The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-04-06
CHIC AGO HOL D S
CITY ELEC ION

VII ELElI. IUN|
Chicago, April 6. Today's munic-
ipal election marks the passing from
public life, probably forever, of Car
ter II. Harrison, mayor of Chicago.
Son Of Carter H. Harrison, the first,
who was assassinated while serving
at Worlds Fair mayor of Chicago, in
1893, Harrison II equalled his faith
erts record for five terms and actual
ly served two more years than his
father, as his last term was for four
years, while his fathers five terms
and his own first four were of two
years each. IS. S-.s n ~ +
IS Harrison lost the Democratic
nomination to Robert M. Switzer in
a fight that was complicated by many
issues, several due to the feeling en-
gendered by the world war Pri-
marily, however, Harrison lost be-
cause strap-hangers blamed him for
the miserable transportation facili-
ties in Chicago. During his term
|just closed there was continual agi-
tation. for a subway or some prac-
tical solution of the situation which
has marked Chicago as the slowest
Of all cities to arrange for the trans
portation of it sworkers. Harrison.
protested that the big mercantile in
terests, allied with existing trans
portation corporations had rendered
him helpless, but he was nevertheless
made a victim -E
Carter H. Harrison was an >"easy
boss" Handsome: priding himself
on ancestry and family, being mayor
was a distinction. Few men ever
questioned his personal or business
honesty; none successfully. His IL
auor policy was liberal in accordance
with what he believed the people
wanted, during his rule and those of
Dunno and Busse the city grew big
| ger, more prosperous; many streets
were unlighted; more unswept. Po-
lice graft fourished The city was
overrun with crooks. Murders and
other crimes against person and prop
erty increased alarmingly. The Sec
ond city was experiencing growing
pains and its revenue for police,
Hight, cleaning, etc., was not at all
commensurate with the wonderful
| growth. It had outgrown, short
pants, but didn't have the money 70
buy long ones and lacked capacity to
save or earn it. The growth of the
lefty parks and boulevard system was
a bright and notable exception. =
Sweitzer, now county clerk, the
| Democratic nominee, is opposed by
William Hale Thompson, Republican,
, clubman, sportsman and reputed mil
lionaire real estate owner: The race
today is between the two: The third
candidate is Seymour Stedman, So
cialist, lawyer, former member of the
| a = r = =
legislature. He is not given even
an outside chance Former Con-
gresham Thomson, nominated as
candidate Of the Progressives, de-
clined to make the race.
Both Sweitzer and Thompson are
regarded as extremely liberal in so
far as the liquor is concerned and the
campaign has been marked by fire.
quent forecasts of an open city, no
matter who wins. u
A notable feature of today's mayor
atty election is that it marks the
first mayoralty election in a great
city when women will vote and prob
ably cast; the. decisive ballot. It is
figured that nearly half million
votes will be cast and that the win
ner must resolve nearly a quarter
of million. ballots. The usual city
and aldermanic tickets are also voted
on.
! AS soon as the winner is seated
Carter Harrison is expected to visit
the Pacific coast with his family. His
wife, who was Edith Ogden,- is a no.
ted writer and a woman Of beauty
and charm who has long desired her
husbands retirement from politics.
In case of continued national Demo-
cratic success, it is believed that Har-
rison will be appointed to some .di-
plomatic post, where he, can round
out his political career without
again appealing to the voters. Har-