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 66
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
659
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
press, leagues and associations made strong appeals for the voters to wipe out the nests of corruption in the town offices. At the election held in April few undesirable candidates were elected to the council. The publicity advocated and pursued accomplished its intended ob- ject. The new council contained twenty hold-over Republicans, thirteen hold-over Democrats and one hold-over Independent. The Republicans elected fourteen members and the Democrats seven- teen. The new council contained thirty-nine Republicans, thirty Democrats and one Independent. The various referendum propo- sitions were carried by large majorities. There was also cast a large majority for the abolishment of township governments. The Municipal Voters' League declared that the new council contained fifty-three members who could be depended upon to vote and act for the best interest of the city. A total of 204,379 votes were cast. The feature of this election was the sweeping victory accomplished by the Municipal Voters' League. Of the thirty-six men elected, twenty-eight were indorsed by the League. Only eight men whom it condemned were successful. Chicago polled a majority of nearly 100,000 votes in favor of municipal ownership. The referendum concerning the direct nomination of candidates at the primaries carried by over 100,000 majority.
The first day's registration in October, 1902, amounted to 175,- 379 as against 287,262 for the same day in 1900. This was such a notable decrease as to cause surprise and comment. The total registration in October, 1902, for the two days was 339,338. It was not so heavy as expected, and was considered to favor the Re- publicans. The total registration in 1900 was 401,392. A strong fight on congressmen was made. As a whole the congressional del- egation of Cook county elected was able, active and satisfactory. It was difficult, it was thought, to effect much improvement in the members. Particularly were Messrs. Mann, Boutell and Foss ad- mired for their sterling qualities. Messrs. Lorimer and Madden were also well known and had many friends.
The Legislative Voters' League in October, 1902, thoroughly investigated the character and merit of the candidates named by Cook county for the next General Assembly. People generally had the utmost confidence in the character of the League. It was be- lieved they had no other object than the utmost good of the commu- nity. Even the newspapers expressed thorough trust in that organ- ization.
The registry list as reported on November 1, 1902, was 337,073. At the November election, 1902, the principal contests in Chicago were in the senatorial districts. The Legislative Voters' League reported on the candidates for the various offices just preceding the day of election. They made recommendations for state senators and representatives and did not hesitate to condemn a large list of unde- sirable men.
.
660
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
At the November election, 1902, the voters of the South side were asked to vote upon the question of issuing $1,000,000 of bonds to be devoted to new parks and playgrounds. At this election ten congressmen and many members of the Illinois House were chosen for Cook county. The county ticket embraced a sheriff, treasurer, president and members of the County Board, county clerk, clerks of the Probate, Criminal and Appellate courts and County and Pro- bate judges and two judges of the Superior court. There were sev- eral state offices to be filled also. The campaign during October was vigorous and relentless and was carried to the extreme limit of misrepresentation and slander by both parties. The various clubs, leagues and associations made strenuous efforts to reveal the exact character of candidates for office. The result of the election was mixed. The Democrats elected the sheriff and the Republicans the county treasurer. As a whole the results favored the Democracy. It was admitted that many inferior men were candidates, and there was a great deal of ticket scratching. The self-styled Independents who fought Messrs. Lorimer and Madden and found no fault with the bad elements of the Republican ticket helped to elect several in- ferior men. The total vote cast in the city was 265,091, in the country 19,699 and in the county was 284,790. The Republicans elected the county clerk, clerk of the Probate court, clerk of the Criminal court, clerk of the Appellate court, members of the Boards of Review and Assessors, superintendent of schools, judge of the Superior court, judge of the Probate court, judge of the County court and president of the County Board. Thomas E. Barrett, can- didate for sheriff, was the only Democrat elected. The result was a great surprise to everybody. In fact the first returns were to the effect that everything had gone Democratic. It turned out that not only was almost the entire Republican ticket elected but three of the candidates, Foreman, Olsen, and Cahill, ran ahead of Han- berg. Fred Busse, Republican candidate for state treasurer, had a large lead over the other candidates voted for. Six Republicans were elected to the County Board from the city district and five from the county-a total of eleven, or one more than a working ma- jority. The delegation to Congress from Chicago was six Republi- cans and four Democrats. The three bond propositions were carried by large majorities. One was for county bonds and the others for park bonds. A large majority was cast in favor of state and local referendum.
In February, 1903, mayoralty candidates began their campaigns. John M. Harlan was early in the race. Graeme Stewart was also a candidate as early as the latter part of February. At this time the Federation of Country Towns supported the Campbell bill, which provided for a division of Cook county into two or more counties. The Humphrey bill proposed a consolidation of all the different municipal bodies within the corporate limits of Chicago
66
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
under one government. At a meeting of the Federation on Febru- ary 28, 1903, it was decided to support the first named bill. Senator Humphrey had opposed this action. He declared that 95 per cent of the people of Evanston, Oak Park and other thickly settled com- munities of the county bordering on Chicago opposed the Campbell bill. It was the ambition, he said, of a number of wealthy men in the out-towns to create new counties for their own advancement and glorification.
The Tribune of March 8, 1903, said, "The most exciting contest over a mayoralty nomination that Chicago has ever witnessed came to a close yesterday when the Republican city convention put Graeme Stewart instead of John M. Harlan at the head of the ticket." The contest in the convention was extremely sharp and determined. The final vote stood 602 for Mr. Stewart and 338 for Mr. Harlan. Mr. Stewart had already promised, if nominated, to give the people a strictly business and honest administration. Mr. Harlan had many friends and strong support, but his ambition, independence, egotism and unwillingness to fall in line with his party in the past had caused many Republicans to dislike him and accordingly, in this convention, they defeated him. The convention nominated Alderman Smulski for city attorney, Fred C. Bender for city clerk and Thomas Shaugh- nessy for city treasurer. The Republican convention nominated a full list of aldermen, among whom were several objectionable men. As a whole their ticket was unusually sound. The Republican plat- form asked for a specific waiver of rights under the ninety-nine- . year law as a condition of renewing franchises; the enactment of municipal ownership legislation ; no grant of franchises to be longer than twenty years ; the city to have power of control and supervision to insure good service; the compensation of the city to be based upon the gross receipts and to be either cash, lower fares or other forms satisfactory to the people. The platform pointedly demanded the immediate settlement of the traction question.
The Democratic city convention, held on March 16, renominated Mayor Harrison. There was no contest for the position. His sup- porters said his popularity and administration were satisfactory and that he should receive the support of all good citizens. The Demo- crats nominated Ernest Hummel for city treasurer, John E. Owens, city attorney, and John J. Boehm, city clerk. While the tickets of the two old parties were as a whole fair there were undoubtedly among the nominees men of questionable honesty and character. Immediately both parties began an active campaign. The admin- istrations of Mayor Harrison were subjected to an extremely caus- tic, rigid and critical investigation. The Juul law, which limited taxation to 5 per cent, and the question of consolidation were dis- cussed. Mr. Stewart had the support of Mr. Lorimer, who con- trolled the Republican machine. On this account a number of Re- publicans opposed the election of Mr. Stewart. It was thought by
662
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
many that the anti-Lorimer sentiment, espoused by Mr. Harlan and others, had reached the acute stage of a distinct mania. Right- , thinking Republicans and Democrats knew the worth of Mr. Lori- mer, appreciated his distinguished services and believed that no party could succeed unless it had just such a leader. If Mr. Lorimer should be dethroned another leader less able, less adroit and less successful might be called to lead the host of Republicanism. There was a decided sentiment expressed at this time in favor, at least of Mr. Lorimer if not of the machine.
Late in March, 1903, the Chicago charter amendment failed to pass the House of the State Legislature. This blasted the hopes of many. Both Mayor Harrison and Mr. Stewart continued pro- tracted and vigorous campaigns. An immense mass meeting of all parties on March 29 demanded the enactment of a decent state civil service law and denounced the alleged humbug measure that had just been passed by the House.
The result of the election of April 7, 1903, was the reelection of Mayor Harrison. This was his third reelection. The result, it was believed, was a majority of good men for the City Council. Many gray wolves were beaten. The non-partisan organization of the City Board was probably effected. This meant satisfactory action on the important question of street railway franchises. Previous to the election aldermanic candidates had been asked to sign an agreement to vote for a non-partisan organization of the new coun- cil. Carter H. Harrison received 146,323 votes, Graeme Stewart 138,485, Thomas Haines, Prohibitionist, 2,480; Charles L. Breckon, Socialist, 11,207; Daniel L. Cruice, Independent Labor, 9,989; Henry Sale, Socialist Labor, 1,062; total vote 309,546; Harrison's plurality 7,838. The Democrats elected the city treasurer and the Republicans, the city clerk and city attorney. The council was au- thorized by the election to issue $4,000,000 in bonds with which to refund the floating debt. The proposition carried by about 90,000 majority. Generally throughout the county towns the Republicans won. Here and there the Democrats crawled through. Again the Municipal Voters' League triumphed. Only four men condemned by the League were elected to the council.
The Tribune of October 23, 1901, said, "Chicagoans have no political questions to disturb them this fall. Thanks to thoughtful legislation they have no primaries, no conventions and no mass meet- ings to hinder their enjoyment of these pleasant October days. There are no election predictions and campaign exposures to occupy their minds. There are no candidates with records to be praised or censured."
Early in March, 1904, candidates for aldermanic nominations and their friends began action. The threadbare story that it was the duty of citizens to select honest candidates was enthusiastically pa- raded once more. In a large measure the Municipal Voters' League
663
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
had taken from the citizens their burdensome duty of looking into the character and qualifications of candidates. People relied upon the League to make this investigation. Often corrupt men obtained the party nominations and support, therefore it depended on non- partisan action to defeat such undesirables and elect suitable rep- resentatives. Early in March the Republican candidates for governor were Yates, Lowden, Sherman, Warner, Deneen and Hamlin. Al- ready they had begun work throughout the state. Contests for aldermanic nomination were early instituted in many of the Chicago wards. At this time the Citizens' Anti-Crime committee took up and considered many matters connected with the city admin- istration, particularly the charges against State's Attorney Deneen. The committee reported that in Mr. Deneen's case they found some things to criticize and many things to commend.
All party tickets contained objectionable men. Evidently both parties were under the dictation of factions, personal interests and bosses. In the conventions there was desperate fighting by factions to secure the nomination of their respective candidates. Some of these contests were violent, sensational and disgraceful. In more than one instance revenge, political conspiracy and financial consid- erations controlled the action of delegates. The midnight closing question was discussed during the campaign.
Investigation showed that the police force were in contact and collusion with vice throughout the city. The investigation startled Chicago. A movement to secure city cleanliness consisted of a central body and soon had twenty-five subordinate associations. It was called the "white wing movement." At this election, 1904, cit- izens of the county were asked to vote on the Mueller law which en- abled them to acquire, construct, own and operate street railroads.
During this campaign the question of segregating, abolishing or licensing vice was thoroughly discussed. Many women of the city joined in petitions protesting against any recognition of the social evil. During the campaign the Municipal Ownership Central com- mittee recommended a list of aldermen to be voted for at the coming election. In April, 1904, the voters of South Chicago, Hyde Park and Lake were required to vote on the questions of authorizing the park commissioners to permit the construction of the John Crerar library in Grant park and on an annual tax of one-half a mill to maintain the Field Columbian museum in that park.
On April 2, the Municipal Voters' League announced publicly the list which they recommended the citizens to vote in the alder- manic contest. The recommendations included twenty Republicans, thirteen Democrats, three Independents, three Prohibitionists and one Socialist. There were some objections even to this list, but it was the best the League could do, owing to the objectionable nature and character of the men nominated. The newspapers and the League published in detail brief records of every candidate.
664
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
As a whole the election of April, 1904, was satisfactory to good citizens. Eighteen Republicans, sixteen Democrats and one Inde- pendent were elected. Eighteen Republicans, thirteen Democrats, one Independent and one Socialist held over. The new council contained thirty-one Democratic aldermen, thirty-six Republicans, two independents and one Socialist. The Mueller law was indorsed by an immense majority, as was also immediate municipal ownership, election of the school board by direct vote, for the Field museum tax in the South wards, for the Crerar library site in the South wards and for the county license proposition. Out of a total regis- try of 359,993 there were cast 330,771 votes. The result of the al- dermanic contest was satisfactory to the Municipal Voters' league. It was another triumph for that organization. Of the hold-over aldermen indorsed by the league, twenty-seven out of twenty-nine were elected. Of the new aldermen indorsed by the league, five out of eight were elected. A notable circumstance connected with this election was the power and significance of the "little ballot."
The contest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in April and May, 1904, was one of the bitterest in the history of Illinois. The candidates did everything in their power to win success. The bitterest and falsest personalities were studiously uttered by almost every candidate. Here there was a pleasant fight between Deneen and Lowden. Early in October, 1904, immediate municipal ownership was rejected in the council by a vote of thirty-six to thirty-one. One of the interesting features of the fall campaign, 1904, was the stump made of the entire state by the candidates for the governorship. Par- ticularly was this campaign interesting to Chicago and Cook county, owing to the candidacy of Mr. Deneen. The first day's registration in October was spiritless, feeble, desgraceful and discouraging. It fell 30,000 behind the first day's registration in 1896. It was argued that while the important question in 1896 was honest money, just as important a question now was before the county-the new city char- ter. Newspapers, speakers, leagues and committees prepared to bring out on the second day's registration a satisfactory number of delin- quents. The Marquette club and the Hamilton club were particularly active during October. On October 13 Senator Fairbanks of Indiana spoke at the Marquette Club's "harvest home" in the First Regiment armory. Speaker Cannon was also present and addressed the audi- ence. On October 13 the Legislative Voters' League issued its pre- liminary recommendation for legislative candidates. It expressed the opinion that in a majority of cases nominations by Republicans and Democrats as such were not satisfactory. The League therefore rec- ommended independent action by the voters. There were fifty-seven legislative positions to be filled and the senatorial convention present- ed sixty candidates-thirty-three Republicans and twenty-seven Democrats. The League charged an inter-party conspiracy to foist upon the voters unworthy and unfit men. The county judicial ticket
665
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
at this time was an important one. There were twelve candidates for judges, six Republicans and six Democrats, and six only were to be elected. Many feared the proposed new charter would increase taxation, but the press presented facts to show otherwise. It was suggested, owing to the splendid work done by the Municipal Vot- ers' League, that it should institute the same reforms for the County Board and the Drainage Board as it had effected for the City Coun- cil. All were Legislative bodies having high power and all should be in the hands of the best men possible. As a new County Board was to be elected in November there was a general demand that the League should investigate the candidates the same as it had investi- gated those for the City Council during the last spring. Publicity was declared to be the power to purify the County Board as well as the City Board. The Bar association favored four Republicans out of the six judges to be elected. The winners were Chytraus, Free- man, Holdom, Chetlain, Stein and Rogers.
During October the newspapers particularly held up to public gaze the character and accomplishments of the three principal can- didates for the Presidency-Roosevelt, Parker and Watson. The total registry at the close of the second day reached 403,811 as against 380,245 in 1896 and 405,077 in 1900. In addition, 412 women registered. It was the heaviest second day's registration ever shown in Chicago. The Republican organization was given credit for this large registration. The Citizens' association was doing important work.
The people were called upon to vote on the following "little bal- lot": An amendment to the Constitution providing that the Legis- lature could grant Chicago a new scheme of self-government; an . extension of the Torrens land title system; the adoption of the vot- ing machine; to issue $500,000 Cook county refunding bonds; to amend the primary election law so that a voter could vote directly for his candidate instead of having a delegate to vote for him at a convention ; to enable voters to veto undesirable action of their law- making bodies; to enable voters to adopt such system of assessing and levying taxes as they might desire. There was demanded dur- ing this campaign that members of the Chicago Board of Education now being appointed by the mayor should be elected by popular vote. This matter was discussed during the campaign. The newspapers demanded that voters should scrutinize the financial and moral standing of all candidates, whether for city, county, state or nation- al tickets. Three trustees of the State University and several state officers were to be chosen ; a large number of senators and represen- tatives; fifteen new county commissioners, ten within the city and five within the county outside of the city ; state's attorney, coroner, assessor, recorder, members of the Board of Review, clerks of the Circuit and Superior courts, surveyor, six judges and the national ticket.
666
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
On November 1, the Legislative Voters' League indorsed fifty- two candidates for the State Legislature and condemned twenty. Several others were found doubtful. The League urged voters to depose bosses who were in the habit of disfranchising voters. At this time there were nineteen legislative districts in Cook county. The League recommended to the consideration of voters the Inde- pendent and Prohibition candidates whom it favored. The action of the League was a blow at machine politics. By voting for Pro- hibitionists and Independents voters, it was urged, could rebuke and break up the vicious combination of party bosses which had main- tained a political monopoly in Cook county for a generation. Eight Chicago candidates of the League on other tickets than the regular Prohibition were indorsed by the Anti-Saloon League, owing to the position they had taken on the local option bill.
The campaign ended with a whirlwind finish. All speakers and candidates were in the field actively at work until the night before the election. This was a trying campaign for voters, owing to the great variety of tickets, numerous candidates and conflicting prin- ciples involved. It was impossible for any voter to know from his own experience the qualifications and character of candidates. He therefore followed the advice of the Munipical or the Legislative Voters' League. It was admitted that the Republican county con- vention in the fall of 1904 was dominated by the new Deneen-Busse- Reddick combination which had checkmated Mr. Lorimer and that the Democratic county convention was ruled by Mayor Harrison, now a candidate for Congress. It thus was a question to voters whether they should vote their party tickets under these bosses or act independently.
At the November election, 1904, the Republicans swept Chicago and Cook county. The largest plurality in the history of Chicago was given to Roosevelt and Deneen. The majority in favor of the charter was over 81,000. People were surprised to learn that Cook county polled more than 46,000 votes for Mr. Debs, the Socialistic candidate for governor. Ten Republican congressmen were elected in Cook county. The Cook county district sent to the Legislature thirty-four Republican representatives and twenty-three Demo- cratic representatives. Again as in other recent elections the Muni- cipal Voters' League and the Legislative Voters' League candi- dates were mainly successful. The total vote in Cook county at the November election, 1904, was 400,923. Four years before the total vote in the county was 392,326. Cook county gave Roosevelt 229,848; Parker, 103,762; Swallow (Prohibitionist), 5,290; Debs (Socialist), 47,743; Corregan (Socialistic Labor), 2,660; Watson (People's), 3,323; Holcomb (Continental), 319. Roosevelt's plurality was 126,086, Deneen's plurality over Stringer was 130,488. The total vote in Chicago was 371,513. The Tor- rens extension system, the voting-machine proposition, the bond
667
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
issue, the primary law, the veto law, and the charter amendment were carried by large majorities. It was admitted that Roose- velt's popularity in all probability added immensely to the over- whelming Republican majorities.
The tenth annual report of the Municipal Voters' league, made the last of March, 1905, recommended thirty-one aldermanic can- didates for the City Council. Ten candidates were declared to be unworthy of support under any circumstances. In four wards no recommendations were made. Of those who were recommended twenty were Republicans, six Democrats, four Independents and one Prohibitionist. Of those denounced three were Republicans and seven Democrats. The ones denounced as "altogether unfit" be- longed to the old wolf gang of the Council.
The mayoralty campaign closed practically on April 1, 1905. On that date in the evening at the Auditorium the Republicans held an immense meeting to which John M. Harlan addressed his closing remarks. On the platform sat the "New Chicago Committee" con- sisting of 200 representative Republican citizens. The Republican organization was represented by James Reddick and Fred A. Busse. Frank O. Lowden and Congressman Boutell were present and ad- dressed the audience. Mr. Lowden declared that for eight years the city had made not the slightest progress toward municipal gov- ernment. It was stated at this meeting that the citizens of the city recently to the number of nearly 120,000 had voted in favor of mu- nicipal ownership. As the entire electorate of the city was only about 420,000 a large portion therefore had demanded municipal ownership. Both parties at this time sounded the slogan of "munic- ipal ownership." During the campaign partisans disputed as to which party first sounded that battle cry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.