New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
INTEREST N THE LEGISLATURE AND
FEAR OF POWERFUL STREET RAIL
WAY LOBBY COBBLER-PoET
OFFERS HIMSELF FOR MAYOR.

Chicago Feb CspeciaD.-There il extraor-
dnary interest here in the present session or the
State legislature al Springfield, which VIII have
the deciding OF many important questions as
betp'een now and the tirae set for the next ses-
sion ~ the General Assembly nearly every
important street railway franchise IN rhl-
cago will expire, and il is incumbent upon
the present legislators 10 decide upon the
renewals Of the expiring charters. So much
public Indignation aroused throughout
the state by the conduct Of the legislators
during the last two sessions that no little
care Was exercised prior to the last election in
the examination of the records Of aspirants for
seats in the legislative halls at Springfield hut
whether the men who passed muster on Election
Day will he proof against the efforts OF crafty
and opulent lobby remains 10 be seen. That the
lobby will he a formidable one is a fOregone con-
olusion for tho interests at stake represent an
enormous capitalization. The street railway
lobby has thus Ear kept out Of the public prints
hut street railway measures are talked of In the
state capital and one hin has already been in
troduced in the house. The lobby is unquestion-
ably busy IN quiet way.
Possible corruption is being guarded against
locally as well. The terms Of half Of the mem
bers ~ the Municipal Assembly will expire next
sprSng. and the Municipal Voters League. an or
ganization which has of late years played an i'm
portant part in local municipal politics, has just
completed its regular annual inspection of the
aspirants for reelection To Adermanc honors
The leagues mode II operation is 10 keep elap-
orate records Of the attitude Of Council members
on franchise legislation and 10 issue shortly be-
fore the primaries bulletins giving the results
Of its observations OF the thirty-fve Alder
men whose terms are about 70 expire. the league
v,.l,N aFnfo
Gratis Seven Democrats and three Republicans
are held mp Tor defeat; four RepublicansG are
classed as doubtful" and two Republicans and
4wo Democrats are labelled strongly doubtful"
The league realizes that the men elected TO the
Council this spring may have within their power
rhe disposition ~ the franchise extensions OF
most of the important street railways in the
city and that measures for the regulation of the
price Of gas and the possible forfeiture Of the
ogden Gas Company's franchise may come up
in the next two years, 50 its examination has
been thorough one
Estimates for city expenses amounting 20
Sl257aOl5 for 1901 have heen cut down by the
Council Finance Committee 70 SlO97l 500, and
there is a prospect that further sIashing viii he
needed 10 keep the expenditures within the in
come AS the estimated revenues Of Chicago for
the current year amount u only S9.s5l ,562, an
other cut OF over SlO00000 is in order.
Chaos sun exists in the Republican party
Earding the choice Of q Mayoralty candidate
Eligible men are cropping up at the rate Of about
eight week. but none Of them give promise
OF being more than talked Of in connection with
the nomination. One of the latest 20 offer TO
immediate himself upon the altar of public ser
vice IN the capacity of Mayor is Carl Christopher
Ludwig Hartung, cohhleT. Nationalist philosO-
pher. friend of the poor poet and father of thir-
teen children. The platform upon which this
humble little German. who for twenty years has
been pegging shoes In a stuffy little shop on the
South Side. proposes 10 stand is unique. and his
faith IN his ability 10 run the affairs OF a great
city little short OF sublime. IF the people would
only give me a chance" he pleads they would
Some time. may be soon. when they get tired OF
being robbed and cheated and humbugged they
Will turn 10 me-" Asked as 10 his politics he de-
elhres. i am a Nationalist. ] am for all ma
uonalities. Ny motto is:
For all that's good and true and
With anything else have nothing do
Being q poet. II comes natural for me 10 ex-
press my thoughts I'm poetry" he usually adds
with smile. Here Is the cObbler's nlea N
city arairs so long they allow themselves 70
ne Jed by the nose like the Jews I'm the wilder
ness know you tired. but you cannot see
your way TO get clear. Elect me Mayor Of Chi
caeo and viii help you out of IL in spite of the
devil and with the help Of God I win and must
succeed in clearing your vulgar notorious criT1,
inal atmosphere OF political Office holders and
pot an end 10 the oppression and burdening ~
our taxpayers by putting men. not ravenous
wolVee, 10 DO the work" But Mr. Hartune who
oetween pegging and stitching writes his verses
oL s1eess OF wrapping paper. has not yet re-
seal parties H''