page_title: 1923 Chicago mayoral election
section_title: General election
hierarchical_section_title: 1923 Chicago mayoral election / General election
caption_attribution_description: English: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lueder voting at the front of a line in a room
context_page_description: In the Chicago mayoral election of 1923, Democrat William E. Dever defeated Republican Arthur C. Lueder and Socialist William A. Cunnea. Elections were held on April 3, the same day as aldermanic runoffs.
context_section_description: Both major party candidates campaigned as reformers.
  Factors harming the Republican Party's prospects included a divide among the party's ranks, the scandals that had characterized Thompson's administration, and tax increases made during Thompson's mayoralty.
  Dever was only the second resident of Edgewater to run for mayor, after only Nathaniel Sears, and consequentially would be the first Edgewater resident to serve as mayor. Dever had a strong reputation for honesty, and was seen to be smart and well-spoken. He was supported by many reformers and independents. Many went so far as to organize the Independent Dever League, a group created to act in support of Dever's campaign. Dever won strong backing from progressive independents.
  The traction issue reemerged in this election. Lueder promised to "study" the possibility of municipal purchase of street railways. Dever, on the other hand, was far more enthusiastic on the issue, proclaiming that the most critical task for the victor of the election would be to resolve problems with the city's public transit. These problems included price increases and declining quality of service provided by the Chicago Surface Lines. A long time advocate for municipal ownership, Dever believed that it would be ideal for the city to buy-out the Chicago Surface Lines once their franchise expired in 1927. He also had hopes of possibly acquiring the Chicago Rapid Transit Company. Socialist Cunnea campaigned for a 5-cent fare.
  Lueder offered a strong contrast to the incumbent Republican mayor, being dignified and soft-spoken, with a strong reputation of personal integrity. Thompson did not campaign at all on behalf of Republican candidate Lueder. Lueder had strong support from the business community. Running a tidy campaign, positioning himself as a nonpolitical businessman, Lueder focused on securing the support of the Republican Party's factions. He maintained his support from the Brundage-McCormick and Deneen factions and picked up the backing of key figures from the Thompson faction of the party despite Thompson's own refusal to back him.
  Lueder attempted to portray himself as an expert administrator. Lueder argued that his experience in real estate and as postmaster had sufficiently prepared him for the administrative role of the mayoralty, asserting that it provided a more valuable experience than holding various minor elected posts. He stated, "I believe what the people want is a businessman for mayor. I believe that want a man who will devote his time to his duties as mayor of Chicago, and not building up a political machine.
  Lueder refused to formally debate Dever, despite Dever's request for debates. However, on numerous occasions they spoke at the same events.
  Eugene V. Debs actively campaigned for Socialist nominee William A. Cunnea.
  The campaign was largely uneventful, with little tenuous debate or controversy arising. However, in the final stretch of the campaign, a level of anti-Catholic sentiment was vocalized by select segments of Chicago's population, who were unhappy at the prospect of Dever, as a Catholic, being mayor. At the same time, some made an effort at the close of the election to draw a link between the Ku Klux Klan and the Republican campaign. Outside of this last minute heightening of discourse in select corners, the campaign proved to be relatively tame.
  Early into the race the candidates ran close in the polls. However, Dever took a strong lead in the race. By the end of the race, gambling boss James Patrick O'Leary had assigned 1-7 betting odds in favor of a Dever victory.
caption: Lueder and his wife cast their votes
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