davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
MR. ECKELS ON CORPORATIONS.

The address of James ii. Eckels, for
mer Comptroller of the Currency, be-
fore the Fire Underwriters Association
annual meeting In this city, was an un-
answerable arraignment of those who
fancy that they are rendering the pub
lie a service by assailing corporate in
terests.
The popular antagOnism to corporate
forms of enterprise and investment that
has been created In the last two or three
decades is a result of singular as
sumption that corporations are peculiar
kinds of cOnsplracies against the COM
mon good ana that their object Is plum
der and violation of law. This idea has
been nurtured and fOstered by politi-
clans and agitators, who have found
that Il certain amount of political cap
ital could be made by a show of hos
tility to the corporations. The tenden-
cy to cripple and embarrass corpora
lions by special taxation and by I'm
posing conditions and regulations that
are not applied to individuals has in
creased through these influences until
the property of corporations is con-
stantly subject to the danger of confis'
cation by granger Legislatures, and II
not actually crippled by adverse laws,
the corporations are compelled to de-
fend themselves against "sandbagging"
measures Of every description.
The public at times seems to become
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

in the interest Of that 'rat-hole politi-
cian." Carter II. Harrison.
From the Republican standpoint Ait
geld in his Auditorium speech was as
menda cious and shameless as was IIar-
rison in his speeches made en- route to
Omaha. Hut Altgeld, guilty rs he was
of unpatriotic Misrepresentation. was
talking as a Democrat to Democrats.
Harrison went to Omaha not as Dem
ocnt, hut ms the Mayor Of Chicago. and
while what he said en- route Of the con.
duct of the war was as mcndacious and
rs gratuitously offensive to u patriotic
people as what Altgcld said. II was 20.
litically and ethically In most cxecrable
taste.
Democrats who favored the war. who
fought In the battles on land or sea. and
who believe in no surrender of what
was gained through war. can have lit
tie sympathy with either Altgeld or
Harrison. Both are violent and indie
cent in their copperheadism. But war
Democrats and Republicans will con.
cede to Altgeld intellectual capacity
and party zeal and will accept his char
acterization of the small-bOrc politi.
clans at the city hall rs correct. After
the publication Of such letter there
cannot be peace In the Democratic
camp in Cook County. If the Altgeld or
Chicago platform Democrats believe
what the Ex-Governor said of Harrison
and his followers. what are they going
to do about it?-lnter Ocean.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

ter. II was his opinion that the ordi-
nance would be Illegal II passed. he
cause the City Council could not dele
gate the powers Of one Of the city off,
cinls to corporation. II was this law
yer's opinion that the measure was in
trOduced In the hope that the gas inter-
ests would spend some money among
the Aldermen to prevent Its passage.
He claimed that the gas people had
known for some time that the measure
was prepared and about to he put to
the Council. He also claimed that It
was significant that the Ogden Gas
Company was not included In the ordi-
nance. and seemed to place great stress
on the fact that Aid. McInerney. the
sponsor for the measure. is great po-
litical friend Of Thomas Gahan, the
President Of the Ogden Company.
I'VE will pay no attention to the ordi-
nance" he said. In conclusion. IF 1t
Is passed Mayor Harrison will veto It.
because It Is purely n sandbagging
measure"
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
OAKLAND CLUB ELECTION.

The annual election of the Oakland
Club. held recently, resulted as follows:
President. IL. l.. KOchersperger; first
vice.president, Simeon Straus; second
vice-president, II. y. Wetherell; secre-
tary, C. Il. Braden; treasurer, l.. A.
Fretts; directors, +. X. Lyon, b. Il.
Pike, DIR. Il. j. Watkins, Il. w. Bailey,
George Howison, Jr., A. j. Morrison,
G. J. Dunlap.
Reports We're presented showing that
the past year had been one Of great
prosperity for the club. A large In
crease In membership was shown. The
new year was started entirely free from
debt, with a good balance In the treas
ury.
One Of the features Of the October
program OF the club Is series Of liter
AIRY discussions, led by Rev. Jenkin
Lloyd Jones, IL. 8. Wetherell, A. l..
Stevenson ana Major A. W. Clancy.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
LOOK TO THE CANDIDATES.

The conviction of Richard Cunning.
former South Town Assessor, of solicit
ing II bribe should serve to call public
attention 10 the great Importance of in
trusting the administration of the new
revenue law TO men who can he relied
on to pursue honest methods while IN
Office. Ii Is not within the power Of
man 10 devise governmental machinery
that will work properly in the hands OF
the incompetent and the dishonest. The
trouble with the old system was that
1t could hardly be made TO work with
any degree of satisfaction even In the
hands OF good men: In the hands of
yenal men IL was an instrument that
easily lent itself to blackmail, corrup-
tiOn and oppression. Under the new
system Of assessing property for taxa.
ton In Cook County some of the abuses
OF the old system must he eliminated,
even II the administration OF the new
revenue law he intrusted 10 bad men,
hut In order TO secure the substantial
Improvement desired the adminlstra-
lion Of the law must be intrllsted 10
fhc right kind Of men.
BY all means the most important po
sitions 10 he filled by the people OF
Cook County at this falls election are
those OF members Of the Board of As,
SCISSORS and Board Of Review, 10 whom
will be- Entrusted the duty OF putting
the new revenue law into operation
The voters. therefore, ought to study
very carefully the records and qualfi
cations OF those who are candidates for
ahese positions. In order to invite at.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
AL10ELD WORRiES THE DEMO.
CRA1S.

There II so much Of the nutmeg CRATER
about ex.Gov. Altgeld that whatever
he says or writes causes irritation
somewhere. He Is advertised to speak
ut the Auditorium and TO fay the hide
or Gov. Tanner. He speaks. but re-
serves all his hnrshest adJectivcs for
the boodlers who passed the Allen law,
irrespective Of party. He made some
Of his Democratic hearers vince.
Next he goes down to Alton and opens
the campaign there with another
speech. In this he lets Tanner on easy
and scarcely sneers mt the bOOdlers who
passed the Allen law. But he revives
the issues Of 1900. He Celebrates the
"orphan dOdger' that recently sent such
CONSERVATION into the ranks Of the local
Democracy. He makes general ut.
tack on the "Oligarchy Of money" and
plants himself anew on free silver ut
the God. given ratio Of 10 to I.
But II is In a private letter TO Jacob
|Ingenthron, assistant city attorney, that
Mr.. Altgeld fairly raises the hair Of his
associate Democrats. He was asked to
give his opinion OF the Cook County
Democratic convention and ticket. and
this IL what he II said to have written:
"rhe convention deliberately betray.
cd the Democratic trust, spat with con.
tumely In the faces of loyal ana honest
adherents OF party principles, ana dc.
bauched decency and fair play In the
most open and shameless manner"
Mr.. Altgeld says he does not remem.
Der putting his sentiments In these ex.
act words. but cOnfesses that It Is no
secret that he did not approve the
county ticket"
Democrats can take what consolation
they may out Of the ex.GOvernOr's quail.
flying remark that their ticket Is no
worse than the Republican county
ticket.
II ever there was a man gifted with
the characteristics Of a thistle ram.
pant, his name Is John +. Altgeld.
Post
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
LARGEST
WEEKLY CIRCULATION
IN CHICAGO.
SCHOOL BOARD SPOiLSMEN.

DIR. +. Benjamin Andrews was
brought to Chicago to he superintendent
Of schools, In accordance with the
wishes of Mayor Harrison, on the
ground that he was great educator
who would do much to improve the pub.
lie school system Of the city. 1t Is DR..
Andrews duty to himself and to the
public to SO conduct the affairs OF his
office as to deserve and to maintain that
reputation, no matter what may be the
obstacles with which he has to contend.
1t Is especially his duty to offer persist.
ent and vigorous opposition. II need be.
60 the political maneuvers Of those
members OF the Board Of Education
who voted to bring him to Chicago rs
superintendent Of schools. 1t Is the
duty Of DIR. Andrews to hold those per.
sons to their protestatlons that they
wanted him for superintendent because
he Is a great educator and for no other
reason.
That DR.. Andrews understands his
duty and Is beginning his work with
good intentions Is shown by his conflict
with the school management committee
on Thursday. The members OF the
committee, for reasons Of personal and
political influence, wanted u certain
teacher given certain position. DIR.
Andrews objected and pointed out that
the appointment was not In the interest
Of the school system. This could not be
denied. nevertheless the committee rec.
commended the appointment, the follow.
Ing voting for IL: Sexton, Schwab. Keat-
ing. Sherwood. Brenan and OKeefe.
These are all Mayor HarrisOn's ap.
pOintees, and with possibly one excep.
ton they voted 70 bring DR.. Andrews
80 Chicago as superintendent. yet now
that they have him they refuse to al.
low him to pursue the only policy that
can insure efficiency and excellence In
the public school system. DIR. Andrews
IL finding that he has some very narrow
political spoilsmen to deal with In con-
siderable number OF the school board
members. He cannot control their nc.
tion. Of course, but It Is his duty In all
eases where the members insist on do.
ing that which Is contrary to the inter-
ests of the school system to make II
manifest that they are acting contrary
TO his advice and protest. 1t Is out
ragcOus that teachers should he ap-
pointed, promoted or transferred for
any other reason than the good Of the
school system. II DIR. Andrews insists
on making the board members bear be-
fore he public responsibility for all
acts Of this kind the practice must
eventually be abandoned.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
HEALY ON NEEDED REFORMS.

President Healy of the Board of
Cook County Commissioners has been
an officc.holder in one capacity or an.
other about the county building for u
good many years. Throughout that
time he has been close observer and
probably understands the actual work
ings of the machinery of Government
in Chicago and Cook County to-day rs
few other men do. That being the
case. he is qualified rs few other men
are to speak of the needs Of the city
ana county In the way Of government.
nj reform.
In n review Of county Affairs Presi.
dent Healy has set forth his ideas at
considerable length. He believes In
the first place that constitutional con.
vention Is necessary In order to make
possible the reforms that are required
to secure good government and proper
development of this community. The
fundamental reform he urges Il the
consolidation of the many existing sep.
arate governments into one and the
separation Of Chicago from the rest Of
Cook County. Mr.. Healy would have
the legislative body for the consolidat.
ed municipality consist Of n council Of
two chambers. Members Of the upper
chamber he would have few In number,
but paid salaries sufficiently large to
attract high-grade men and enable
them to devote oil their time to the
business Of the city. He would have
members Of this upper body 80 chosen
as to represent the city ut large, while
those Of the lower body would be chO
sen from wards, as mt present, and rep
resent their own localities more espe
cinlly. This idea as presented by Mr.
Healy Is very good one.
Mr.. Healy makes another suggestion
that his long experience with county
matters leads him to commend, and
that IL especially praisewOrthy. 1t !,
that the State Legislature should pro
vide for department Of ADULTS, and III
says rightly that 1t would he an nd
vance In governmental science II tn,
system were made uniform and appli
cable to all municipalities alike. Mr.
Healy thinks great improvement woult
result II the State should adopt sys
TEN like that Of the Government relat
Ing to national banks, requiring the eX
animation Of the books Of municipal
ties at regular intervals. Mr.. Healy be
lieves more money Is lost because Of tn,
present methods OF bookkeeping thai
for any other reason. Compliance will
this suggestion would do much to i'm
prove business management Of til,
financial affairs Of cities, and certainly
the publicity thus given would make Il
easier for the people to understand
what was being done.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
ALT0ELD AND THE RAT.HOLE 0AN0

The Inter Ocean published exclusive.
~ the other morning the story Of let.
ter written by eX.GOv. Altgeld, that
constitutes one OF the most interesting
chapters In the inside history Of Demo
cratic intrigue and fractional strife In
Cook County.
The only Democratic candidate for
Governor In Illinois elected In forty
years has for three years claimed the
leadership Of his party In this State.
His leadership was conceded In 1896,
and In the convention that nominated
Bryan no man had more influence than
John r. Altgeld. He practically con.
trolled the convention, and, although
his purpose was yelled by adrolt ma
neuvers, he named the candidate. Dur
ing the campaign he was great power
in his party, and, recognizing his abil-
ity and his tactical skill, Democrats
outside of Illinois paid him honor as
one OF the coming men of the party.
In the State Democrats who opposed
his leadership were endorsed or driven
from the field. In Chicago his prOmi-
hence In party councils interfered with
the schemes and ambitions of Carter IL.
Harrison, and the party machinery was
turned against the real leader OF the
Illinois Democracy. The county con-
vention held in July was dominated by
Harrlson's city hall gang. Harrison
dictated the platform and named the
candidates, and, like Buck" Hinrlch-
sen two years ago, Carter II. Harrison
and II. T.. Burke believed they had de-
posed Altgeld from leadership. and had
inaugurated a movement that was TO
put the mana cement Of the State organ
ization In their hands.
Altgeld's silence led them to believe
that he had accepted defeat In the Cook
County convention as sign of the in
eyitable, but later they discovered he
had written q letter to a strong party
man In which he said: "The convention
deliberately betrayed the Democratic
trust, spat with contumely In the faces
OF loyal and honest adherents Of party
principles, and debauched decency and
fair play In the most open and shame
less manner" This Is n strong indict-
ment. Whatever else may be said of
Altgeld, no one has ever accused him Of
inability to say what he means. In his
opinion, which Is the opinion OF the
ablest advocates OF the Chicago plat
form OF 1896, the Cook County Demo
cratic machine has betrayed the party,
has thrown the candidate and the plat
form OF 1896 overheard, and has started
On piratical aud shameless campaign
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

unmindful Of the fact that corpora.
ton IL merely an association of indi.
vidual citizens. which, II untrammeled
by unnecessary and unfair legislative
restrictions, is capable, through It's
power to combine and utilize all the
best resources of productive energy, of
comforting great benefits upon the con.
Stunning classes. 1t Is only through
combinations of this character that we
can have economic production. which
means Industrial progress and employ
ment Of the masses.
The railway corporation, which the
granger legislator regards as n legiti-
mate object of attack at all times, is
made up Of vast number Of individu.
ais. Many of the stockholders, indeed.
are people of limited means, who have
invested their savings In this sort Of Sc.
curities. To cripple the earning power
of railroad by adverse legislation or
by denying It the legislation necessary
to protect Its stockholders II an injury
to vast aggregation of defenseless cit
izens.
After declaring that the average re-.
turn upon the investment of banking
capital in the United States Is far less
than In many lines of commerce. Mr..
Eckels said:
II have no special plea to make for
corporations, whether banking, insur-
ance or railway. except the plea that
the public should remember that the
owners of them all IRE individual citl-
zens. who cannot he made to lose their
individual identity or rights by corpor-
ate association. The public readily
grants the private Individual, who may
be a stakeholder In fire Insurance
company. II you please. every right Of
property within his immediate control.
but that right Is not infreQuently de-
MED him ms applied to the corporate
property In which he possesses an own.
ership. The fees and taxes exacted by
the public through laws governing
rates, as applied to many corporations.
IRE over and beyond those taken from
the private individual with interests Of
a like character and equal profit"
The quasi.public corporations nre en-.
titled to the same protection and fair
treatment that II accorded to indivldu.
ais. In spite Of the Popullsts and labor
agitators there IRE multiplying indlca.
tons that we are approaching IN err
Of sanity In our treatment Of corporate
investors,
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
''SANDBA0GiH0" IS SUSPECTED.

1t Is the general impression among
the officials of the gas trust that the
McInerney ordinance, otherwise known
as the Antitrust Protective Associa-
tons franchise, was introduced In
the Council in the hope that the Alder
men would be allowed a chance to re-
new acquaintance with some of their
Old-time friends. The Council meet
ings have been very embarrassing"
from the "gang" Alderman's point OF
view since July, 1897. The ordinance
giving a fifty-year franchise to COM
pany to inspect gas meters, the gas Of
ficials say, was introduced for the sole
purpose Of bringing little ready
money into the Council chamber.
One Of the attorneys connected with
the gas trust said that. while he had
not thoroughly examined into the mat
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

breaking resorts allowed to continue
In business without interruption from
the authorities have been numerous.
Alderman UIrham's act may be lecu.
lInr and unusual. but II NO It In high
time to set few precedents In that
line. Naturally. Alderman Upham's nc.
ton will call down upon him the wrath
Of those connected with that particular
resort. The good citizens Of the Tween.
ty.second Ward. In whose interest Mr..
Upham was acting when he asked for
the revocation Of the license. must nee
that he II sustained In spite Of the On.
nifty Of lawbreakers and general dis.
rcputables.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

Mckinley administrations, laying espe.
cial stress on the Industrial prosperity
which had come to the Tenth ward un.
der the latter as compared with the de.
preston existing under the former. He.
said the question was "Shall McEin.
ley's administration he indorsed?" and
the answer was given with cheers. ut
will be In November"
Roy o. West and Alderman A. w.
Miller also spoke.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
AID. UPHAM SETS AN EXAMPLE.

Alderman Upham, of the Twenty
second Ward, has asked the Mayor to
revoke the license OF saloon In his
ward that was run In disOrlerly man
ner. His request was granted ana the
saloon closed. This Is said to be the
first instance for several years OF an
alderman asking for the revocation OF
a saloon license, though the requests Of
city fathers to have disgraceful law
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
LORiMER IN THE TENTH WARD.

The first LOrimer meeting In the
Tenth ward was held at Western ave-
nue. and Twenty-second street Monday
night and the big tent was crowded
with people who cheered for expansion,
sound money and protection. Y. II.
Carter, president Of the Board of Trade,
called the meeting to order and intro
duced John r. Newcomer as presiding
officer.
Congressman Lorimer contrasted the
business features Of the Cleveland and
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08
De REMER AND THE FIRST RE0i-
MENI.

We notice. now that the war IL over,
that Adjutant DE Remer, OF the First
Illinois Regiment, Is at the military
front once more. He ''ducked'' service
for the United States after several
years experience as a tin soldier IN the
National Guard, resigning his Job. as
adjutant when the regiment volunteer
ed for the Spanish war.
Now that the war Is over. Mr.. De
llemer comes to the front as a great
military man and manager Of the "FIrst
Regiment Military Ball."
To the surprise Of every ore. Colonel
Henry L. Turner Is said to be backing
the man.
When Governor Tanner ordered De
Remer and all the other fine uniform
wearcrs who were too busy" to fight
for their country mustered out Of the
National Guard he did right.
The National Guard needs fighters.
not holiday soldiers.
The fact that Mr.. Turner Is sticking
to this man will not add to his already
waning popularity with the men he led
against the fever.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

Cards IRE being distributed on the
streets on which Ii printed a statement
that "the paramount issue In the Cook
County campaign for the fall Of 1903
IL the free ana unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio Of III to l." The
$4,000 men who voted for Bryan In
1S'w are called on to register ana vote
the Democratic ticket this year. They
are assured that II Chicago elects the
free silver Democratic ticket this
year 1t will give heart and strength to,
the movement throughout the United
States. spread CONSERVATION among
the milliOnaires, plutocrats and arls.
tOcrats. and make the gigantic cOrpOr.
atiOns and soulless money power beg
for mercy from the common people.
The members Of the Democratic
Campaign Committee assert that they
know nothing about the paternity Of
this unsigned card and that they be.
lieve II II "a Republican trick" The
internal evidence IL sufficient. however,
to show that this appeal to the Bryan.
ite voters Ia the work of Democratic
politicians. The Democratic State con-
ventiOn Endorsed "18 to /" with great
vehemence. SO did the county cOnven.
ti0n. The card makes no false state.
ments. 1t gives the exact facts In the
case. The Democratic ticket Is free
silver ticket. The men on 1t expect to
get every free silver vote.
The card Is put out anonymously be.
cause the local managers OF the Demo-
cratic campaign do not have as much
faith In the free silver issue as they
had when their conventions We're held
nearly three months ago. They do not
believe the mass of the Chicago voters
VIII take any more kindly to rotten
money this year than they did two
years ago. Therefore, from Altgeld
down. they are going easy on the silver
question and are endeavOring to utilize
other issues. They want to bring the
Allen law to the front, and appeal to
Republicans to vote against candidates
who supported It, while Democrats are
urged to vote for men on the Demo.
cratic ticket who are guilty of the same
Offense.
At the same time the Democratic mol.
itlcians do not want to ALLEVIATE any of
the free silver men. They do not want
the latter to fancy that their speciality
Is shelyed. In that event they might
vote the Populist ticket. These unsign-
ed appeals to stand by the Democratic
candidates because they are for free
silver are put In circulation to keep in
line those men whom the Democrats do
not dare to appeal to boldly from the
stump. This card is a Democratic
trick.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

During the course of the reception
given John p. McGoOrty at the Old
Vienna Monday night, Chairman
Thomas Gahan said all that was neces-
sary for the Democrats to win was for
full vote to be registered. I'VE have
the votes" he said, NOW let us get
them registered"
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-10-08

The people are tired Of being led by
the nose to enrich barnacles.