The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-30
CHICAGO'S CURSES CURED
uusTrUE CryrC FEDERATION DID
FOR MUyfCIPAL CORRUPTIoN.
How tho Mayor of the City Shove" MS
Power with the Gambicrs-h"'
tcnncss Redeemed


Chicago can, perhaps, be best u'i'e' 49,.
by comparing the condition Oh INC '''
as IL was when the movement '0'
form began with what IL Is to-day
Early in 1894 more than a huhu'e'
gambling-houses. some OF them eiee
furnished. were running wide open III '''s
heart of the city. The police kAe" u
their existence. and the mayor "aS %
closely in touch with them-it was s"'u
that they paid handsomely for pro'e0''0.'
that they would close FOR day az n''
bidding and open again when lie gave
nermission. lie performed this iea'
number OF times IN rather spectacui1'
manner. 10 show the awakening feioi"
! gorcos that he could regulate" sam
bling. nj, .,,,
-Four race-tracks, with pooi-seH'is az,
o.ber gambling adjuncts. were IN lun
o,'-ration in or near Chicago, ana thou-
SANDS OF persons made a business o.
playing the races ill.,, o,.or
The city government was gwen ~ ~
,.o,.lroils contained, not only the names
III 'LuoWn thieves gamblers, anu s"tooI-
keepers but. as recent mFeseie 4''
shown. there We're many Wala poll.l0l 80
and 'heelers" who llesahy Vic" -
from the city Some of them nave betn
iilaoo I'm indicted A number Of notorious
iv corrupt men were On the ponce lDlN0,
and the city Council were busy sv'''"e
Most of the streets were wretchedly
filthy. especially IA the outlying porIons
Of the city. And yet an immense ai',oN ,,
OF money was expended - the urpalt
ment having IN charge the Work OF 0'e"''-
Massage "parlors." with women at
tendants. and other places OF unineh-
tlOnable besuality were running ""ie
The Health Department was 50 lax in
IT'S inspections that many or the sihautI
bakeries and milk depOts were aho"eu
to do business In foul Easements.
At the November elections or last year
there were riots IN many precincts voters
were Illegally arrested, one man was
killed and about a hundred injured, most
ly by gangs OF city employees, assi9ee4 -
the scmi-criminal element The poAtc
did not raise hand 10 prevent disturb
A general Generalization prevailed
among the charity organizations OF tne
city. The various societies Oyerlapped one
another ln their work, and there were
constant jealous chickering's Ihus IL nap
| peued that some Of the needy were not
| helped at all, and some received Hivlc
| than their share. Doubtless, this con-
dition OF affairs prevented many persons
from contributing as much as they othei-
wise would.
II was when these civil and socisi
abuses were at their worse mat the
! civic Federation, which had been per
fecung ana Strengthening It's oreahllA-
ton for months, began It's crusades. IT'S
accomplishments since then nave peeH
simply wonderful
I'm many years that there Is not gam
bling-hOuse IN the city or chicago. Even
clearinghouse games have been raldeu
and the players fined. This result was
rfsltr OF Ia az u IgEnNTtfA
which not only the gamblers, but the
police force. the city Hall administration,
and the justices Of the peace were ar
rayed against the Civic Federation. Al
ter the Committee on Gambling, headed
by the Rev. W. X. Clarke, had accumu-
lated all the evidence through special de-
tectves, IL had TO have its own special
cOnstables and deputy sherins appointed,
and it kept up the raiding week after
week pursuing the gamblers from place
20 place until they finally gave up. ii.
the course of the campaign more than
three hundred Of them were arrested. ana
much property was destroyed. All or TINS
work was enthusiastically endorsed IN
several great mass-meetings or citizens.
The four race-tracks We're all closed
this spring after a lively connict ana
for some time there was not an open
race-tracS nearer TO Chicago than -.
Louis Recently. however, the horsem N
have opened a course In Milwaukee.
strong Federation lobby In the Legsla-
ture last winter defeated the gamblers
lobby and prevented the passage or
law legalizing poOl-selling
The spOils system In the city govern
ment and In the government Of Cook
ccdnty has given place 10 Dusiness-like
civil service. The bin providing for the
merit system in making appointments
was forced through the Legislature by
| the Political Committee OF the civic Fed
| Grafton, aided by delegations from nfteen
| Of the principal clubs of the city, and
| the question was then submitted TO the
J people at the April election and carried
/ by more than 5000 majority. The Fed
| Grafton had watchers az many OF the
worst precincts. and not only were riots
/ prevented. but such perfect order
prevailed that there were COM
plants from only three precincts
out OF 9f. Doubtless this peace
ful condition of affairs was due largely
| 70 the fact that the sum Of $4,000 was
raised by popular subscription for the
| punishment of the rioters AT the previous
| election Seventy-seVon men We're indict-
cd through the efforts Of the GIVE Fed
/ Grafton attorneys. one was sent 10 the
| penitcntiary. and many others pleaded
| guilty and We're fined This had a SAUL
tary effect iu preventing disturbances at
the polls in the April election.
Many massage 'parlOrs' have been
raided and closed ny, and several dealers
i'm vile books have been arrested ana
prosecuted Other places Of shame have
been driven out OF business.
The Civic Federation was able 10 ac~
cOmplish these astonishing results In so
short a time because IL carried with ~
the power and influence Of the entire
reform element Of the city. Instead OF a
dozen or more organizations more or
less al war with one another and no
one of them strong enough 10 command
the respect and assistance Of the cltiLeus
at large there Is one COMMANDING centre
from which every effort Is directed
The term clearinghouse for reforms
was frequently used IN the early days OF
the movement. 4 business judicIuIsness
was determined upon. Only such reforms
were 20 be advocated as would receive the
unqualified support Of the majority OF the
good citizens Of Chicago, and not too
much was 10 be undertaken az one time.
There We're those hOt-headed refOrmcrs
who advocated an immediate attack on
the saloon and the social evil. but the
wiser leaders Of the civic Federation re-
solved first TO try its strength Oh lesser
evils. perfecting It's organization ana edu-
eating the people at the same time.
Each department, with its own specialists,
had its own work 20 do, and no positive
step could be takcn without consulting
the General Council.
The Civic Federation Is organized on
simple but very effective plan. 10 con-
sists. first. Of the Central Council. made
no OF one hundred men and women, rep
reseuting all shades of religious and pO-
lltical belief organizations rs wide apart
as boards of trade and trades unions, and
all natOnalitles that go to make I'D the
city. All new members OF this Central
Council, except the presidents OF the
ward councils, are selected by the couu-
ell itself In each ward there Is also
Ward Council the president OF which Is a
member of the Central Council and in
each precinct there is or will be A Pre-