Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
FRANK CkRPENfER HAS A CHAT
WITH CHICAGO'S MAYOR.
AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.
THE HOST POPLAR MAYOR CHI
CAGo HAS EVER HAD.
C~hicago's Noodle" tounciI md How
the Mayor Controls It-is TO sill
yer and the Tnrif-Chnnccs
for making in
Chicago.

Chicago, Dec. lN-A year ago he was
simply = reputable young business man.
lle cut no especial figure in The politics
al his state. and rs Il national quantity
lie had 10 place in the eyes q The Demo
cratic party. Now lie is the most popular
mayor Chicago has ever had. IN his six
months term OF office he has shown
such strength OF character that the coun-
~ officers are advocating his nomination
a. the next Democratic candidate for the
pov-ruorship OF Illinois, ard Henry Wat
tcrson and leading Democrats from a dozen
different sections have proposed him as
the best presidential candidate for the
Democracy IN the campaign of 1903. L re-
II to Carter II. Harrison, aged 81,
tie young mayor Of Chicago. and
ly all odds the most interesting character
81 national ANA municipal politics to-day.
In the Mayors Office.
Let me tell you something about him
] have spent a day with him AZ the city
hail here. and have had a chat with him
about public matters. He is the most
democratic mayor have ever met. For
an hour this morning he sat on a kline OF
a throne in what WAS the state reception
room of the mayors of the past, and heard
the complaints of the people. About fifty
persons, women and men, old and young.
black and white, were in the room. Some
were politicians, some were mot, but all
were lined up by a policeman who stood
six feet in his stockings, and each WAS
given a charge at the mayor in his turn.
With a pad beside him he took note of
every case. disposing of such as he could
at the time. and telling the others that
their matters would be investigated and
that they would get their answers to-lnor-
row. This he docs every day He is alike
accessible TO ali. and the politician takes
his turn with the rest. Later on l saw him
d!spatching public business in his office.
Here he is Just as democratic. Those who
have important business can always get
at him, and he looks into every matter re-
lating TO the city for himself. Chicago has
long been noted as having a corrupt city
council. Young Harrison is the first mayor
who has had the nerve not only to veto
the bills OF the boodl.r. but also to prevent
bills being passed over his veto. This can
only be done 10y two-thirds vote, and the
mayor prevents this by going TO the coun-
cllmen and demanding that they support
him. He has in this way already saved
Chicago thousands of dollars. ard has so
acted that the men who offer and those
who take brides are afraid TO attempt such
schemes of stealing the city'S money as
have been boldly carried on in the past.
a Political Mascot.
And still Mayor Harrison tells me he is
ANFA :" ~ AAlHA- ~ '''N lApA fllf - ia
such municipal movements as have been
going on in New York, and he thinks the
political machines We now have are amply
good enough for good government. He
prides himself ON being Il Democrat, and
Is ready not only TO help his party here.
hut Other Democrats all over the Union.
Since he has been mayor he has done a
dozen different things which will give him
friends i'll amy Democratic national con-
ventiOn. Take the Tennessee Democrats,
Tor instance. They Will not forget how.
when Governor Tanner refused to 20 to
the Nashville exposition, saying that he
would NOT risk the yellow fever, Young
Mayor Harrison stepped into line and off
st the bad impression created by the IL
liuoiS governor. Louisville Will not for
get that he came there on the eve of the
election 10 speak for the Democratic cam
didatr for mayor, nor will IndianapoIiS,
Detroit, Buffalo. Syracuse or New York.
Harrison supported the Democratic can
dldates for mayor by speeches in all of
these places. and If is a singular thing
that in every case his man was elected.
ii" seems TO he a sort of a mascot i'll poli-
Ties. In his own campaign he was nomi-
mated chiefly as being the son of his IA
thcr. His first speech showed that he had
n decided individuality. and after it. il
Is said, he could have been elected under
any name. He is Il magnetic speaker, and
lie made from five TO twenty speeches a
day during the thirty days preceding his
election. lie carried the people with him,
and WAS elected by "A greater majority
than any mayor of Chicago has had.
Pen Picture of Mayor Harrison.
What kind of "A looking man is he? Well
D." Is, | judge. about > feet 5 inches
tall. He makes you think OF a fighter