The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-03
ODDS FIVE TO FOUR.
LII Candidates Have Declared
For
Municipal Ownership of Public
Utilities.

Chicago, April 3.-Each of the three
candidates for the mayoralty in Chi
cago is for municipal ownership-hrst
of street railways, gradually of all
municipal utilities. Each is for a Accent
fare.
In Chicago these demands have be-
come so popular and so persistent that
no candidate dare oppose them. No
candidate dare even keep silence about
them Every candidate is forced by the
overwhelming public sentiment to de-
clare for the reform. No matter which
party or which man wins, the pledge
given for the election will be that the
city shall own at least it's own street
railways and that cheaper rate of in
ter-urban travel shall prevail.
Ex-Governor Altgeld frightened the
Democratic and Republican machine
dictatOrS by his tremendous meeting in
the Auditorium Thursday night. More
than 10000 persons were crowded in and
~abOut the building, just double the
number that either Carter H. Harrison
or Zina r. Carter drew at their re-
Spective meetings.
Both of these gentlemen are now
stealing Altgeld's thunder. He was or
iginally for an immediate Accent fare on
street cars and municipal ownership
four years hence, when franchises ex-
pire.
Now both Harrison and Carter are
shouting municipal ownership and A
cent fares.
Altgeld has made great fight, but
the odds appear to be against him
1t is expected that 800, 900 votes will
be cast at the election tomorrow. and
Harrison's managers figure that he will
receive 175.000.
The exciting mayoralty campaign
closed Saturday night with betting to
in favor of Harrison against the
field.
The campaign was practically closed
Saturday night, both parties holding
large meetings in eleven parts of the
city. Both the Democrats and Repub-
licans claim to be confident of the out
come, but at the same time the practi-
cal men in both parties admit that it is
exceedingly difficult to forecast cor
rectly the result of the vote on Tuesday.
The unknown quantity in the campaign
is the vote to be pOlled by the indie
pendent Democratic candidate, eX-GoV-
ernor Altgeld. The Republicans admit
that a heavy vote for Altgeld is their
main chance for election by splitting
the Democratic vote.
The Democrats claim that Mayor
Harrison is certain of reelection, and
that he will receive 10 600 votes; Car
ter the Republican, 10000, and they
allow but e, 900 to Altgeld.
The Republican managers claim for
Garter 125 900 votes, give Harrison no.
600 and allow Altgeld a total of $4,000.
The election commissioners estimate
total vote of 80, 900. The Republicans
claim that Altgeld will gain enough
votes from Harrison to give Carter a
clear plurality. In the opinion of most
men not directly interested in the act
ual work of the campaign, Harrison will
be elected, although the size of the Alt
geld vote is admitted to be a conun-
drum.
Harrison money is most in evidence,
even at the odds. Altgeld's supporters
claim that the ex-governor will be elect
ed, but they are chary with their fig
ures and are more inclined to make
broad statements than to enter into
particulars. The next city council will
Undoubtedly be Democratic.