The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-30
Vigorous Fight Is Being Waged
Against the Democratic
Candidate.
MANY LOCAL ISSUES INVOLVED.
Business Element in Chicago
Seems to Lean Toward Republi-
can acknowledgements Are
Confident Of Success.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Chicago. March 2s.-With the municipal
election only nine days OF. the chances OF
Mayor Harrison DENY and Graeme Stew
art Rep) are about even. If the betting
is any indication. The shifting Of odds Is
like the cnange Of stock quotations from
day to day, Harrison having the better one
day. only to give precedence to Stewart. and
vice versa. At no time is the swing Of the
pendulum violent.
One great difficulty In making a definite
forecast is that party lines will be practical
ly obliterated- 1t is generally agreed that
politics Is to be secondary consideration
in the contest. The emphasis placed on the
traction question Is SO strong that every
thing else Is all but lost sight Of.
The fight of the press against Mayor Har-
rison is the most vigorous waged since he
days Of the elder Harrison. dozen years
ago. The present Mayor has the active sup
port Of one paper and the friendship Of two
Others, but Stewart Is the fayorite OF the
rest.
In support of tine assertion that the husi-
ness men of Chicago are for the Republican
candidate, the Stewart Campaign COMMITTEES
to-day issued a statement that the clubs OF
business men organized and aggresstvely
working for Stewart have an aggregate
membership Of 1900. The more inaportan.
are: Board Of Trade. 1000; Marshall Field 4
Co., 150o; Retail Grocers and Butchers,
LOO: News Dealers, 100; South Water
Street Merchants and Employees. LOO; Ra'.-
way Passenger Agents. 2ss; Stock Exchange.
100; Grocers. LOO: Lawyers. ] 10; Union
Transfers tunfinished). 3so: Real Estate
Dealers. 500; Wholesale Grocers, 5000; Beans
and Dried-Apple Club, 5000; Fire Insur-
ance, 80.
One Of the humors of the campaign hangs
on the Beans and Dried-Apple Club Mayor
Harrison remarked facetiously a few days
beans and dried apples than he did Of the
traction and other municipal questions: the
remark being inspired by the fact that Mr..
ness.
Mr.. Stewards friends promptly showed re-
sentiment Of the Mayors insinuation by or
the Peoples party is not a great factor in
the contest. 1t has come out In favor of
Mr.. Stewart. Its resolutions are interesting
manv Republicans and Democrats who are
for a nonpartisan election
In part. they say:
I'VE deplore the makeshift policy Of pro-
crastination and utter incompetency OF
Mayor Harnson's administration. II he
were competent or sincere the pending
great Quesuon Woujd nave Deen settled dur
ing the last six years. The frequent scan
dals in the Police Department are conciu-
sive proof of his incompetency. without
mentioning the filthy condition of our
streets and alleys, and the ignominious fail
ure of his Building, Street Cleaning and
other departments"
The Harrison view of things was epitom-
lied by Stephen A. Douglass in q noon
day meeting to-day when he said:
AS to the traction question. the fran
chises will expire in June and August. and
then Harrison will have the street-car COM
pany just where he wants them. He can
order the police force to run their lines.
fine them H.0OO day per car, or anything
else he wants to do. Then he will show
YOU what he can do. The cause of Mr..
Stewart is supported by his check book"
Nevertheless, the Harrison following IL
well organized and determined. and the
Democrats are confident Of success.