New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-04-15
Significance Of the Great Democratic( y
Victory in Chicago.

| Most important of the municipal elec-
tions of the week, both in the local issues
involved and i'm its influence upon the
tides of national politics, was in Chicago
Here there were three principal candidates
for mayor. Mayor Carter II. Harrison
stood for the local democratic organization,
zina r. Carter for the republican, organi
zation, and ex-Gov. John P. Altgeld for
municipal ownership of public utilities in
city affairs and the principles of the dem
ocratic platform of 1896 in national poll
les. Though Harrison and Carter
polled larger vote than Altgeld,
the idea Of municipal ownership was
not hereby condemned. For it was
advocated IN the campaign BY both Harfi-
son and Carter. The difference between
them and Altgeld upon this point was that
they proposed to postpone for 20 years all
attempts at securing municipal ownership
of street cars, by extending franchises for
that time with fares at five cents, in con-
sideration of small tax on gross receipts,
whereas Altgeld proposed to reduce fares
at once to four cents and to grant no fran
chise that would interfere with the adop-
tion of public ownership as soon as the
people should demand it. 1t was upon
this issue that the campaign was openly
fought. And il the result be treated by
the city authorities rs in the nature of a
public command, Chicago street car fran
chises with the fve-cent fare will be
speedily extended for 20 years. In this
aspect, the reelection Of Mayor Harrison
was decided victory for the street car
ring.
But in another aspect it was a victory
for no less parsonage than Mark Hanna,
McKinley's alter ego and tho boss of the
national republican party. That may seem
curious, considering that the democratic
candidate was elected and the republican
defeated; but the circumstances leave little
room to doubt 1t. Under the circumstan
ces 1t was Mr.. Hanna's play to elect
Mayor Harrison rather than the republican
candidate, and some events of the cam
paign testify with startling directness to
his vigilance in the matter.
To understand Mr.. Hannas connection
with the reelection OF Mayor Harrison,
one must 20 back in memory to the presi-
Dental year. Prior to the democratic
convention Of 1896 there was every indi-
cation that the republicans would sweep
the country with the greatest ease. All
Mr.. Hanna's efforts in behalf Of Mr.. Me-
Kinley were therefore directed to secur-
ing his nomination. No concern was felt
as to the election, 1t being evident that
the democratic party, then to all appear
ances in the hands Of Tammany hall and
Cleveland's cronies could not make any.
thing better than perfunctory campaign
without hope or possibility Of success.
But this outlook was all changed by the
vigorous declarations Of the Chicago plat
form and Bryan's bold aud energetic cam
paign. Cleveland's friends were out Of the
saddle. So was Tammany. And Hanna
found himself engaged in a close race
when he expected to walk his candidate
over the course. He thereupon resorted
to the use Of money in profusion, and by
that means carried the day. But the
money he expended was fabulous in
amount and his victory narrow one. It
is not strange, therefore, II he Is anxious
to avoid 30 expensive campaign in 1900;
and no one realizes better than he that to
do 80 he must somehow swing the demo
cratic party back into the hands of it's old
managers. Harrison's mayoralty cam
paign offered him bis opportunity. Harri-
son had arranged with Richard Croker,
the Tammany boss Of New York, to bring
the Illinois delegation into line with Tam
inan: hall At the next national convention
but 70 do this It was necessary to secure
coptrol for two years longer Of the local
democratic machinery, and that he could
not do without reelection to the mayoralty.
Here Altgeld stood in the way. Aware Of
Harrison's conspiracy with Croker, Altgeld
determined that another democratic muni-
cipal ticket should be in the field, even il
he had to lead II himself; and in due time
be announced his intention. In the ordi-
nary course Of local politics Altgeld's