A New Phase of the Altgeld-Harrison Dissension.
Abendpost, February 1st, 1899
As shown elsewhere in today's Abendpost edition, in the telegraphic news-section, we published a brief report to the effect that Mc Goorty, Democrat, in the lower house of the State legislature, presented his municipal ownership bill, which confers the right upon all cities, towns and villages in Illinois, to acquire all public transportation systems, including telegraph and telephone service. The author of the bill explains, his proposed law will be of primary benefit to Chicago, as it will enable this commonwealth to convert the street car company into a municipally owner corporation. He, Mc Goorty, fully shares the opinions of Mayor Harrison, since the latter is a convinced adherent and ardent defender of the municipal ownership idea. This last remark is surely made with prudence, and it requires no exceptional political perspicacity, to recognize its purpose. As is generally known, Ex Governor Altgeld proclaims himself to be the original advocater of the municipal ownership plan. But now, there suddenly appears the Harrisonite Mc Goorty and presents his bill at the State legislature, which virtually takes the wind from the Ex Governor's sails! Even in the life of party-politics a great deal depends on the "fix it" ability, with which the "correctness" is then practically utilized.
