The Washington times., 1906-04-03
CHICAGO IN MASS
VOTING UPON LOAN
TO BUY WAYS
Vast Outpouring Ends
Fight on Municipal
Ownership.
HOT FOUR-SIDED BATTLE
Saloons Assault Upon High
License Rallies Women
in Struggle.

Ill OtIuSSlS.
CHICAGO. April 3-One Of the most
important municipal elections tlds city
has ever had is in progress today. The
citizens are voting upon the issue OF
s75. 900. 900 OF street railway certificates
for the purchase OF the railways OF
Chicago and the establishment Of muni-
cipal ownership. and upon the repeal OF
the new ordinance raising the cost OF
liquor licenses as 4 means OF checking
The plague of crime in this city.
IL IS in fact a hotly fought double
contest, between the advocates of muni-
cipal ownership and the conservative.
financial interests on the one hand. and
between the women's societies and re-
form organizations IN general against
the saloonkeepera and the brewers on
the other
Situation in Figures.
IN figures. the situation is summed
up as follows:
Total city registration. 262. 100.
Estimated total vote, zss5.000
Estimated necessary for municipal
r9'tSay operation. 14l.0GJ
t'or Mueller certificates. IL, so.
The friends OF high license are fight
ing 10 maintain council majority OF
at least thirty-six aldermen Cor the
81 .000 license. and 10 re-eiect the seven
nance and who now are candidates.
Several points are marked out by
the election commissioners for possible
trouble.
elimination of a long and hard
fought campaign for the public owner
ship OF street car transportation is
found in todays election Briefly, the
voting is on the following questions;
QuestioGs Before Voters.
"shall the eity OF Chicago proceed 10
operate street railways"
Shall the ordinance entitled an ordi-
nance authorizing the city OF Chicago
10 construct acquire. purchase. own,
and maintaia street railways within its
corporate limits and provide the means
therefor, passed By the city council
January is, making provision for the is
sue OF street railway certificates not 10
exceed in amount S75.0Oo,oOo. be ap-
proved"
shall the city council proceed with
odt delay to secure municipal owner
ship and operation OF all street railways
in Chicago under the Mueller law, in
stead of passing the pending franchise
ordinances or any other ordinances
granting franchises 10 private com
panies?
One OF the most remarkable putpour-
ings of voters ever Witnessed In an ''Off
year election began at 6 O'Clock
In nearly every precinct in Chicago
there were many men in line waiting for
chance TO cast their ballots when the
officials OF the election appeared to be-
gin todayS work.
Workingmen Are Active.
Thousands of workIngmen turned out
at the break of day 10 cast their votes.
The close Of one of the most speetacu-
lar municipal campaigns in the history
of Chicago was marked with great en-
thusiasm ON both sides. and was fol-
lowed today BY stupendous efforts on
the part OF the friends OF municipal
ownership and also the agents of the
traction companies to get out all the
votes possible for their respective sides
Where experts figured that not more
than 250.OO0 votes would be cast. the
early vote indicated a much larger
percentage OF the registration.
Dunno Is Confident.
Mayor f. f. Dunno says: Municipal
ownership will win another great vic
tory at the polls on Tuesday next The
little ballot propositions, l am con-
vinced, will carry by at least five TO
one. In the city council we will secure
a material accession to the ranks of
those aldermen who have fought val
iantly during the past months for NUM-
cipal ownership and optration. We will
have in the next council majority that
will execute the will of the people of
this city as repeatedly expressed at the
ballot box"
Alderman W. P. Dunn, leader Of the
high license fight, says:
The law-abiding and order-loving citi-
lens or Chicago are awakening to the
necessity of vigilance at the coming
election, and the Indications are very
encouraging to the advocates OF high
license. The questions OF municipal
ownership of street cars and the license
Of saloons for increased police protection
are so widely different that 1 do not
think either will be sacrificed for the
other. While there Is honest difference
OF opinion as to the wisdom of favorins
the issuing of $75. co., 900 certificates
there is no difference Of opinion among
good citizens on the question of sup
preston OF crime and the securing O1
means necessary for il. The sentiment
IS so pronounced and universal that 2
back step now, forced by the liquor
element, would be such a disgrace t
Chicago that 1t cannot be tolerated"
The women of Chicago have shown az
interest in the present aldermanic cam
paign never before eQualed In the politu
cal history of the city. IL the voter:
elect to the council those Candidate,
who are pledged against the repeal o.
the 81 900 saloon license ordinance tn,
club and church women. together witt
thousands of individuals, will be entitled
TO great share OF the credit for tn,
victory
When the saloon interests threw
down the gauntlet snd organized cam
! paign with the aim of electing to tn,
council set of men for the purpos,
of undoing the benefit which had beer
secured in the law IL aroused the womer
TO a realization OF the impending dan
ger.
AZ a result they have rallied in ever
I part OF the city to the aid OF the alder
men. who. in TIE face Of threats and tn.
! tremendous Influences of the brewer,
and saloon interests, stood firm for tn
measure which guarantees the cessation
/ TO a great degree of the reign Of Grim
and provides greater safety TO tn
mothers. wives, and daughters OF tn
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