Evening star., 1946-10-09
'Hinky Dink' kenna,
Leader Of Chicago
Political Dynasty, Dies
BY the Assoeictsd Press


HICAGO, Oct. 9.-Michael
fHinky Dink) Kenna, leader of a
ward political dynasty founded be-
: fore the first Chicago World Fair in
1893, died today.
The Little Fellow" of long re-
membered campaign battles was
either SO or 81 years old. Mr.. Ken
mas word and the records varied.
He died in a room OF the Blackstone
Hotel in the First Ward that he
loved so well and ruled so long in
partnership with the late Bath
house John" Coughlin.
Mr.. Coughlin, called "Bathhouse
John" or 1.-The Bath" because of the
steam parlors he operated for Chi
cago's sporting gentry for many
years, founded the rule over the
Loop political district in 1892, chose
Mr.. Kenna as his ally and they re-
manned close friends for half cen
tury.
Came Back From Retirement.
"Bathhouse John" died on Arm
istice Day, 1888. and Mr.. Kenna
emerged from retirement to take
the First Ward seat in the City
Council chamber without opposition.
In 1943, Mr.. Kenna did not seek
reelection and his council post
passed on to younger man.
Death and old age, then, accom-
plished what generation of mill
anIrId-fhnu
got John and Hinky Dink out OF
Office.
Since his retirement Mr.. Kenna
had been reported in failing health
numerous times. He began to sink
early last month and on September
20 suffered heart attack that put
him under an oxygen tent. The
same morning, however, he was
ordering breakfast and his physician
reported him improved consider
ably" -..-
Both Mr.. Coughlin and Mr.. Kenna
grew up in the brawling days of
Chicago before and after the great
fire of 1871. Mr.. Kenna was the
slight, quiet member of the team,
but he ruled on an equal basis with
the clustering Mr.. Coughlin.
Live and Let Live" He Said.
No fancy political theories or
tactics were ingredient in their sue
cess recipe. Mr. Coughlin, who
served continuously in the city
council for 46 years. once explained
it thus:
1--WE stick to one idea-live and
let live. We count our voters and
then we count the votes. Always
give the other fellow chance.
Never carry a grudge. Don't mix
in the other fellows rights. Sing
Sweet Adeline' with them both"
Hinky Dink had been retired
from politics for Is years when he
returned to Office to take the first
ward seat vacated by the death OF
his friend.H Decades before they
had served side by side when the
Council had two aldermen from
each ward. The Legislature revised
the system and Mr.. Kenna stepped
out in favor of Mr.. Coughlin,
John picked Hinky Dink as his
Democratic committeeman il 1893
and soon Mr. Kenna was an alder
man. He lost an election only once
until his final retirement.
His Saloon Was Famous.
Mr.. Kenna won fame in the
saloon business in the lost days,
when men drank their liquor
standing up and ladies didn't at
all.
Mr.. Coughlin handled the morn
ing after" end His Turkish bath
house was mecca for gamblers
horsemen and men-about- town
needing to boil out the traces Of
overindulgence.
THE Bath" also had saloon in
terests, and in their resorts the
two friends were schooled first-hand
in how to build up political strength
and hold it,
The teams friends called their
system good politics. the foes called
it vote-buying. John and Mike
didn't call it anything. They quiet
ly counted the ks" and there were
more for them than for their op-
ponents.
Undaunted by RefOrmers.
They and their system consistent
ly were quarry-but never game
for good Government idealists. Un-
daunted by the outcome of struggles
in previous decades, william Hale
Thompson, Republican Mayor, Or
dered his lieutenants in 1926 to take
over the Loop ward. Mr.. Kenna's
answer to the challenge was:
I've been fought by experts, re-
formers, newspapers, gentlemen,
hoodlums, Democrats and Republic
cans. Now, bring on Mayor Thomp-
son."
When prohibition came, Mr.. Ken
ma locked up his saloon and gave a
schooner to the WCTU as a trophy.
He opened up a cigar and candy
store and the old crowd gathered
there to plan the campaigns that
needed no great speeches, just the
word that John was up for Office
again.
Mr.. Kenna was born in Chicago
and lived here all his life except for
a brief period when he prospected