* Wow…
* Responses…
* But…
More about Harding here and here…
Harding followed his father in becoming an important Chicago businessman. From 1905 onward, he served as president of the Chicago Real Estate Loan and Trust Company, and, at the time of his death, was one of the largest landowners in the city and chairman of the board of the Consumers Company. In politics, too, Harding was a figure to be reckoned with. He became a major power broker as alderman of the Second Ward (1903–13), state senator for the First District (1912), city controller (1919–23), and Cook County treasurer (1926–30). His political importance even extended to the national level; he was named Illinois’ representative to the Republican National Committee in 1936.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:03 pm:
Was there also a “Pat Quinn for ____” poster from the 1920’s?
- G'Kar - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:05 pm:
Was Madigan’s mug on the poster?
- JoanP - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:10 pm:
That’s very cool! I hope someone figures out a way to safely remove it and get it to the Chicago History Museum.
- Responsa - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:14 pm:
Thanks for posting the photo and background. I love this stuff. Shows that politics was politics –and about good use of taxpayer money–almost 100 years ago just as it is today.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:15 pm:
And somewhere in Illinois, Dan Proft is collecting checks for an anti-Harding PAC…
– MrJM
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:19 pm:
There were giant “Tully for Assesor” and “Elrod for Sheriff” painted signs on a building on North State Street for many decades after their shelf life.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:28 pm:
1926? Wasn’t that the year that Jesse White started working for George Dunne?
- Chris P. Bacon - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:34 pm:
Harding’s just another Madigan puppet.
- Tom - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:36 pm:
Very cool. Thank you for posting.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:41 pm:
–1926? Wasn’t that the year that Jesse White started working for George Dunne?–
I believe it was the year manager Joe McCarthy tried to get Hack Wilson to quit carousing the speakeasies at night.
Legend is that McCarthy poured a glass of water and a glass of whiskey and dropped a live worm in each.
The worm in the water glass flopped around happily, the worm in the whiskey glass died almost immediately.
“Hack, what does that tell you?” McCarthy asked the hungover Wilson one day before a game.
“Drink whiskey and you won’t get worms,” Wilson replied.
Wilson hit .321 with 21 taters and 109 RBI that year.
- Lynn S. - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:11 pm:
Lol, wordslinger!
- Chicago Guy - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:26 pm:
Harding is a very interesting guy and I would like to see a more detailed story about him.
He was a childhood friend and one of Mayor Big Bill Thompson’s closest associates. Thompson was last Republican mayor of Chicago. His poor leadership, corruption, and general buffoonery led to Cermak and the establishment of the Democratic machine.
- Langhorne - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
i wonder what “save a million” meant.
In the 60s, Peoria had anti-Russian-Sputnik prop tax referendum w the slogan “vote a nickel, beat the sickle.”
Wish I had one of those posters w a sickle on it
- Roman - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:33 pm:
== There were giant “Tully for Assesor” and “Elrod for Sheriff” painted signs on a building on North State Street for many decades after their shelf life. ==
And nearby on Dearborn Street there is a “Boston Store” sign that is still visible. It dates back more than 100 years. Check out the below video at the 2:45 mark. It’s footage taken from a blimp above Chicago in 1914 that was recently rediscovered.
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/10/30/chicago-tribune-unearths-forgotten-aerial-footage-chicago-1914
- ughh.. - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:00 pm:
“Save a Million” what? Dollars? People?
- W Flag - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:02 pm:
George Harding was elected Cook County Treasurer in 1926 by a narrow margin. He previously served as a Chicago alderman and as a state senator. He was an ally of Mayor Thompson and an arts collector who had an extensive collection of suits of armor and swords. The collection was later sent to the Art Institute after Harding’s private museum closed its doors.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:04 pm:
There used to a faded painted sign for a business West of Wells Street (visible from the elevated platform) that bought and sold pelts and tallow. I think it was near an alley off of Washington Street.
- Pieroge tirebiter - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
I have a mint condition reelect Paul Powell poster from his last election. It’s coveted by many of my political friends
- JoanP - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 3:13 pm:
@Pieroge tirebiter -
Do you keep it in a shoe box?
- Pieroge tirebiter - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 3:44 pm:
JoanP-
Yes; in my hotel room closet.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 6:51 pm:
–Pieroge tirebiter–
That’s an original handle beyond my decipher.
- Anonymous - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 7:52 pm:
Harding’s 1926 election as Treasurer was hotly contested and he had to endure a lengthy recount to seal the deal. His margin of victory was about 3,000 votes in a countywide contest. Back in the day, both the Treasurer and Sheriff were not permitted to run for reelection to consecutive terms. This was considered to be a reform measure to prevent corrupt acts in offices that offered too many opportunities for boodling.
- wordslinger - Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 7:57 pm:
–This was considered to be a reform measure to prevent corrupt acts in offices that offered too many opportunities for boodling.–
LOL, from Maine to Malibu, from the top to the bottom, 1926 might have been the most corrupt year in American history.
- Rabid - Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:41 am:
when jazz cigarettes were legal, bootleggers prospered from prohibition
- Lynn S. - Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:54 am:
G’Kar– back in 1926, Michael Madigan was wearing short pants.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 8:39 am:
@wordslinger:
Dick Elrod and Ed Rosewell were the first two candidates permitted to serve successive terms as Sheriff and Treasurer. That happened when the 1970 constitution was passed. Some commentators said
that Richard J. Daley was fortunate when he lost
the Sheriff’s race to Republican Elmer Walsh in 1946 as the office was seen as a political dead end and he may not have been elected mayor if he had been sheriff.