Cities: Clouter with Conscience

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Marshmallow & Mother. Defying Arvey, Daley jumped into a Democratic primary fight against Kennelley and beat him. Then, in the general election campaign, he turned on Republican Candidate Robert Merriam. Merriam charged scandal and corruption in Chicago's Democratic government. Daley, realizing that beneath the brazen Chicagoan exterior beats a heart of marshmallow, watered the citizens' eyes with sentimentality.

"I would not unleash the forces of evil," he cried. "It's a lie. I will follow the training my good Irish mother gave me—and Dad. If I am elected, I will embrace mercy, love, charity, and walk humbly with my God." Not even Daley's best friends really believed him. And on the night of his victory, the freewheeling old politicians fairly danced in the streets. Across Chicagoland flew the jubilant cry of a colorful saloonkeeper and alderman named Paddy Bauler. "Chicago," he roared, "ain't ready for reform!"

Perhaps not. But Daley has certainly not been the sort of mayor that Bauler, or anyone else, expected. Says Jake Arvey today: "I've served under five mayors, and I think I know my men. When Daley first became county chairman and then mayor. I did not think it would work out. I felt his work as mayor would be colored by his political obligations, and on that ground I opposed him. I think now I was wrong." The Republican Chicago Tribune (which has backed Democrats on infrequent occasions) agrees. When Daley was running for his second term, the Trib editorialized: "He is just about the most effective leader of a political party that this city has seen in living memory."

Cementing an Alliance. Hardly had he taken office than Daley showed just how much a real politician could accomplish. For years, the Democratic city of Chicago and the generally Republican state of Illinois had been at a financial impasse: each needed more sales-tax revenue, but neither could get it without mutual support in the state legislature. Daley paid a call on Republican Governor William Stratton and came to an agreement—a half-cent for the state, a half-cent for Chicago. In one hour's work in Stratton's office, Daley picked up additional revenue for Chicago that now runs about $24 million a year. Stratton also agreed to help push through long-needed legislation to give Chicago home rule. With this power in his pocket, Daley could extract from the ward dukes of his city council a large measure of subservience; he had control over contracts, budgets and jobs. After a series of battles in the council, Daley succeeded in transforming the aldermen into a civic chowder-and-marching society.