USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume II > Part 45
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state's witnesses. There have been conspiracies galore and I refuse to put up with such practices." In September a physician connected with the Municipal laboratory was discharged for incompetence and neglect of duty by the Civil Service commission.
The McCann case was considered the most important in recent years owing to the bitter public array of gamblers, grafters and criminals against law, order and decency. Twelve indict- ments were returned against him. During the McCann trial there appeared the extraordinary spectacle of an inspector of police admitting seeing notorious violations of the law without any action being taken by him to arrest. the culprits. William P. Clancy, such inspector, showed utter incompetence and shameful neglect of duty. The conviction of McCann vastly encouraged Mr. Wayman and gave great satisfaction to the public. He now determined to investi- gate the jury commissioners' office in order to uproot irregularity, illegality and corruption, the existence of which had been fore- shadowed. An investigation showed that the frequent miscarriage of justice in recent years was due to unlawful practices in that office. The Cook county bench appointed three judges to hear evidence in the jury commissioners' cases. The Merriam commission unraveled crooked and illegal practices in the card system of jury selection. Among the admissions drawn from the witnesses by State's Attorney Wayman were: That cards drawn for grand jury service were placed in a drawer of Capt. Mason's desk, where many of them re- mained as long as five years; that Capt. Mason and several clerks had keys to the desk, and that whenever the roll top was up any one could abstract the cards if he so desired; that any of the clerks in the office could excuse men for grand jury service by writ- ing on their cards, "Disqualified for grand jury ;" the clerks could also indorse any name by writing on the card, "Good for grand jury service;" that Capt. Mason at one time suspected Clerk Mc- Guire of "getting men off from jury service;" that the jury com- missioners sometimes signed the jury lists in blank and left them for clerks in the office to fill in; that no grand jury list was kept until October of this year, following Mr. Wayman's charges of irregularities in the jury commissioners' office.
The shale rock scandal whereby $45,984 was wrongfully paid out to the McGovern company engrossed attention. A surprising de- gree of negligence and guilt was shown in the department of public works. John J. Hanberg, John Erickson, Paul Redieske, R. A. Bonnell and other officials were found to be more or less careless and involved. The Inter-Ocean's private investigation uncovered the iron castings scandal. W. A. Coleman, city business agent, was negligent and irregular. It was shown that against law the T. A. Cummings Foundry company were given contracts for iron cast- ings. The Merriam commission was actually overwhelmed with calls to investigate graft and crime. It was revealed that many
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thousands of dollars had been paid out for extras in violation of law. It was also realized that the freak juries of the past must have re- sulted from the illegal practices in the jury commissioners' office. Hundreds of names had been placed on the jury lists by politicians, ward healers, bailiffs, clerks, etc. When the Merriam commission needed more funds in the fall of 1909, they were violently opposed with injunction and even with verbal bludgeons in the city council. Opposition to investigation was exhibited by nearly all heads of de- parments. Mayor Busse himself was involved by the testimony of Coleman and Redieske. In November the lumber supply scandal was added to the mess of graft filth that offended the nostrils of the city. The Merriam commission showed in November an immense useless expenditure in the street cleaning and garbage departments of all wards. The wheel tax scandal stirred up the people in No- vember. Herculean efforts to secure a new whitewashing trial for Inspector McCann failed at this time. Judge Fake said, "When little gamblers are arrested the police produce the evidence and con- victions follow. When big gamblers are arrested conclusive evidence is lacking and convictions are impossible." The inference was that big gamblers bought immunity from the police. The Citizens' asso- ciation charged that the McGovern company had illegally absorbed the wheel tax for the years 1907 and 1908 with the knowledge and permission of Messrs. Hanberg, Redieske and Doherty. In Decem- ber the Merriam commission widened its investigations to all de- partments of the city administration, because graft and corruption were seen to blight and fester everywhere. The report of Welton, the expert, in December threw the burden of the shale rock scandal on Redieske. The Citizens' association, Merriam commission and the Inter-Ocean proved the existence of graft and irregularity even in the mayor's office. The indictment of two prominent men in De- cember finished this year of rascality. It was at last realized that the Busse administration was one of the most corrupt ever fastened upon the city. A permanent investigating commission was de- manded by many.
Mr. Wayman said in September, "I've got enough evidence to send these men to the pentitentiary and I intend to do it. People have wondered about certain grand jury actions in the past and about certain jurors who tried to create a disturbance because we re- fused to take up cases in which they were interested. I knew the reason for this all along, but I said nothing because I was waiting to get the evidence." The three men arrested were John J. Holland, N. J. Martin and W. J. Reyburn, charged with "jury fixing." Mr. Wayman further said, "When you stop to consider that within the last three months we have had called into the jury box in Cook county, in the trial of important criminal cases, ex-convicts, men under indictment, saloon bums, and men selected for the particular purpose of having them put on the jury in order to acquit the de-
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fendants; when you stop to consider that the biggest fight in the trial of a criminal case in Cook county is to get a decent jury, you will understand something about the magnitude of the action just taken."
An important question early in 1909 was, "Shall the Calumet river flow be reversed?" It was answered in the affirmative by all who wanted pure drinking water. Electrification of railroad termi- nals was demanded by everybody except railway men. In May a city forester was appointed-Jacob H. Prost. A school for cripples was founded in 1909, mainly by Jesse Spaulding. An attack upon the comic supplements of newspapers and upon five-cent shows was made in order to remove all improper influences upon children. The new charter bills in the legislature created intense interest in Cook county. A consolidation bill was widely and urgently demanded. In May an energetic crusade against flies was inaugurated, because it was announced that they occasioned tuberculosis, diphtheria, scar- let fever, typhoid fever and other disorders. Hundreds of Chi- cagoans went to Springfield about the middle of May to plead for the passage of the consolidation bill. Principals of schools were ordered to cease the distribution of political and campaign literature in the public schools ; the Teachers' Federation was the chief offender. Poor scholarship generally in public school pupils occasioned the demand in May that high school students in particular should be given more practical instruction and useful information. "More
time for the three R's" was the cry. In 1909 the Young Men's Christian association showed marvelous growth and prosperity. The exhibition of Chicago art work at the Art Institute in May was highly creditable. A vigorous campaign against infant mortality was prosecuted all summer in 1909. The permission of the govern- ment in February, 1909, for private persons or corporations to build piers north of the Chicago river mouth roused the entire city when it became known in May. An amendment of the permit was finally secured, largely through the efforts of the Harbor commission. Con- certed action to prevent crime and destitution among children was instituted in May, the Juvenile Protective League leading the move- ment. Down state legislators said Chicago could have the charter bill desired if she would consent to the limitation of her representa- tion in the Legislature. This kindled the anger of everybody here. Steps to secure a new home at the Gage farm on the Desplaines river to take the place of the John Worthy school were taken in May. Chicago sent a powerful lobby to Springfield in May in the interests of the new charter and other bills. The residence district option bill was generally endorsed in this city. In May the city borrowed at three per cent $675,000 on future tax collections-all taken by Chi- cago bankers. This deal broke the city credit record. The defeat of the new charter bill late in May occasioned outspoken indignation and anger. Twenty-three Cook county representatives, mostly
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Democrats, voted against the bill; twenty-nine Cook county repre- sentatives, mostly Republicans, supported the bill. It was said by the press that "the charter consolidation bill was killed by practical politics." Bank examinations by the government were reorganized in 1909; this step was needed in Chicago. The lace-making plant at Zion City was owned by Marshall Field & Company. The United Societies late in May at their fourth annual convention rejoiced at the defeat of the charter bill and opposed local option. The commis- sion plan of city government was studied by Chicagoans in May. Parental delinquency (parents who failed to keep their children in school) was rigidly prosecuted by W. A. Bodine, superintendent of compulsory education. Miss Mary Snow became the first supervisor of domestic science in the public schools at a salary of $3,000 per year. The Peace Congress here in May was an important event.
The question of the pasteurization of milk was discussed, fought out and settled in the summer of 1909. It was a signal victory against great obstacles, but was gloriously won by Dr. W. A. Evans, health commissioner. Among the bills passed by the legislature were those for bonds and revenue, referendum, submerged land, asylum reorganization, forest preserves, machinery, jail supplies, and ten-hour day for women. The bond bill permitted the city to issue under certain conditions $16,000,000 in bonds for public improve- ment. Under the Jones' referendum bill the question of bond issue was first to be submitted to the voters. The submerged land bill conveyed to various companies at South Chicago 335 acres of sub- merged land for $100 per acre. This land is on the lake shore be- tween Seventy-ninth and Ninety-second streets. The Tribune of May 31, said :
"The 46th General Assembly has had only one real interest- selfish, practical politics. It was brought together at the public ex- pense to legislate in the public interest. It has devoted its real ef- forts to practical feuds, to personal animosities, to sectional preju- dices. It has not been content even with these elements of disorder, for it has arrayed not only party against party and faction against faction, but house against house. Republicans have fought Republi- cans; Democrats have fought Democrats. And the senate has fought the house, and the house the senate to make chaos perfect.
* * * Disorder continued to grow worse and months of outra- geous wrangling closed with an anticlimax of headlong legislation which was almost as sorry a spectacle as any that went before."
An important event of 1909 was the position taken by Prof. George B. Foster of the University of Chicago for freedom in the pulpit and against blind adherence to church creeds. He was vio- lently opposed by Rev. Johnston Myers, whose bigotry and intoler- ance shocked all fair-minded people in the city. Professor Foster was finally excluded from the Baptist pulpit, but the publicity drove a nail in the coffin of ancient dogma and superstition festering here.
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A plan to build an island on a reef in the lake about 2,000 feet from shore and about 300 feet wide, to be used for recreation piers was broached in May. The business men throughout the city out- side of the "Loop" united in opposition to the construction of a sub- way on the general ground that it would injure their business. The merging of four large banking institutions into two giant banks was an important event in 1909. Late in June, 1909, the Chicago banks, state and national, reported deposits to the amount of $798,619,507, of which $401,781,282 was in the national banks.
In June, 1909, the secretary of war directed the city authorities to remove the center pier bridges. The retirement of the Dunne members of the school board was hailed as the harbinger of peace in that turbulent body in June. Eight new members of the school board were appointed by the mayor in July. In 1908 a public lands committee of the council, at an expense of $5,000, saved $300,000 to the city. The health department reported better health among children than ever before. The civil service commission was more efficient this year than ever before. In July Attorney-General Stead rendered the opinion that the law establishing one-third of the total value of property as the assessment basis was valid and in torce. This opinion made it possible to submit to the voters at the next election the question of issuing $16,000,000 in improvement bonds. John Thorpe, veteran florist, died in July. After long and deliberate consideration by the school authorities Mrs. Ella Flagg Young was chosen superintendent of city schools in July over many contestants. The corner stone of the new city hall was laid July 20 without great ceremony.
In July, 1909, Prof. Clyde W. Votaw of the University of Chi- cago divinity school voiced the growing and prevailing liberal re- ligious sentiments when he said :
"Take the Bible out of the Sunday school. It is bad for the pupil when improperly taught and cannot be taught properly by a Sunday school teacher. The Bible does not connect with the twentieth century. We must make Christianity for our own age and not use what was intended for the first century. The Bible should not be studied before the boy reaches his college years. Few people, old or young, understand it. Our students in theological schools don't understand it and Bible scholars are in doubt as to many things found in the book of books. Do we wish our children to think as did the ancient Jews about creation of the earth in six days and other miracles when we have to unlearn them of all this unscientific ยท knowledge later in life? The whole idea of children learning a cate- chism also is wrong. They repeat so many words that have been handed down unmodified, in spite of the fact that doctrine is not static."
The legislative Chiperfield committee, appointed to investigate the rights of the people to submerged lands throughout the state, re-
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ported the wholesale seizurc of such lands by private persons and corporations. The Illinois Central railway occupied large tracts of such lands. The sanitary district held $250,000 of the same at the mouth of the Wilmette channel. Other tracts were thus wrongfully held at Streeterville, by the South Shore Country club, Saddle and Cycle club, along Chicago river on both sides by Corbett & Connery, and at other places along the lake and river shores. Thus reported the Chiperfield committee.
In August it was decided to exterminate the public school fraterni- ties and sororities. A public cleaning day in August remedied in a large degree the negligence and inefficiency of the street-cleaning department. The University of Chicago dropped one hundred students owing to their low standard of scholarship. A subway to cost approximately $80,000.000 was discussed this year. In Sep- tember, 1909, Rev. Edmund M. Dunne, a native of Chicago, was raised to the episcopacy of the Catholic church; the ceremony was imposing. On September 1, 1869, the National Prohibition party was organized in old Farwell hall, this city, there being present 500 delegates. The anniversary of this event was observed in 1909. On September 1, 1909, the new street numberings came into effect. About 250,000 numbers were changed, some 150,000 remaining as before. In the labor day parade, 1909, there were but 3,171 in line, to 6,239 in 1908. Dr. Evans, health commissioner, reported in Sep- tember that out of Chicago's 30,000 eight-gallon cans of milk, 18,000 were pasteurized. Of these 7,000 were from tuberculin- tested cows, and 5,000 cows had not yet complied with the ordinance. The 7,000 cans above came from 30,000 tupberculose-free cows. Bank reform to prevent panics was duly considered in 1909. It was realized that the panic of 1907 was really unnecessary and was con- fined to the rich, as the country as a whole was prosperous. People demanded something better from banks in times of panic than the practical suspension of cash payments and the refusal to pay to order the funds of depositors. Mr. Dawes showed that the gain in banking power in the middle west since 1900 was 118.96 per cent. Practical courscs of study in the high schools resulted in a large in- crease in male attendance. The plan to continuc Michigan avenue improvement to the river received public approval. The enormous increase in the price of household necessities caused much complaint and discontent.
The various critical works of Prof. George B. Foster, of the Uni- versity of Chicago, were important contributions to religious ad- vancement this year. His views in the main were endorsed by the best thinkers throughout the country and were welcomed by all ex- ccpt the intolerant, superstitious, unprogressive, bigoted and un- reasonable. Thc 35th annual convention of the American Bankers' association, with 1,000 dclegatcs in attendance, convened here in September. With all their wealth and power they ncither suggested
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nor accomplished anything of benefit to the public. They opposed nearly every reform favored by the people and seemed to be actuated solely by private greed and gain while begging for public favor, confidence and subserviency. In Hyde Park and elsewhere through- out the city steps to segregate the negro population were taken and met the approval of all persons not cranky, not lukewarm, and not in favor of racial amalgamation.
An interesting event in September was the greeting given Presi- dent Taft by 165,000 school children, banked along the boulevards. In accordance with the suggestion of President Taft, Chief Justice Olson recommended the appointment of a commission by the Legis- lature to study court conditions and remedy all "delays of justice." In September, 1909, a splendid system of night schools was estab- lished for students over fourteen years old. Eleven evening high schools and twenty-nine evening elementary schools were thus opened. About this time there was a general advance in the wages paid to teachers. The experiment of having children work and at- tend school alternate weeks was tried in September with good re- sults. People demanded that school instruction should ineet busi- ness requirements after school days were over. Studying with win- dows open and child wraps on, was tried in the winter of 1909-10. "Down with the Loop!" was the slogan of many in 1909.
An immense temperance demonstration with 16,828 marchers was an important event in September. An ordinance making the electri- fication of railway terminals mandatory was introduced in the council in September. The question of the selection of a city librarian was submitted to competitive examination in September, and Henry E. Legler, secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library commis- sion, handed in the best papers; his ideas on library extension won him the position. This result blighted the hopes of Dr. B. J. Cigrand and all pretenders. Humane treatment of animals began to be taught in the public schools. Gipsy Smith conducted a memorable and suc- cessful revival in September and October ; thousands were converted. The march of his legions through the levee districts was a feature. The united action of the Jews against vice and crime was an impor- tant crusade. Prominent lawyers attacked the parole system, because it took from courts and juries the real effects of their verdicts. A revision of the municipal code was begun in September. Better har- bor facilities were demanded, or commercial supremacy would be lost. A course on the history of Chicago was proposed for the city schools. The recall of Mr. Crane from his appointment as minister to China and his subsequent course attracted attention in October. "Tag Day," October 19, 1909, netted to the Associated City Charities $50,000; the day was popular with all prosperous classes. A new county hospital to cost $4.000,000 was broached in October. In a test case the city was held liable by the Supreme Court of Illinois for damages to cars resulting from the Debs' strike of 1894. This de-
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cision meant that the city would in the aggregate lose about $700,000.
In November it was announced that there were 10,620 school children who attended but half the time owing to the crowded condi- tion in the rooms; at the same time it was reported that there were 17,802 vacant seats in the rooms. A redistricting was requested and later carried into effect. Joseph M. Downey, chairman of the com- mittee on buildings and grounds of the school board, charged that school buildings, which should cost but $160,000, really had cost $240,000; an investigation was institued.
In November, 1909, the union of every civic and commercial organization in the city and suburbs was proposed, and the an- nounced object was stated to be "To obtain fair play and honest dealings in all matters of public improvement, sanitation, police con- trol, the levying of taxes, special assessments, and the proper ex- penditure of public funds." The power of concerted action along these lines was pointed out. John M. Ewen, harbor commissioner, asked for $55,266 to carry on the work of improving conditions for navigation in the city's harbor. It was shown that lake commerce had materially fallen away in a few years owing to poor harbor ac- commodations at Chicago.
A strong movement against co-education and in favor of segrega- tion was exhibited among schoolmen in November, 1909. James E. Armstrong, principal of the Englewood high school, said, "Parents favor segregation in high schools, teachers want it, and boys and girls are overwhelmingly for it. Looking at it from every angle we must admit that co-education is not to be desired." President R. R. McCormick, of the sanitary district, offered to light the whole city with electricity at a saving of $1,000,000 annually. There was a general demand in November that the city should receive at least three per cent instead of two per cent for its deposits in banks; the average deposits were $12,000,000. In December, 1909, the fair cash value of all city property was placed at $2,499,000,000. On July 1, 1909, the city's outstanding indebtedness was $23,367,000. In December, 1909, it was shown that one of the principal reasons for the high price of necessities was the high charges and profits of retailers. The profit of Chicago butchers was fixed at forty-six per cent by the Department of Agriculture. Librarian Legler's plans were to adapt the public library to the uses of school children; $500,000 was wanted for branch buildings and other purposes. Dr. Evans, health commissioner, doomed scores of unsanitary under- ground bakeries and kitchens. Many were filthy. in the extreme. Out of 581 cellar bakeries 371 were ordered to discontinue. In De- cember, 1909, Martin Ryerson gave $1,000,000 toward a physical laboratory for the University of Chicago. The gift was probably induced by the success of Prof. Albert A. Michelson, who had re- cently won the Nobel prize for important discoveries in light and optics.
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In December, 1909, the position of minister to China was tendered to William J. Calhoun, attorney of Chicago, and was accepted by him. Governor Dencen called a special session of the legislature for December 24 and submitted twenty-six separate and distinct propo- sitions for its consideration, among which were a primary act, a deep waterway act, a commission form of government, a Chicago subway, plan for a Chicago harbor, investigation of express companies, deep waterway legislation, etc. Over one hundred Illinoisans, headed by Governor Deneen, attended the National Rivers and Harbors con- gress in Washington in December, 1909. The annual charity ball in December, 1909, netted $29,000. The first charity ball was held in Crosby's opera house January 1, 1868. Gilmore's band supplied the music. John C. Schaffer established permanent grand opera here in December, 1909. The consolidation of all public utilities of the city, with an enormous capital, was discussed at this time. The city health department was one of the few without scandal in 1909. The American Red Cross stamp sale totaled 479,038 by December 20, 1909.
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