Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1919-01-25
MERRIAM'S PLATFORM

Charles l.. Merriam, candidate Tor
the Republican mayoralty nomination,
urges the necessity of Chicago elect
ing a mayor who can command the
confidence of both the city and the
state in order that the city's demand
fer home rule may receive just con.
sderation in the state constitutional
convention. Captain Merriam pointed
TO his record as a city legislator as
guaranty that he will be able to press
Chicago's claims with expectation OF
a friendly hearing. He issued state
ment setting forth in some detail his
views on the subject of home rule.
"A necessary plank in a Chicago
platform is home rule in local affairs
Capt. Merriam said. "Chicago's gov
eminent was made away back In 1870,
and since then there have been so
many changes in the world that the
old patched up plan is no longer ade.
auate. Chicago has outgrown the law
which fifty years ago was good
enough. What other business In town
is run on an 1870 basis?
I'VE ought to have the power to
make our own city charter as we
want it: to adopt a non.partisan cleo.
ton system, II the people wish 1t; to
say what the machinery Of local gov.
eminent shall be, II We care to change
IL: to make whatever local rules and
regulations we want, subject, or
course, to the general laws of the
state. II is ridiculous, or would be II
Il were not SO serious, that Chicago,
the fourth city in the world, should
be Obliged to run down to the state
legislature for every little change In
its machinery or to get any additional
power necessary to keep up with the
times.
These Chicago requests not only
take up the time Of the Legislature
unnecessarily, but the lack Of local
authority to deal with local anairs
interferes with the growth OF the city,
with the business development OF the
community and with the daily comfort
OF our people. 1t is high time that
Chicago be given authority TO meet
the modern situation.
Particularly ought Chicago TO have
full control over its public. utilities
gas, electric light, street and elevated
railways and telephones-if not under
federal regulation. In 1913 | was in
the front ranks OF those who were
fighting for greater control over local
utilities In Chicago, but the people
were not fully aroused at that time
and such power as Chicago had was
weakened by the law then passed.
Il am sure that every man or
woman who digs down for an extra
penny on the u or puzzles over the
peculiar gas bills now knows what
home rule means and how important
Il Is to him or her personally. The
fact is that Chicago understands these
local questions better than the state
outside, and we would be better salts
fed with our own conclusions any.
way.
Since the passage of the Mueller
law local control over utilities has
been understood by all sides in Chi
cago TO include legal and financial
power to own and operate utilities II
and when the public desires TO adopt
such a policy. The purpose OF giving
such authority is to place in the city
hands the power TO take whatever
course regarding public utilities the
people may deem eXpedient. There
has been no disagreement on this
point for many years. OF course, con-
stitutional changes are necessary to
bring this about and should be Sc
cured.
Home rule is now more important
than ever because the state constitu'
tional convention just approved by
the people will soon meet. In that
body the fate of Chicago for the next
generation will be decided. II we fail
TO obtain there the power we need,
then the door will be closed for prob
ably another fifty years To a very
large extent the outcome will depend
ON the next mayor Of Chicago. We
can count, / am sure on the generous
co-operatiOn OF Gov. I.Owden in an
effort to help our city. II the mayor
commands the confidence Of the peo'
pie OF Chicago and of the entire state
OF Illinois, IL will be possible to obtain
what the city needs. II the mayor can
present the city's case clearly and
effectively, and If the state trusts him,
Chicago will obtain the measure Of
local government to which we are en-.
titled Our citizens should realize the
situation before the opportunity has
knocked and gone away.
"The same thing is true Of the legis.
lation which Chicago requires from
year TO year, Chicsgo's ability to OBJ
tain favorable consideration for her