The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-14
Municipal ~Lynching.

| MI MN 'bAh'H h'NN'
been held I'm Chicago and still
the lamp-posts and telegraph
poles have not been decorated will
Doodle aldermen. The Chicago papers
these days are warm reading. Not since
the anarchist excitement ten years ago
has Chicago been so profoundly stirred
as IL is now over the attempt of the
street car combination to get exclusive
franchises for the streets of the city
for a period of fifty years. The enabling
legislation was procured last winter
and Governor Tanner signed the bill.
| The combine then went to the common
council and asked for the franchises. Of
fering a nominal consideration. The
council was willing. but young Mayor
Harrison is a sturdy opponent. In his
active and energetic opposition he has
aroused public opinion to such "A pitch
that citizens OF Chicago are wearing de-
signs Of a hangman's moose on their
coats. At Monday nights meeting of
the council the friends Of the ordinance
were not strong enough to pass il. but
got it referred to the railroad COM
mittee. Probably it will never go
through. The doodle aldermen are con-
WINGED that the vigilantes mean bust
ness.
There is no doubt tina the passage of
what Is known as the Allen law through
the legislature last winter was corrupt
ly secured. Governor Tanners APP
proval Of the bill was universally de-
nounced. The Indignation Of the peo-
pie has attained such white heat that
even he has said hat he regrets sign
ing il. The people in November chose
a legislature. which meets early in Jan
uary, that will repeal the law. Unless
the railroads can get the common coua-
ell to renew the franchises. under the
Allen law before that legislature shalt
meet. they will hardly be able to benefit
by IT at all. They had arranged for the
common council 20 grant the franchises
and. afterward. for that body to over
ride the veto of Mayor Harrison. hut
the council at Monday nights meeting
didn't dare pass the ordinance. Every
newspaper in Chicago except the Inter
Ocean Is against the proposed act. and
all OF them nave been dealing I'm Ian
guage which goes to the extreme II de-
nunciation and threats. The threats
seem 10 have accomplished their pur-
pose.
The situation in Chicago has recalled
the service Of the vigilante organiza-
ton which rid san Francisco OF its
criminal classes in 1856. In that year
the people Of san Francisco rose above
the law. They formed an army. de-
fed the governor Of the state and evai-
ed the processes OF the state courts.
William Tecumseh Sherman was order
ed to put them down. Sherman failed
and resigned. The president Of the
United states was appealed to for fed
cral aid In crushing this revolt against
the law. He declined 10 interfere. Fou
murderers were hanged. one man COM
mitted suicide while awaiting trial.
scores were Vanished. Hundreds more
were scared out ~ the state and never
came back. The work Of the V%igilintcs
was so effective that for the next twen-
~ years San Francisco felt It's beneh-
clal results. They were regarded as
public benefactors and were honored
and respected as long as they lived.
In 1856 san Frincisco was n booming
town. with a population drawn from
all quarters ~ the globe. \ large per-
centage Of respectable people had ~
endure the presence Of thousands Of
gamblers and thugs protected in crime
by politicians. who committed ballot
box frauds. fixed juries and plundered
the public treasury. James King he
gan a newspaper crusade against he
criminals and corrupt politicians. His
reckless charges and bold, defiant at
tacks seemed exactly suited to the
times. and the people relied upon hin
as the champion of the public honor.
In the May elections James Casey was
a clerk. He thought IL would be a
good thing to be a supervisor. so he
filled the ballot-boN with votes FOR him
self. and was elected by an overwhelm-
ing majority.
When the result was announced,
James King referred To Casey in the
Bulletin as "A graduate Of Sing sing.
Casey demanded a retraction. was re-
fused. met the editor on the street and
shot him down. Within two hours the
news spread all over the city. and the
business streets were choked with
wrathful men determined to put an end