The herald., 1895-04-13
THE INDEPENDENCE OF CHICAGO

tive Jones, and said tobe endorsed largely
by the influential business men of Chi
cago is carried out as outlined in The
Herald's telegraphic columns of yester-
day, the facetlous designation of Illinois
'as state near Chicago" will become
literally correct. The idea of a city en-
dowed with well nigh sovereign powers is
refreshingly new to the United States,
| and comes appropriately from the great
community that has led in so many other
things. The proposition has much to
commend it, apparently. from the argu-
ments adduced in its behalf. 1t is un-
doubtedly true that municipalities of
Chicago's size and extraordinary interests
frequently need legislation that is vitally
important to them, but seemingly an.
tagonistlc to some other part of
the state, and for the latter reason
fail in securing what is desired,
and very often similar failure attends
the efforts of city's representatives be-
cause of the dense and impenetratab ig-
norance affecting the other legislators re-
garding the conditions and necessities of
a place they have never seem and can
form no conception Of This utter lack of
acquaintance between the wants of a
growing metropolis and the intellects of
members from the rural districts has
been the cause of long and bitter COM
| nloipt hx, hot WI c.,
cisco. Men speak and vote in the legis-
latures of California and New York on
municipal, street and sanitary affairs,
who would not know the difference be-
tween an asphalt and concrete pavement
or a cesspool and a manhole. This indi-
| rect administration of municipal affairs
by the state at large is bound to be tinct-
ured with ignorance, incompetence and
prejudice. if by nothing worse, and is
certain to be productive of disappointing,
dissatisfying and bunsling results t. say
tive OF the cardinal Democratic doct-
rine OF local self government; the theory
that the more completely political power
is left with the people to be affected by it.
the better; that each political subdivision
of the people can more accurately com pre-
hend the rights and interests of the citi-
zens composing it, and more efficiently
guard and provide for them. than the
state as a whole can. 1t is held by many
that to permit unqualified autonomy to
municipalities would be TO make possible
th.ir control by political rings and cliques,
in the power of which the people would
be helpless. while with certain powers of
supervision and interference retained by
the state govern ment these combinations
would fail. This view is based on, a dis
trust of the people and, if pursued far
enough, means the abolition of popular
government and resort to aisolutism or
Capitalization. And to the student OF
practical politics it betrays a very made.
quate conception of.the corpitions per
tanning to the management of municipal
affairs and total neglect of the actual re-
suits of their favorite plan wherever tried.
The three great cicies of the JInioa that
happen to be notable examples and VIC
tins of this intermeddling policy. New
York Chicago and San Francisco, each
furnishs in itself the best llustra-
tion Of its futility to subserve either the
purposes of intelligent government or
pure politics. The trinity have achieved
a worldwide notoriety as the poorest
managed and most politically corrupt of
all the larger cities of the country. The
scheme formulated by the Chicagoans
will be startling to the American public
because of its novelty. But it is not en-
tirey without precedent at this day, and
as far as considerations of area and popu-
lation are concerned, will find ample
justification. Probably the best instance
of city endowed with attributes of state
sovereignty and enjoying before the
world an ideal individual existence. is
Monaco in the north of Italy. 1t possesses
an area of six square miles and popu-
lation of less than five thousand, and
OutSluO Vi IOIciS anu
had no industries worth speaking of.
Chicago has an area of POO square miles.
population Of over 1. l.5o0.0O0 and in
dustrial and commercial interests running
into the hundreds of millions There arc
twenty-six states in the union with
Representatives and Senators. having less
population than this typical American
city and her percentage of increase in
both people and wealth is greater than
that of any state. The magnitude and
complexity of her diverse interests and
the heterogeneous nature of her inhabit-
ants entail governmental perplexitics that
only her people can inteligently grasp
and dispose Of. There is little wonder
she seeks emancipation from state ties,
and as she usually gets what she wishes,
there is strong probability of her desires
being gratified.
Do the city and Fiesta authorities ex
pect to entertain that midnight odor and
the out-of-town visitors at one and the
same time next week? The town isn't