New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23
TOPICS IN CHICAGO.
PREPARING FOR SPRING MUNICIPAL
ELECTION-A DEMOCRATIC SHEER
RIF-CHILD LABOR ABUSES.

| Chicago Nov. 2O.-It is long time before the
municipal election next spring, but it is not too
early for those who have vital interests at stake
in the way of retaining political power or pres
/ tige to begin laying their plans Whether it is
for the purpose of fixing his fences for a fourth
term or to strengthen his position as city and
State leader in the Democratic party is not APP
parent the surface, but Mayor Harrison free
~ announces that he will endeavOr to assume
the leadership of the minority in the legislature
He states in explanation that thu people of Chi
cago have much to ask of the General Assembly.
and he declares he viii employ every resource
of the city administration. political or otherwise.
to secure the enactment of needed legislation
Mayor Harrison says Chicago has reached
turning point in its development. and that relief
must come from the legislature. for on its action
the municipalities future largely depends In
this undertaking the Mayor regards it as his
duty to become a lobbyist at the State capital
Among the things he will work for will be new
city charter. the referendum municipal owner
ship of public service utilities and Civil Ser
vice law which il is said by politicians will revo-
lutionize the politics of the State and drive the
spoismen out of business If adopted. Members
of his own party claim that in this Mr.. Harrison
viii meet opposition within the local Demo-
cratic organization. beginning when the county
central committee meets early in December.
when HaTison's opponents will be lined up
against his candidates for the offices which con-
troll the local party organization.
The Mayors position, announced, is believed
to reveal the platform on which he may again
he candidate for the Mayoralty of Chicago
that is the view of partsans not too friendly to
the three times executive of Chicago, His
friends point out that his position. as regards
the city's needs, is sound politically, and that
if he is able to take the leadership in the move
mcnt for ChiCago's government he will be able
To dictate terms TO the next Democratic city
convention, should disposition be manifested to
prevent his nomination for a fourth term. Mayor
Harrison viii have to contend with the vigorous
opposition of his rival for State leadership,
Mayor John 2. Hopkins. 1t is asserted that the
interests controlled by and allied with Hopkins
are hostile TO the platform of the Mayor. This
is leading 10 much speculation To whether
Mayor Harrison will be able to push his plans
if the Hopkins faction gains control of the
county central committee.
For the first time in twenty-tour years the
Democracy of Cook County has captured the
Office of Sheriff with its remuncrative patron
age. At the recent election the party. by a
big majority. made up of large number of in
dependent votes, elected its nominee for that
office-the only man on the Democratic county
ticket who succeeded. There great jubiIa
and the friends of Mayor Harrison were not
slow in giving him the credit for they realized
that Sheriff-eIec Thomas Barrett a novice in
politics. by virtue of his triumph in an election
wherein his party made a tremendous strus-
gle would become power in the councils of
the actual leaders. AS Barrett was the only /
successful candidate it falls to his lot TO pro-
vide for eight hundred office seekers to whom /
places have been promised. At most the Sheriff 1
has three hundred positions TO FILL and yet |
every Democrat with valid claim on the party /
is looking for one of the places. No definite 4
arrangement about the patronage of the Office /
will be made until after the organization of the /
county committee for the reason that how
ever the new Sheriff acts he is bound to offend 4
more partisans than 1t will be possible for him
to please. For every appointment he is sure
be abused by ten men who viii feel that the
place belonged to them.
The crusade which was recently begun by