Evening star., 1897-04-03
CHICAGO'S ELECTION
Great Interest in the Coming Choice
of Mayor.
-FOUR TICKETS ARE IN THE FIELD
The Late Carter Harrison's Son
BacHed by the Silver Men.
OPPOSITION Is VIDED
Of The Evening Star.

Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, March 81, 1897
This city chooses a mayor April 6. Usual
ly It's choice would be purely of local in
terest. This year II reaches beyond and
into national affairs. The confusion in ma
tionaI politics is reflected In this Chicago
municipal campaign A large number of
good citizens are cropping for light They
wonder where they are and in this per-
plexity they are likely to fall into the
ditch.
The candidates for mayor are four. Judge
Nathan 5 Sears was nominated by the
publican city convention which was con-
trolIed by the local machine. He is a
jurist Of standing, believer in party
ganizdJion. whose personal associations are
with the reform element. In his speech
accepting the nomination he said his own
election would mean the Endorsement of
the financial IDEAS which got an overwhelm-
ing majority IN November Defeat would
nean that Chicago's support of sound
money had gone backward. on the local
issues Judge Sears Is uphOIding municipd.
civil service and franchise compensation.
Garter III. Harrison Is the regular demo-
cratic candidate His nomination came
from a convention dominated by ex-Gov.
John +. Altgeld. 1t rejected pleas for the
union of the factions by dropping national
questions and made free silver tho test OF
party fealty. The avowed purpose was TO
keep the silver issue live one. Altgeid
was relentless in this purpose and crush
cd the opposition OF local leaders who had
hoped for compromise. Some zest is given
the canvass among the boys" by a pro-
nOUncement against civil service and the
promise that in the event OF victory all
the Offices Will be opened to them. Candi-
date Harrison is a young man of wealth.
who has shown some aptitude for politics
His name draws TO the ticket the men who
for years followed his father in the con-
tests which made Mayor Carter Harrison of
Chicago as veil known as the President
of the United States. Yet the real
strength Of the democratic city ticket is in
the forces II represents and not in the
name al the head of IL.
The Democrats Divided.
Washington Hesing is now called the can
didate Of the gold standard democrats.
Originally he was simply the Hesing can
d date. For many years ne has had con-
sum!ng ambition to be mayor of Chicago
He has been before the people in the past
es an independent democrat. and has thus
been the means OF electing a republican
This time 1t Is more probable that his can
d.dacy will defeat the republicans. Mr.. He
siEg was a type of The Cleveland admins
tration democrat In the presidential cam
paiSn- His position as postmaster di1 not
keep him from actively supporting Maj. Nc
known that in order to giV=
ample OF genuine civil service Ne -v~-id
stay in office throughout the Mckinley ad-
ministration unless he should be chosen
mayor When his canvass was fairly under
way. complications ir the post office man
asement caused him to change his mind.
He resigned his federal office. and his ex-
Go.rd:sJ e4eI Sivs are eIs ca e.,i.r - ~.ai
Affairs Mr. ;tezi--s Has
form. but national policies are inv oi.eI IN
E.s candidacy. All the GOLD democrats do
Eot favor him. yet, feeling without home,
many OF them will drift 10 the Hesing
refuge for wanderers. The Germans. who
are uncompromisingly for gold. will give
hirs a large support Mr.. Hesings person
aity IS entertaining. and he has put life
Into what promised to be a dead campaign.
Alderman John w. Harlan. IA son OF Jus
tice Harlan. IS the candidate of the munich
pal reformers. who want to make Chicago
q te.ter city than most of the citizens think
IL ought to be. He entered the council on a
puriiIcdtion platform. and has made in
tersSttng discoveries wHile there. One OF
these IS the difference between concrete and
abstract reforms. Alderman Harlan has
been learning that the multiple interests
of the street and elevated railways, TIE
gas and electric light companies and si.ni-
lar corporations which profit by municipal