The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-21
MAYORAL TY FIGHT
IN CHICAGO HOT.
Both Candidates for Munich
pal Ownership.
ALONG Different LINES
Professions of Harlan, Republican,
Doubted-Looks Like Landslide
for Dunno,

81
CHICAGO, March 2l.-Two candidates
for mayor, who propose to achieve
municipal ownership of the street rail-
way system by different methods, are
giving Chicago one OF the most pic
turesque campaigns in it's history.
One IS John Maynard Harlan, the Re
publican nominee, and the other is
Judge Edward +. Dunno, the choice of
the Democrats.
The indications are that there will be
landslide in favor of the Democratic
nominee
as the real municipal ownership candi-
date. The Municipal Ownership League
has indorsed him, and many of the so
cialists have announced their intention
to vote for him..
Professions Doubted
On the other hand, there has grown
UP a suspicion that the Republican
nominee, despite his utterances. is not
a real friend Of municipal ownership,
and he will have the support OF a large
part of the conservative business ele-
ment of Chicago
DUNES plan of action is to refuse
to have further negotiations with the
traction companies regarding fran
chises. Grants for many streets have
already expired. and others are expiring
every year Others are protected by
the notorious nlnety-nine- year act, and
have mere than half a century to run
Dunno proposes to offer the traction
companies a fair price for their tan
tsible properties and a reasonable COM
| pensation for the franchises which have
yet a term of years to run. Payment
| is to be made in certificates which will
| be, in effect. mortgage on the street
railways.
| If the traction companies refuse to sell
/ out, he proposes to go at once into the
| courts. He will endeayor to have each
franchise forfeited as soon as it expires.
and to have the traction companies GUST
| ed from the streets Then he proposes
/ TO build rival city lines on the principal
| streets. Such a course, in a few years,
would leave the existing companies with
out downtown connections, and the fran
chises which have long terms to run
! would then have no value.
Harlan Proposes Delay.
Harlan proposes to grant the existing
companies a new franchise. He will
take the streets on which the fran
chises have expired, and the streets on
which they yet have years TO run, and
form an average, and grant franchise
| for a period representing the average
time the franchises have to run. with
| the provision that the traction COM
panies waive their rights in all streets
| when this period expires, and sell out
to the city at an appraised value OF the
| tangible property.
Should the traction companies refuse
this offer. he also proposes to parallel
the existing lines with city lines, ano
fight the companies by competition.
But Mr.. Harlan, while declaring for
municipal ownership. has asserted In al
his speeches that he Is for IT when the
i city is legally and financially able &c
have it," The Democrats declare that
this. under the Republican platform
may be interpreted to mean never. Ihey
more than hint that ]. 2. Morgan &
4 Co. AID the local magnates allied with
this firm are supporting the Republican
nominee with influence and money with
this understanding.
/ Opposite Personalities.
Harlan insists that there shall be M
franchise ordinance granted until the
| people, by a referendum vote. have
passed favorably on it. He accuses the
Democrats Of failing to provide for 6
referendum on any action their repre-
sentatfves may take Judge Dunno re
plies that the Democratic endorsement
of the Mueller bill. which provides for {
referendum, is sufficient guarantee tina
the Democrats will take no action with
out the expressed approval of the PEG
pie.
The campaign is just now in full
swing The Republican nominee. in :
: fast automobile, rushes about TO various
portions of the city. making four speech
, | es in the evening. The Democrats
leader has been forced to place a substi
tute on the bench and take the stump il
: his own defense. and is making on
speech night.
l. Personally the two men are diametri
cally opposite. Harlan is impassione'
and domineering. His speeches abount
: in personalities, and he never fails t,
: carry an audience with him. Dune APP
7 peals to reason. rather than to emotion
and his speeches make a more favorabl
t impression in print than on his hearers
One notable figure in the campaign i
e Joseph Medill Patterson. son of r. w
? Patterson. proprietor and editor of tn
S Chicago Tribune. Against the wishes o
G his father. Patterson has severed hi
connection with his paper and taken tn
s stump for the Democratic nominee
while the Tribune is enthusiastically
, supporting Harlan
d 1t is predicted that the Democrats vii
. carry the city. While Judge Dunno
3 receiving only lukewarm support fror
S | the Harrison. or city hail, Democracy
: that fact is more than Offset by dis
9 affection in Republican ranks, becaus
c Harlan. six years ago, bolted the part
and ran as an Independent candidate
|