The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
CHICAGO IS AFLAME ]
IN LICENSE CAMPAIGN
Barrels" Opened and Saloon
Element Fighting Reform
M. o." an Issue.

Chicago, March 31.-In frenzy Of
canards, counter blasts and "slush
fund" outpourings, the most intense
aldermanie campaign in the history of
Chicago is drawing to cyclonic finish
at the polls Tuesday. Two grave isl
sues have aroused the interest of ele-a
ments that ordinarily are apathetic in
| an "off year" election. with the result
that the contest is taking On double
nature. From one side it is fight to-
carry the proposition Of municipal own
ership and operation, an issue that in
itself makes the campaign of unusual
Importance. From the other, the high
license question is of grave moment.
The license matter rapidly has be-
come real issue thru the efforts of the
breweries and the grog shop following
| to defeat seventeen aldermen who voted
for the ST 900 ordinance, and it is this
effort on the part Of the rum forces to
knife good government that gives the
campaign its spectacular twist. Party
lines are being dropped in the desire
to conserve the high license victory.
Fighting for Control.
As the hour for opening the polls
draws nearer, the boldness and activity
displayed by the liquor following in
seking to secure control in the next
council have quoted the contention
originally made that high license was
being trotted forward simply to be-
cloud and befog the main issue-muni-
cipal ownership. 49,.
In seventeen wards, "barrels are
being opened and largesse is being dis
| tributed by the saloonkeepers with a
reckless hand. Rolls of banknotes are
| being scattered brazenly, and by the
hour the polls close, it is estimated that
nearly 100000 will have been spent
in the fight against the high-license
councilmen.
It will be rum versus reform, and in
seventeen wards the issue is clear and
the opposing forces are well defined.
On one side are the brewery and dis
tillery agents, with their proteges, the
saloonists, and on the other are the
respectable business and professional
element, the church following and the
great mass of voters who are for de-
cency and good government.
Women's Clubs Active.
A feature Of the campaign is the
interest manifested by the women s
, clubs, scores of which thruout the city
l are taking an active part in spring pol
itics in the effort to retain high license
and save Chicago from dropping again
into the hands Of thugs and holdup men
, thru insufficient funds to police the
city. 80 3 :. .,5 % -.
, In several wards the liquor forces
. / have been strategists enough to throw
8 their support to men. who are being
. backed by the municipal ownership
, forces. In some of these cases they
!, are unwelcome allies and their labor
. is one of sheer vindictiveness.
Unions Against I'M. o.
;. Fifty-two thousand voters, member,
g of the unions forming the Associated
: Building Trades, will be instructed by
f Secretary A, l.. Mcdonald, of that
!, organization, to cast their ballots next
f Tuesday against Mayor DUNES mu
e nicipal ownership scheme. The meI
s will also be instructed to vote agains
+ all aldermen who are pledged to vote
i for municipal ownership in the council
This action is being taken as a per
n sonal thrust at Mayor Dune because
It Of his refusal, when waited on by {
o union committee, to 60 before the cit,
l. council financial committee to recon
mend 10 per cent increase of wage
Of the employed connected with tn
building trades It accompanied tn
IS adoption of resolution embodying tn
e opinion Of the association that as tn
II mechanical employees Of the city ar
. now underpaid, so under municipal own
u ership Of street railways, the army o
Is ! workers on those roads will be under