Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-05

National attention Is attracted to the
political battle as Judge John H. Lyle
seeks the Republican nomination for
mayor of Chicago. He faces the opposl-
ton of Mayor William Hale Thompson,
who is q candidate for another term,
and also that of Charles v. Barrett.
Judge Lyle already has achieved success
with professional criminals in Chicago,
and his campaign Is based on a promise
to rid the city of their activities.
Judge Lyle will be opposed" says
the Rock Island Argus, "by politicians
within his own party who are accom-
his candidacy wiz be fought by every
criminal interest in Chicago. 1t will re-
quire nothing short of miracle to bring
about his nomination. But, with the Re-
publican strength divided, there are
some who think that such a situation
might not be so bad for Judge Lyle, pro-
vided he can stir Chicago to the depths
with his anti-crime platform and cor
raj enough votes to land him far in the
lead. Others think the situation as to
division will initiate to ThompSon'S ad-
vantage or to the advantage, possibly, of
q candidate who would not be agrees
sive against the criminal element were
he to be elected mayor. Any way one
looks at it, Judge Lyle has q big task
cut out for him. A. j. Cermak, the prob
able Democratic nominee for mayor, is
popular with the people and would poll
heavily. But Chicago must turn, either
to Judge Lyle or to some candidate of
equal courage and honesty, If it is I'd
break the alliance between politics and
crime"
His campaign, whether he wins or
loses, is sure to focus public attention
on Rlaring evils in the administration
of the Nations second city, which need
Just that attention. according to the
Jackson Citizen Patriot. His entry is
viewed by the Scranton Times as "a
direct challenge, not only to Thompson.
but to the people of that city who on
other occasions, when aroused, have
demonstrated that Big Bill is not in
vincible at the polls" The Akron
Beacon Journal advises: "Here is Chi
Cages chance to reclaim the esteem
of the Nation, which 1t lost when it
surrendered to these degrading ele-
ments. It remains to be seen If its So
called better citizens respond to the in
vitation to proceed in the only way that
will bring better government. Hither-
to they have prayed for this result, but
have done too little voting"
4 x
whether this archfoe Of gangsters
can get anywhere in the race" ac-
cording to the Rapid City Daily Journal,
as a question only the election can
decide. But he's fighting a divided
field. He'll be fighting all the power
of gangdom, according to every surface
indication. He'll be fought by the pow
erful Thompson machine. If Judge
Lyle can win there will be emphatic
notice given to the world and to Chi
cago gangland that the majority of
the people of Chicago want change"
I'm not few reputable quarters"
thinks the Kalamazoo Gazette, there
appears to have developed certain
attitude of despair, reluctant con-
clusion that organized grating and
racketeering must be endured as in
separable from the life of a modern
American metropolis" That paper
concludes: In the final analysis there
is no place to lay the main burden OF
responsibility other than on the Shout
ders' of the people themselves. The
shameful conditions of outlawry, the
sinister alliance between crime and
politics, and the general disorder which
has become all too characteristic of
metropolitan life in this country will
not end until the law-abiding majority
does something more than utter Woeful
complaints and bemoan its plight. The
size OF our larger cities does not de-
prive them of the same machinery of
reform that is available to the smallest
hamlet in the land. Undoubtedly it is
easier to stuff ballot boxes and manipu-
late voting in a metropolis than in a
small city, but evil practices of this
sort certainly cannot account for Chi
cago's Sufferings. Not all the arts of
the political trickster could prevent
that great city from electing honest
and capable public servants If the peo-,
pie as whole we're willing to take
charge OF things and perform their
obvious duties as citizens."
ut Is hard to Judge from this dis
tance,D states the Seattle Daily Times,
what material is available in Chicago
for the important position of mayor,
but tie colqtSz ct large has heen ire