Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-14
HOT FIGHT IN CHICAGO
New Era in the Windy City is
Now On.
ALL EYES ON HEARST
Much Curiosity to Know What the
Leaguers Will Do.
WARM SCRAP FOR NOMINATION
Carter Harrison and Dunno Are Ex-
pected to Enter the Race
Four-Year Term.
WARM SCRAP FOR NOMINATION

CHICAGO, ILL.,, January 14.-For the first
time in the history of Chicago the next
mayor sis to be chosen for 4 term of four
years. The heightened tenure is in ac-
cordance with an act of the legislature
The next mayor, moreover, will be the
first to administer the affairs of the city
under the new charter, which is now be-
ing drafted for confederation by the state
legislature. For these reasons there is a
i ton. The spring campaign and the election
in April promise to be the most interesting
and most stubborny fought for years.
Mayor Dunno has not formally announced
himself a candidate for reelection. but he
is expected to do SO soon. Carter H. Har-
rison who is spending the winter in Cali
fornia, will be a candidate for the fifth
time, thereby emuating the record of his
father, the elder Carter Harrison, who
served five terms of two years each.
Where the influence of the Hearst indie
pendence League is to be thrown has not
yet been decided. At least it has not yet
been made plain. There is much reason
to believe it will not be for Mayor Dunno
to succeed himself. There is a chance, al
though confessedly slim one, that 1t will
be for Harrison. The definite policy to be
adopted by the league is matter of much
Importance to the democratic candidate.
Hearst Has Large Following.
Hearst has a following of his own which
it would probably be unfair to estimate at
| under 40, 900 votes. Under certain circum-
stances it might easily be considerably
larger than that In any event, 1t Is
strength that must be reckoned with He
and his lieutenants may decide to put a
candidate of their own in the held, Tree
from control of or connection with the
Harrison crowd, the Dunno crowd c the
Bobby Burke crowd and the Roger Sui
Ivan crowd. How the full power OF the
democratic forces can be concentrated for
any one man, either at the primary or at
the election, seems a difficult question to
answer.
Because of this situation among the DEM
ocrats the republicans are. more hopeful
than for many years that tney VIII oe ape
to elect a mayor. This hope is shown In the
number of men who are avowed or recep-
tive candidates. Not less than a score OF
republicans have been mentioned seriously
for the nomination. At least half dozen
of those would be nightly pleased to be
chosen the standard-bearer Not one or
these has come forward with the positive
declaration that ne is in the race but the
half dozen give their sanction to the eHortS
of friends who are seeking to show their
particular fitness for the first four-year
mayoralty honor.
Most frequently mentioned among the
republicans is Fred A. Busse, present post
master of Chicago and a political power In
several city wards. MIR. Busse would like
to be mayor, there is not the slightest doubt
of that, Many leaders VI TIE Pal ~, cS-
pecfary those who have been known as
politicians have openly expressed their
preference for him.
Independent Movement Strong.
But there is growing evidence that the
men who have been running the party ma
chinery are not to be allowed to dictate
the nominal alton for the mayoralty this time,
regardless of the wishes of the business
element of the city, Merchants, doctors,
manufacturers and tradesmen generally are
getting into the fight earlier than anybody
else. Hundreds of them have openly in
dorsed for mayor, Alexander ii. Revell a
Wabash avenue merchant Their plea in
behalf of Mr.. Revell is that he is not
professional politician, that he is a man of
good, sound business judgment, and that
If he were elected mayor the town would
not be run in the interest of the SpolS-
men.
There is still another element that favors
the nomination of Walter l.. F1sher, VINO
can hardly be credited to either republicans
or democrats. Mr.. Fisher has for years
been identified prominently with the move
ment to deliver Chicago out of the hands OF
1.-The gray wolves the corruptlonlStS and
! the demagogical partisans. In the trac-
ton controversy, over which Chicago mas
been stewng for longer than decade and
on which Edward F. Dunno was elected
mayor, Mr.. Fisher has been prominent OF
late He is the special counsel and ad-
wiser of the mayor in the negotiations with
the traction companies and in the drafting
of ordinances whereby the city is empow-
cred to start on it's municipal ownership
plan and enter into partnership with the
companies for operation of existing lines.
Wants Traction Question Settled.
Mr.. Fisher has strengthened himself
greatly with the voters by reason of his
attitude in favor Of an immediate closing
up of the traction question, SO that the
companies can, in accordance with the or
dinances, go ahead at once with the re-
Mobilization of the lines. By the same
token it seems probable that Mayor Dunno
has weakened his cause by insisting that
the ordinances shall go to the people for
Endorsement in referendum vote.
| He holds to this policy because, he says,
he pledged himself to the people that the
| traction settlement must be submitted to
| them for final approval. Scores of bust
ness men, clubs and other organizations
have gone on record for immediate adjust