New-York tribune., 1907-01-14
CHICAGo's COMING ELECTION.

Mayor DUNES administration Of Chicago VIII
terminate in the spring, and with it the mu-
nicipal ownership and operation programme.
At the time of Mayor Dunne's election the
country conceived of municipal ownership quite
seriously as q coming idea In American pohucs'
Nobody thinks so to-day. AS means OF SOW
ing the traction problems that confront most
American cities it has proved too slow TO PUT
into effect and to be surrounded by too many
difficulties. Chicago still hangs to the strap"
said ex-Mayor Carter II. Harrison, epigram-
meticalIv summing up the results of Dunnes
first wear in office and the utterance Is true TO-
day. The administration has been all promise
and no fulflment, and Chicago is tired OF Dunno
and mis- ideas. 1t is characteristic that Wnile
all Chicago is eager for an immediate COM
promise with the traction companies dunno Is
holding off desperately for referendum on
the subject of the contract. Chicago cares no
more for referendum than for the tail or a
comet 1t Is in a hurry to make an end of strap
hanging.
Mayor Dunno has not announced himself as
candidate for reelection but 1t is not to be sup
posed that he will acknowledge bis weakness
with the people by making no effort for re-
nomination His chance of receiving one from
the Democratic party seems slight, for he lost
control of the machine more than year ago,
and the Democrats moreover, could hardly NOM
reported to be seeking another term. His
chances of winning the nomination appear ex-
cellent. for he has regained his oldtime popu-
Iar,ty He has, indeed another element or
strength All that has been accomplished dur
ing the Dunno administration toward putting
tho city in a position to dictate terms TO the
traction companies haS it's inception in Harri-
sons term The suits which resulted in the
decision that the franchises of the street rail-
way companies had expired were begun by Har'
rson Through the ending. OF the franchises
the city is in ositton to make exceed
inelv favorable terms with the railroad COM
NAMES The Chicago Democracy is split into
good many factions. and If some moderate
like Harrison is its nominee radicals may put
IN Dunne or some one of his stripe independents
Iv Again the attitude of the Hearst lndepen-
dence League is uncertain.
With Chicago's reaction against municlpal
radcalism the public dislike of the Dunne
school board has bad much to do. Justly or
uniustlv. there is strong feeling that Tabor
and its rights have received more consideration
than parents with children to educate. that the
teachers union practically controls the board,
through it's sympathies. and thus the whole
school system and that the Dunno policy would
result IN similar condition in the police and
fire departments ending In city government by
and for city employees. The public reaction
against radicalism and the factionalism in the
Democracy give the Republicans a fine oppor
tunity 70 elect the next Mayor. AS under the
new charter the next administration will last
four years and will have the much needed
power to initiate public works and to make the
city something more than an oyergrown and
unkempt village the coming election will be
unusually important.