Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-10-16

THE DIVIDED BOODLERS.

me WtIOcV UVVOIeHo.
There II an old saying to the effect
that "when thieves fall out honest men
come to their own" Therefore there
ought to he rejoicing ut the present split
In the ranks Of the aldermnnic hood.
lers. For with the cOrruptiOnists fight.
Ing one another the passage Of knavish
ordinances ought to Ike out Of the ques-
ton. There will not liz that harmony
Of action which II required when the
opposition Of an honest minority and
hostile Mayor has to be overcome.
The bOOdlers have fallen out because
they believe-no doubt with good ren-
sOn--that the doodle has not been fairly
divided, the leaders keeping more than
their share. That II common com.
plant among thieves. 1t Il asserted
also that there II great dissatisfaction
because many Of the aldermen did not
receive the sums promised them Tor
their votes for the general electric troll
ley ordinance. =
1t must be admitted that II was lit.
tie hard on those men who violated
their pledges ana voted for that Ordi.
nance. They smirched themselves and
got nothing In return. But instead OF
abandoning the pursuit Of doodle they
have simply chosen new leaders and
will try their luck over again. They
prOpOse to do cash business In future
and get their money before they give
their votes.
This II not the first time that the dis.
honest members Of the Council have
been divided into rival factions. Some
years ago the greetliness Of the big
Four" who then did business with the
corporations which wanted franchises.
provoked u secession and the Little
Ten" was organized to carry on IN In
dependent bOOdling business.
This division Of the forces Of the
l,OOtllers did not. however. put stop
to the passage Of corrupt ordinances
It simply made 1t necessary for the ben
eticiaries Of such ordinances to deal
with two distinct organizations and
to pay perhaps rather more than they
would have paid had they been able to
deal with only one organization.
SO. judging by the precedents. the
present revolt against the old leader
ship and the choice Of new leaders by
some Of the discontinued aldermen will
not serve to protect the interests OF the
public against persons who wish to &c,
valuable franchises without paying the
city anything for them.
Every now and then, when some
| ta1S
noodle. II the old leader IL on one side
the seceders will he on the other side
and will do what they can to defeat hi
recommendations. The malcOntent'
will punish him whenever they get NJ
opportunity to do SO without hurting
themselves. They will break up IN!
little game he may be running.
But whenever a street railroad com
, pany wants something 1t may process
| to make u deal with both organizations
, or course 1t will not he green enough t.
. do business with only one when It need
I the votes of both. Oh 1t may be tina
, 1t will put the screws on the seceders
. 1t may notify them that II cannot ne
= gOtiate with their walking delegates
!. in whom 1t has no confidence, but Onl!
with the old walking delegates of TN
original Doodle union.
Y In that event the boilers. sooner thar
cut themselves of from doodle, will re
turn tn their allegiance ana let the oil,
I leaders sell them to the highest bidders
y So 1t Is lot safe to assume that the III
vision Of the gang" into two gangs vii
! Interfere with the spOliatiOn of the cit
. whenever the speculative promoter
/, ana the corporations decide that 1t
a worth their while to open their purse
and distribute brides.