Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-04-04

chicago. April 4-The most intense
campaign in municipal pOlltlcs lhaC
Chicago has experienced in many
wears closed with the election OF
Frederick A. Busse, republican can
didate for mayor. over Edward h.
Dunno. his democratic rival and a
candidate for reelection, by a plural
ity of $4,000 to $4,000.
The issues were largely based upon
the Improvement Of the local trac-
ton systems. Both parties were
agreed that present conditions were
intolerabIe, but differed as to the best
method to be employed in revising
them. The democratic party, headed
bv Dunno, stood for immediate munlc'
ipaI ownership through the condemna'
ton of street car properties, if the
result could not be obtained IN any
other way. The republicans favored
the ordinances which were recently
passed by a democratic council over
DUNES veto These provided fo1
2O-year franchises for the street car
companies, the city retaining the right
TO purchase the systems for $5O,OOO,
600 plus the amount to be spent for
the immediate rehabilitation Of the
lines.
The ordinances also provide fol
universal transfers throughout the
city, a fve-cent fare, and 55 per cent
of the net revenue of the companies
to be paid to the city. The fight fo1
and against the adoption of the ordl
nances was exceedingly bitter. They
were carried by a majority of about
10000.
Heavy SocaIistic Loss.
The vote showed a decided reversal
of public opinion on the question Of
municipal ownership as compared with
the last mayOralty campaign two years
ago. At that time Dunno received
1853, 1879 votes against 1851 for JOIN
MHarIan, republican leader The
prohibition ticket received 1924 votes
and socialists 23034 This year the
republican vote was close to 10000
and that of the democrats close e
$4,000. The prohibition vote raj
slightly above that of two years ago
while the socialists vote fell off heav
lily it being more than 10000 less thar
that of the last city election.
The campaign has been one of the
most vicious that the city has eVei
known. Charges and countercharges
have been hurled back I'D forth, the
personal lives of the candidates have
been held up to the public and
throughout the entire campaign the
speakers of both sides INDUCED night
after night in TRADES that were filled
with invectives and abuse.
The disagreeable features of the
campaign which became SO pro
nounced in its latter part commenced
when Dunno circulated a petition for
a referendum vote on the traction
He and his followers announced that
they had secured ISL, 600 signers to
this petition, $4,000 being necessary to
place the matter before the voters.
Charges were made by the republican
party that thousands of these names
had been forged and the list padded
in every conceivable fashion. These
assertions we're vehemently denied by
the democrats and followers of Dunno
VINO were in favor of immediate mu-
nicipal ownership From this time
until the end of the campaign, the
feeling became more bitter and more
intense.
Yellow Kid Repudiated
William Randolph Hearst came
personally from New York to take
part in the campaign and brought
with him his ablest cartoonists and
editorial writer's. His papers were the
only publications in the city support
ing Dunno. all the other newspapers
being for BuSse and the ordinance.
The first returns received indicated
that Busse would be elected by about
25,000 plurality over Dunno. Later
these figures were cut down end Busse
apparently lost ground throughout the
night, retaining all the time, however
a SLrOuS ana sure plurality.
Dunno Gives Up.
Dunno abandoned hope within two
hours after the polls had closed. He
received the returns at his home sur.
rounded by his family and few
friends He appeared greatly affected
by the result and said:
1T looks as though the money
power has overwhelmed US, but our
cause is not lost Municipal owner.
ship and governmental ownership will
win in the end This election has
merely acted as check. 1t will re
tard us for while but the movement
will so on, and will in the end, be sue.
cessful."
6usse Delighted.
Busse, who has for some time been
postmaster of Chicago, was confined
TO his home during the campaign be
cause Of injuries received in the re
cent wreck on the Pennsylvania rail
road. When the result was beyond
all doubt he gave out this statement
/ am Of course greatly delighted
1t shows that the people of this cit,
are In favor of immediate improve
ment of our present street ear sys