Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-02
TIE CHICAGO ELECTION
Democrats Make Gain But Re-.
publicans Retain Control
OF Council.
The Municipal Voters League
Defeated in Eight Of Twelve
Wards.
"Bath.house" John Coughlin Re.
elected by Big Majority
Editorial Comment.

Chicago, April 2-The republicans
and democrats each made net gain OF
one alderman in the city election held
yesterday The new council will con-
sist of thirty-nine republicans, thirty
democrats and one independent. The
old council consisted of thirty -eight re-
publicans, twenty-nine democrats and
three Independents.
The hottest fight of the campaign
was in the First ward, where deter
mined effort was made by the oppon-
ents of John Coughlin, known as Bath
house." to defeat him. 1t was the only
ward in the city where anything like
full vote was polled. Coughlin won
easily, however, securing a majority of
2,6O5 votes over David L. Frank, the re-
publican candidate.
The net result is a gain of two for
the democrats, the republican majority
being reduced from eight to six.
1t was an April FOOLS day for the Mu-
nicipal Voters league. OF the twelve
candidates against whom the leagues
were elected. The four men they
claimed the credit Of defeating We're
beaten thru fractional contests or recent
changes in ward boundaries rather
than by the efforts of the league.
In the First ward the leagues fight
on Alderman Coughlin added to his ma
jority. A large number OF democrats
had become tired of paying tribute to
the "Bathhouse" and were eager to re-
buke his rapacity. The league persuad-
ed the republican organization to put
another democrat, David L. Frank,
against him, and the result is that
Coughlin got nearly as large a majority
as two years ago, when there was prac-
tically no opposition to his election. In
1900 his majority was about 1900; yes
terday it was 2,6O5.
In the Fourth ward factional fight
among the democrats was waged on Al
derman Kent. Republican candidate,
James p. Crowley, received the sup
port of,the anti-Kent faction. The all
derman drove from precinct to precinct
and made the contest the hottest ever
seen in this ward.
The Tribune says editorially: Yes
terday's vote was light one. Ten
years ago such a vote would have been
disastrous 1t would have meant
council full of boodlers. Today, In
spite Of the light vote, the personnel
of the council is improved. Chicago
ans have come to take pride in having
q reputable legislative body. First
class men are willing to serve the city.
Better nominations are made and good
men are elected with little difficulty
now in wards where a few years ago
they could have been elected only
after desperate struggle, if at all.
''All things considered, the council
which will have to pass on the traction
question is q stronger council than it's
predecessors. 1t is we'll, therefore
that the disposition of that question
has ben delayed SO long.
THE proposition that the town
governments shall be wiped out has re-
ceived a majority in every town. AT
last after years of tolerance these ex-
pensive and useless petty officials have
been got rid of. They ought to have
been abolished twenty years ago.
Their long survival illustrates the
indifference regarding govern
elected today will be the last of their
kind In Chicago. AS they will have
no duties to perform they will be
harmless during their empty year of
Office.
The three referendum propositions
concerning the municipal ownership
Of street railroads and of gas and
electric light plants and the direct
of city officers at the pri-
maries have received heavy ma
jority of the votes cast on them.