The evening times., 1899-04-05
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 5. 1899.
Tn. Chicago Election.

A careful study of the conditions that
influenced the election of Garter Harrison
for second time as mayor OF Chicago
makes il very clear that the large plurality
which he received was due TO his fight
against the outrageous demands of the
street railway corporations. He might
have been elected without this. though it
is highly improbable; but there can be no
doubt as to what induced the Democratic
newspapers 10 prefer him TO Altgeld and
The Republican and Independent newspa-
peTs either 10 advocate his election or 10
make lukewarm campaign for the Re-
publican candidate.
The citizens of Chicago have never b-en
more intensely indignant and more deeply
concerned about anything than they were
about 4 measure which gave endless power
10 the street railway corporations. There
was talk of lynching aldermen and the
symbol of good citizenship was a hang
mans moose IN the buttonhole usually
decorated with an innocent flower. Mayor
Harrison led the fight for the people and
fought wel. When victory crowned his
efforts. he Was spoken of with gratitude by
the people and was hated by the defeated
corporations His administration had not
been ideal in other ways. The police de-
pariment was suspected of many lawIess
practices and of more tender care of the
interests Of the criminal classes than of
the law-abiding elements OF society. There
vas little enterprise displayed in the di-
rcrrion of suppressing gambling and other
aons of vice. Still. it was argued by a
large proportion OF the best citizens that
these were evils that could be made the
subject of later attention. while the wrong
from which the community was saved
largely by the work of Mayor Harrison
would have been irreparable. Therefore it
was question whether Chicago shou,
show its gratitude. its appreciation of a
conspicuous public service, or should de-
clare that virtue must be satisfied with
its own reward. The people decided to
prove that il pays for man to serve Tie
public
That is the important lesson of Mayor
iiarrison's victory. II is always in the
power of the reputable elements of any
community 10 oyerwhelm the vicious when
They choose 10 90 it-when they can dis
card party considerations and preiudices
and look upon the municipal corporation
rs business enterprise 10 be managed not
for he benefit OF the national political par
lies. but Of the community In this in
stance the Democratic candidate had shown
extraordinary zeal in protecting the city
from The mischievous designs of a trust,
and. although the Republican candidate
was a good man. ali party Influences were
discarded in order to uphold the man who
had served the people. There were posi-
lively no national issues involved in the
election.
If public officials could be made TO un
derstand and apply this lesson. there would
De revolution in municipal administration
and good government would be achieved
Any city officer who will place the public
welfare before party and all other inter
csis. will always gain more than by serv-
ing his party or the most powerful corpo-
rations which often control the party The
honest people are an an immense majority
in this world and have vastly more infu-
ence than the managing politicians. There
is another conspicuous instance offered by
Toledo. Mayor Jones is a man of crude
ideas some of them impracticable and they
would be mischievous if they were not But
he is an aggressively honest man, intensely
devoted to the protection of the people
from the schemes of the corrupt. He
makes a fetch of duty and does not bend
or waver. Therefore the people have
placed him again at the head of the munich
pal administration. Honesty and an intel
ligent performance of public duty can alone
induce the people TO break down party
lines in local elections.