The independent., 1905-03-09

The Chicago City Campaign
The city campaign in Chicago this
spring is one that will attract atten-
tion all over the United States on ac-
count of the fight for municipal own
ership, and the populist doctrines In
yolved, that are forcing themselves to
the front with such persistency that
they can no longer be ignored. While
the local democratic organization has
been utilized as the necessary election
machinery for the campaign The first
declaration in the platform Is:
This election has no bearing upon
national or state politics. 1t concerns
only the local government and the mu-
nicipal business of this city. And the
0vershadowing issue is whether the ex-
pressed will of our own citizens or the
interests of a Wall street syndicate
shall direct our public policy regarding
the ownership and control of our
streets for traction purposes"
So far, the movement is to be COM
mended by all independent voters who
believe In municipal ownership of the
natural monopolies on which city
must depend for existence. But the
next step taken, at least it is so an
nounced in the papers, is calculated to
defeat the whole program. After de-
claring that the contest has no bearing
on national politics, the great national
democratic leaders, like Bryan and
Tom Johnson are to be imported to
make speeches. That will Immediately
transform the campaign from local
affair to national and politicai one,
and unless there are enough straight
democrats in the city to make ma
jority, the case is lost and Chicago
streets and municipal utilities will be
handed over to Wall street syndicate.
There was an eccentric old man
who lived in Massachusetts. He had
few acres Of land, one part of which
was absolutely barren and covered
with stones and sand, while the other
part was rich and productive. Every
year the eccentric old man ploWed and
planted his barren patch with just as
much care as he did the other, al
though the seed never came up. When
asked why he did it, he always replied
that there might come season that
would fit that land and he would raise
q crop. The democratic leaders con-
tinue to cultivate the barren patch,
known to be barren ever since Cleve-
land, German, Carlisle and Belmont
EOwed it with salt. The bringing of
outside men into Chicago to take
hand in fight, whose very presence
Introduces national politics, where the
official control is in the hands of Tom
Taggart and Belmont, means the loss
OF thousands of voters and the gain Of
none. 1t was probably instigated by
the sharp politicians of the republican
party. At any rate, the great repub--
ican, plutocratic dailies have given the
statement wide advertisement that Bry-
an and Tom Johnson were to make
an active campaign in Chicago for the
democratic ticket. They are going to
cultivate the same old barren spot, cov-
cred with stones and sand, with the
hope that this may be favorable sea-
son. After having carefully planted
that old salt sOWn spot for ten long
years, with never a grain of wheat
grown to reward their services, they
are going to plant it again.
The local fight made against the re-
publican machine and the giving away
to already rich men, such as j. Pier
pont Morgan, franchises worth not less
than $200,000,000 ought to succeed. 1t
will succeed if the awful incubus which
hovers over everything labeled ma
tional democracy" does not settle down
upon it.
The general statements in the plat
form adopted are taken from the popu-
list platform and no credit given. That
should not prevent the hearty accept