New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-07
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.

Chicago, Dec. 5-Friends Of the Little Bal
lot" who were rejoicing soon after the recent
election over the supposed victory for the ref
erendum and two other important questions OF
public policy are plunged in the deepest
gloom because the official count of the vote of
the State reveals that two of the three questions
submitted were defeated. The questions de-
feated were: Whether the next General Assem-
bly, shall submit TO the people OF the State. at
the next State election constitutional amend
ment providing for the control of legislation by
the people by means Of the initiative and ref
erendum, the amendment to provide for the
Initiation of legislation upon a petition or .
per cent of the voters of the political divisions
affected and for the reference OF legislation
upon a petition of per cent Of the voters Of
the political division affe cd, the action OF
the majority of the electors voting to be final:
and whether the Assembly shall enact a statute
nv which the voters OF the political subdivisions
of the State may be enabled 10 initiate local
legislation by filing a petition therefor signed
by s per cent OF the legal voters in the political
subdivisions. and to have referred to the voters
any legislation enacted by the several local
legislative bodies.
Both propositions sought to restore to the
people the power once held by Them but which.
by the State constitution and the city charter.
they delegated to the General Assembly and the
city councils respectively. The ambiguity OF
the State law as to the majority required to
carry the questions gave the advocates OF the
measures great hope for time that success
might be achieved by contest before the courts.
but the officers of the Referendum League OF
Chicago decided to accept defeat. contented with
the great showing made by the vote which. in
their opinion. indicated emphatic expression
nv, ba Of State for the initiative and
referendum and thereby manifesting a desire
for affirmative action by the General Assembly.
The third proposition which was carried was
Of national interest, It being the election OF
United States Senators by direct vote of the
people. Naturally. the adoption of II is
garded as a victory of vast Importance. it
SHOWS an earnest popular demand for the pro-
posed change in the method OF electlng Sen
ators. The size of the vote indicates that this
change is not solidly opposed in Illinois by any
party. In Chicago Mayor Harrison warmly
espoused the initiative and referendum, and all
the influence he could exert brought to
bear for it Clubs were organized. and no stone
was left unturned to interest the voters. The
officers OF the Referendum League intend to go
before the Legislature at the coming session. to
urge legislation the questions.
garding which have agitated all classes in Chi
cago. has reached point where it will hold
national attention, because the Postmaster Gen
eral has taken cogniZance Of the scandal at the
behest of the newspapers Appearances point
to a shaking up OF some high postal officials In
this city Whether there has been wilfuI neg
lect the part of the officials whose DUTY It
is to probe the affair thoroughly and bring the
guilty person persons to justice for most
whether they have determinedly shielded the
Cuprit. will probably to light soon, for
Postmaster General Payne has officially ordered
the postoffice inspectors here to report at once
directly to him all the evidence in the case.
For three years some of the best known per
sons in society here have been the recipients of
the most scurrilous letters from anonymous
writer apparently some moving in the same
set and familiar with the affairs of the persons
assailed. Some of the victims paid no heed to
the vile epistIes, but with others the character
of the letters was such to cast suspicious of
the basest sort on lifelong friends, resulting in
the severing of ties of the closest intimacy. Sew
eral of the victims appealed to the chief inspec-
tor of the postal service trace the culprit and
put stop to the avalanche of scandal breeding
letters. The official took up the matter three
years ago. but has failed to apprehend the
guilty person to put a stop to the letters.
The suspect in the Casa evidently
feeling in long enjoyed immunity,
Gently showered hundreds of anonymous letters
on both old and new victims. The latter ap-
pealed to the press, and thus the exposure came
about. Still others appealed to the Mayor, and
the latter ordered the Chief of Police to take the
affair in hand. The ablest detectives the city
force have been detailed the case, and they
are theoretically striving to run to cover the
writer Of what one. shrewd MileSian, desig-
mates the unanimous letters.
BAD COMBINATION.
From The Philadelphia Press.
MARY said the grocer. '.We'n have to