Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-04-03
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP

lege or preiUgativc. Thus we are all u
unit In cOndcmning any and all at
tempts ut cOcrcing or unduly influen-
cling the sovereign voter when selecting
those whom he desires to represent or
govern him. The only way In which
we are permitted to sway the popular
feeling Is by the educational or argu-
mentative method: by cOOlly. calmly
and deliberately placing boil, sides of
the question before the electors of the
commonwealth. and giving In a logical
and unimpassioncd manner good and
sufficient reasons why one side IL more
worthy of consideration than the other.
1t Is only the dcmagogue. or the man
conscious of the weakness Of his aryu-
ment. but tennciOusly clinging to II.
who will dare refuse his antagonists u
hearing. or deny the opposition respect.
fil explanation. IT our elections ought
to be conducted In this just. delibcra.
tive mode. how much more necessary
Is II for tis to surround our legislative
assemblies with the same influences.
And yet the opposite is the case. and
within the past few weeks our State
lawmakers have been treated with
threatening. bulldozing measures that
ARE cqunled only In the history of early
parliamentary meetings. when the rep.
resentativcs Of the people were under
the immediate control of the a,itocratic
power Of the crown.
The constitutional right of petition
III A.
the element of intimidation. and the
invading of the capitol by large crowds
or an army Of individuals with noise
Of trumpets AMI blare of brass bands
to force upon the lawmakers the ndOp.
ton Of some particular lcgisla tion Is
Improper In the extreme. or equal
incOrrrctncss II the holding Of mass
meetings. even on the part Of what II
known rs the "bcttpr classes" where
IN bitter speeches ARE made. AMI
threats enuncinte,l. and abuse INDUCED
In. with the intention of preventing the
enactment Of some especial measure.
AS an example of this conduct. I would
call attention to the way In which
what IL known ns the Humphrey bill"
lately Introduced into our Legislature.
has been treated. This bill practically
requires that certain powers now pos
sesscd by the municipal council. hc
transferred to u board brought into
existence by the Illinois General AS.
srmbly. AMI II simpllilcs In every way
the relations of our surface strcct.car
roads To the citizens. There IL not u
fnlr-min,led. unbiased individual who
reads this but who must give the great.
est credit to our street railroad conf
pnnics for the magnificent systems of
internal transportation We POSSESS. and
which have done more than any other
single factor to develop Chicago. AMI
extend her borders. Increase her
strength AMI wealth. and give her the
imperial position she to-day occupies.
And yet the great men who have aided
81 materially In producing these ~.
suits. who have by their abilities At
tUcted financial influence tn iis. who
have laid out. built. engineered. ana
| extended these roads. are treated with
to say the lcnst-scnnt courtesy
whenever they cn,lravor to improve
the environments ami place on u more
sure AMI stable basis the Interests com.
mitted to their care.
a more honorable man. u more broad
minded citizen. or u more thorough
gentleman thnn Mr.. Charles z. Yerkcs
does not exist. Possessed Of generous
| qualifications. which rn,lpar him tn
those with whom he personally comes
| In contact. Il IL. however. to his official
| capacity ! desire to invite nOtlce. lie
| found the North AMI West Divisions OF
Chicago "wl,le as the poles asuntrr. 81
with Incomplete car lines. with small,
| uncomfortable cnrs'--and these few and
far bet ween--sO that II was u full days
journey to venture from one side ri
| the city to the other. The prpsen,
condition Of affairs speaks for itself
AMI needs no discussion. Mr.. irrkes
IL the chief executive official Of the
stockholders. who are the real owners
Of the r0nds. aud the great mass III
| these stockholders consists Of men and
women Of medium or no means. who
have confidence In the abilities Of thu
president. and have PIT their savings
Into this stock rs IN Investment. Thu
president. therefore. has u sacrr,l truss
IN his hands. and IN important charge
II imposed upon him to guard and de
fend this trust In every way. aud al
all times.
HIT a very short time ago the Munlc
lpal League Of Chicago. In IN Ofiicla
document ISSUED by lts order AMI witt
Its authority, gave u history of the nj
dermcn who rule our city. 4 careful
perusal of this Important paper Shove,
rhat the opinion NJ these league OIL
GERS was that u considerable ma jOrit!
OF the city fathers were had" mel
and unfit for their positions. And nov
this league cries ON that this vena
Council. too bad for them To deal with
IL good enough for the railroad com
panles to obtain charters fr0nl. An,
when ile railroad corporations uppea
In the Interest of their stockholders Il
the State Legislature ~ br relieve,
from the dangersand inj,lsticts connect
Ell with their being AT the mercy of thi
judged ami aforementioned COun,i
then the members of the league ar
filled with vlrtuOus horror. am afraid
though. that they themselves vii
know how weak ana untenable IL thei
position.
At the Central Music Hall mass meet
Ing the enemies Of the Humphrey bil
. / 4