.
The watchful eyes Of a careful and con.
seryatlye body of aldermen will be
needed as a check upon the executive
end of the administration In order
that the city's affairs may be 50 cOnduct-
ed as to bring II back to the full stand
ard Of financial credit TO which II had
attained and from which II has fallen
recently through many and varied
causes. The Council being the body