Saturday, April 13, 2024. Good morning, and a very happy birthday to my dear friend Fawn!
When I worked on political campaigns, one way we all got through the long days and nights was knowing that there was a hard-and-fast deadline. Once you hit Election Day, your work was done. It was a sprint, not a marathon. You ran through that tape and collapsed on the other side.
Imagine, then, that you reach the day of election only for a candidate to challenge the results. Erm, that’s not been so hard for us to imagine for the last three and a half years, which is maybe another reason why we all are so exhausted. One of the only ways I’ve gotten through the political part is by looking to the past. There's nothing like reading 19th-century news to make you somewhat grateful for what you have left.
I promise that this particular election will be resolved by the end of Monday, November 6. How many installments it takes to get there is still undetermined.
Anyway. The Chicago aldermen found themselves in this quandary on the evening of November 4, 1893. The results for the election for mayor pro tem had been 34 Swift, 33 McGillen, and one blank ballot. While Swift had more votes than McGillen, he did not have a majority of the total number of aldermen. It depended on your politics - and, to some extent, the law - which side you thought had won. Lawyers were called in, and it was decided that a decision would be delayed till Monday. Well, it was decided by the Democrats. While they were consulting with attorneys, Republicans were swearing Swift into office in another room.
But first, for those who have not been reading weekly:
Where were we?
Here is a link to the home page to read past issues.
• Saturday night, October 28: Mayor of Chicago Carter Harrison is assassinated. A process to succeed the mayor does not exist.
• October 29: Newspapers start promoting mayoral candidates.
• Monday, October 30: The World’s Fair closes. The City Council meets to prepare for the mayor’s funeral.
• Tuesday, October 31: Newspapers and politicians plan for a fight over the mayor’s seat. Attorneys continue to look for a succession plan.
• Wednesday, November 1: Harrison’s funeral. A succession plan is announced: Aldermen will elect a temporary mayor to serve until a special election in December.
• Thursday, November 2: Republican aldermen nominate George B. Swift over Martin Madden. Epstean casts a blank ballot. Republicans call for a special meeting on Saturday morning to vote for mayor pro tem.
• Friday, November 3. The Democrats nominate Alderman John McGillen, Chair of the Democratic Campaign Committee. Democrat Johnny Powers plans to pay five Republica aldermen to vote for McGillen.
• Saturday, November 4: The City Council meeting. McGillen “becomes” Chair of the meeting and thus ensures the voting will be secret. A blank ballot leaves Swift without a majority of total votes. The Republicans claim Swift won, and the Democrats say he lost. They adjourn until Monday.
Sunday, November 5
Sunday was not a day of rest for Chicago’s lawyers and lawmakers (some of whom were also lawbreakers). To ensure that Monday’s meeting went their way, the Democrats needed a new vote on the agenda and get what they paid for from the Republicans they’d bribed. The Republicans needed to either find a law that proved that Swift had won or find out the bribed Republicans and compel them to vote for Swift. Both parties had to contend with whoever cast that pesky blank ballot, which could keep any future vote at a stalemate if no one else changed their vote.
The newspapers, as usual, made the case for each side. The Republican newspapers, jumping the gun a bit, blared that Swift had been elected.
The Democrats Caucus and Squabble
The Democrats had planned to caucus at 2 p.m. Sunday but moved it up to 11 a.m. to avoid reporters and locked the doors. Reporters got wind of the switch, but many made it into the room anyway.
Ominously, four aldermen were missing from the meeting. They were known to have been unhappy with the tactics used by McGillen and company.
Corporation Counsel Adolf Kraus then asked to speak to the group. What he had to say would shock the room. Remember that Kraus was the BFF of Carter Harrison, who consulted with Swift the night of the former’s murder.
Kraus stated emphatically that, in his opinion, Swift had been legally elected acting Mayor. The Trib gave a dramatic account of the reaction.
Ald. McGillen and his friends were dazed. This was an unexpected blow. But worse was to come. Ald. Tripp also declared that there was no doubt that Ald. Swift had been properly elected. Ald. Ellert, who followed, also concurred in the opinion. So did Ald. Sexton, who has acted with great deliberation and good sense since the trouble began.
Johnny Powers, the purchaser of the Republicans, delivered another setback. He said that with their scheme exposed, they might as well accept Swift’s election.
McGillen wasn’t having any of it. He appointed a group of lawyers and judges to comb the law books for cases proving another vote was required. He ordered the caucus to meet in the City Clerk’s office Monday morning to prepare for the adjourned special meeting at 11 am. If the right laws could be found, that meeting would include another round of voting for mayor pro tem.
The Tribune explained why the Democrats were so intent on holding onto the mayoralty:
The purpose in retaining control is well known. The lodging-houses will be voted Tuesday to their fullest capacity. The Poles and Italians of the ward gangs will also be utilized. The idea is to get a big majority for the Democratic ticket, so as to give encouragement to the party workers in the Mayoralty election. Every effort therefore will be used to keep Ald. Swift out of the Mayor’s office till after the elections are over.
The Republicans Meet. Harmoniously.
Unlike the Democrats, Republicans didn’t have a formal meeting. Also unlike the Democrats, Republicans seemed to have regained their cohesion, if not their senses.
George B. Swift spent most of the afternoon consulting with lawyers, including ex-Corporation Counsel John Miller. Swift claimed he had “accidentally” run into current Corporation Counsel Adolf Kraus and was, of course, pleased to learn that Kraus believed Swift had been duly elected. The Tribune caught up with Kraus and reported the following:
“I have not the slightest doubt about it,” said Mr. Kraus. “I shall so state if called upon to do so at the proper time. You must excuse me if I do not wish to express myself further on the subject at this time.”
Mr. Swift did not press Mr. Krauss, of course. But he was much pleased at the candor of the Corporation Counsel. When he told what occurred to Mr. Miller the latter said: “I felt certain that Mr. Kraus would have the manliness to acknowledge the correctness of our position. He is a sound lawyer and a gentleman. He could not do anything else than what he has done.”
As to those Republicans who had been paid by Johnny Powers to vote against Swift, the Trib further opined, somewhat ominously:
Life in Chicago would not be worth living to any Republican Alderman who would give aid and comfort to the Democrats today.
The Plan for Monday.
The City Council had voted for the adjourned meeting to resume on Monday at 11 am. They would hold their regular City Council meeting that night at 7:30.
However, Attorney Miller had urged Swift and the Republicans not to attend the adjourned meeting on Monday morning. They had no reason to risk another vote if they believed Swift had been legally elected.
When Swift was reached by a Times reporter Sunday night, he said:
“We have taken the best legal advice and the opinion is that I was elected. Corporation Counsel Kraus told me today that he had no doubt that I was legally elected. That being the case, the republican aldermen will consent to no more ballots. We will not attend the adjourned council meeting tomorrow morning. We will attend the regular meeting tomorrow night and the republicans being in a majority my bond will be approved.”
Of course, there was another reason the Republicans did not want to allow another vote. Although Swift had insisted on and received a signed pledge by all 38 Republicans that they supported him, those pledges were worth the paper they were printed on. In other words, less than the paper that money was printed on.
And who on earth had cast that blank ballot? It’s surprising to me that none of the papers cast suspicion on Lou Epstean since he had cast the blank ballot during the Republican caucus.
John McGillen used the mystery to shore up support for himself. The Herald reported the following statement from McGillen:
“It is possible… that Mr. Blank’s objection may be to me,” referring to the alderman who cast the blank ballot, “and Mr. Blank may be willing to vote for some other democrat. In view of this, I am ready to step down and support any other Democrat.”
This, of course, was met with protest and a noisy show of support for McGillen.
With the mystery unsolved, each party would be going into Monday’s meetings with great uncertainty. Each party planned to meet before the meeting to strategize. If the Inter Ocean’s reporting was accurate, neither side would be getting much sleep the night before.
From early morning until late at night the Democratic aldermen, bosses, heelers, “touchers,” plug-uglies, and hangers-on held innumerable councils, caucuses, and conclaves in the hopes of devising some means by which Alderman Swift could be kept out of the mayor’s chair.
The upshot of it all was that the schemers found themselves exactly where they started. They are facing a Republican majority which, now that the blood of each member is aroused at the high-handed action of Alderman John McGillen and his following, is determined to insist that Saturday's election was legal, and to seat Alderman Swift accordingly.
(I just wanted an excuse to use a quote including the term “plug-uglies.”)
NATIONAL OUTRAGE
It’s important to note that this was not just a local story. People across the country were shocked at what was happening in Chicago. Here are a few of the headlines:
DAILY PLAINSMAN (SOUTH DAKOTA)
NEW LONDON DAY (CONNECTICUT)
DELAWARE MORNING NEWS
There was doubt in the minds of all, locally and nationally, that this contest would be resolved peacefully and with a clean vote.
We will begin with the events of Monday morning, November 6, next week.
Thanks for reading!
Jen