New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-05
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
LEADERS IN BOTH PARTIES BELIEVE
ILLINOIS WILL GIVE MKINLEY A
GOOD PLURALITY - BOARD OF
EDUCATION SUING ELEVATED
ROADS FOR DAMAGES" TO
SCHOOL PROPERTY.


Chicago, Nov (SpeciaD.-In the opinion OF
the best posted local politicians OF both par
ties, Tuesdays election will show Illinois to De
safely In the Mckinley column True, sur1ace
Indications point to a Democratic majority IN
this city. but it is hardly probable that tnis
win amount to more than small fraction OF
the naturally large Republican plurailues III
the county and State. Local conditions are y
saw the least peculiar While the State gave
Mckinley a plurality of 14249S in 1885, Cnica-
go piled UP at her next Mayoraity eieclioh
Democratic majority Of $1,000. The cahoiuee
was Carter II. Harrison. who as the son Oh HIS
father received a vast number OF Republican
votes but the fact remains, and is FACTOR ~
be taken into consideration in any calculations
as to the results OF Tuesdays election. IL is
stated in certain quarters, and 1t is thought DS
no means improbable, that unseen influences are
at work which may result in the complete up
setting of all speculation to the resuils III
Chicago The local Democratic machine Is saio
TO be quietly planning to insure Mayor mar
rfson's reelection for third term at the e1-
pense OF the National ticket. and that IL III
trading votes that would otherwise be cast lot
Bryan for promises OF the support or the ihoe-
pendent Republicans when Harrison again be-
comes a candidate. This report is not generally
credited but IL is possibility, and If this is the
case Chicago may be counted on for handsome
Mckinley plurality. Throughout the State there
ia also said to have been some similar trading In
behalf of Alschuler the Democratic candidate
for Governor who, Ike Harrison, has strong
personal following: but while 1t Will prooaoly re-
suit in large gains for Mckinley 1t Is haroy
thought that 1t Will change the results otherwise
than to place Alschuler ahead of the balance OF
lis State ticket with hardly fighting chance OF
election Illinois's representation IN congress
I,-f ho
The Republican side OF the delegation may gain
one or two members. with a corresponding DEM
ocrstic loss but further than this no change Is
e1pected The legislative situation is COM
plex one The Republicans now control the
State law-making body by a small majority and
they making strong fight TO retain thelr
ascendancy, but the situation is complicated by
rlu1ors OF wholesale knitting on the part OF Re-
publican voters of certain candidates Who as
members OF the Legislature three years ago.
voted for the notorious Allen bill. street rail-
ray franchise measure that caused an uproar
In Chicago at the time The local Republican
managers are said to have committed an in
discretion in allowing some Of these men TO be
renorfuated even after two years of retirement
from public life and the crokers say that they
viii probably be the cause Of the Democrats on-
tanning control Of both houses of the State Legs-
lature This, however, is thought hardly proba-
ble although the Democrats make stout claims.
Residents of THE District of Lake Michigan
VIII also vote for the Presidential and Vice
Presidential candidates and for their own Con-
gressmen next Tuesday. Captain George W.
streeter the ruler OF the district that some
months back was the scene of a miniature civil
war had the ballots prepared last week, and
they bear his as the Republican can
didate for Congress William H. Niles. his
Fo,a hot 10 NJ Ia Mirhi-
gan" is his opponent Captain Streeter pre-
diets that the district will return a handsome
Republican majority, although Judge" Niles is
equally positive that the district is solidly
Democratic. The former. who knows, says that
of the one hundred voters living in the dis
trict registered elsewhere, and that all will
there. 1t may be remembered that Cap
tain Streeter and his followers assert that the
district, which comprises a large tract Of newly
made land along the lake front is a sovereign
State, absolutely independent OF any other than
Federal authority. When the Chicago police tried
to eject them as squatters they made armed
resistance, but finally overpowered, and
charges Of conspiracy to murder were placed
against the entire army" They were recently
acquitted after a trial on these charges. and
6treeteT has been uniformly successful in var1-
Gus battles for his alleged rights in the civil
courts AS to his claim Of independence Of the
State Of Illinois, that is another thing
Chicago has 100000 more pin money to spend
during 1901 than she had during the present
year, and the various departments of the munc-
tpality are ali clamoring for their share. The
modest request for 100000 wherewith to build
five new bridges. at the head of his list which
in all foots up S35O0000. Last year he asked
for S1,1S7,519 of the taxes and receipts and
$3.Z73.0S3 out Of the water fund. The Superin-
tendent of Sewers is asking for s., $50 67S as
against Sl,7SS,o97 last year. and the Street De-
parument wants 81 800, 600 as against 81 O61 900
last year. The Police, Fire and Health depart
ments have not yet submitted their figures hut
promise 10 need "a little more" than last year
is
ing knife.
The poverty stricken Board of Education
which finds 1t necessary for purely economical
reasons. to lop week or two from either end
or each scholastic year. has hit upon new
plan to repienish its exchequer. Suits were filed
In the Circuit Court here last week against the
various elevated railway companies asking dam
ages aggregating S650O00 which are said to
have resulted to school property from the "prox-
unity and operation Of the various roads. The
South Side or Alley L." is the one upon which
educators are attempting to make the heaviest
levy, and is being sued for a round quarter
Of million The Northwestern is sued for
SIE0oOO, the Lake Street for $4,000 and the
Metropolitan for $75 900. In one instance where
the damage alleged to have resulted to the
Robert Morris School Is fixed at SS1 0O5 the
school property is distant no less than two hun
dred feet from the elevated roadway
Chicago's horse show has come and gone The
aftermath is collection Of enmties engendered
oy unpopular oeclslons on the part of the judges
and numerous prostrations from seasickness
The Coliseum is accessible only by way OF
Wabash-ave., which is not exactly fashion
able thoroughfare, and is the worst paved street
in ill-pavea Chicago. Just at present 1t is un-
dergoing extensive operations at the hands of
the gas company and the Water Department
with the result that Its roadbed resembles AL
pine scenery in most places. and In the least
dilapidated sections a freshly ploughed field. A
journey Il in a wheeled conveyance other
than a cable car is said to be about ten degrees
worse than a trip around Hatteras in a hurri-
cane. and the majority of those who survived
the journey to the Coliseum elected to travel
afoot TO the nearest cross street and there take