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* Wow…
Lakeview campaign sign just exposed after demo of building next door. Anyone remember when Harding last ran? pic.twitter.com/wT7n7eHZZ4
— Chicago Bars (@chicagobars) December 11, 2017
* Responses…
Holy cow, that's old. 1926. George F. Harding. Alderman, treasurer, friend of Big Bill Thompson, founder of Harding Museum in Hyde Park (his armor collection now at AIC)
— McKie's DJ Lounge (@mckiesdjlounge) December 11, 2017
Harmon made so much bread running his ballrooms and other events that he founded Chicago Stadium & was able to finance ~30% of its construction on his own.
— McKie's DJ Lounge (@mckiesdjlounge) December 11, 2017
* But…
County Treaurer "Vote for Harding" campaign poster I saw earlier today is coming apart pretty fast. Get 2 1216 W Belmont preservationists
— Chicago Bars (@chicagobars) December 11, 2017
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.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:00 pm
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Was there also a “Pat Quinn for ____” poster from the 1920’s?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:03 pm
Was Madigan’s mug on the poster?
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:05 pm
That’s very cool! I hope someone figures out a way to safely remove it and get it to the Chicago History Museum.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:10 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.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:14 pm
And somewhere in Illinois, Dan Proft is collecting checks for an anti-Harding PAC…
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:15 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.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:19 pm
1926? Wasn’t that the year that Jesse White started working for George Dunne?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:28 pm
Harding’s just another Madigan puppet.
Comment by Chris P. Bacon Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:34 pm
Very cool. Thank you for posting.
Comment by Tom Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:36 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.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 12:41 pm
Lol, wordslinger!
Comment by Lynn S. Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:11 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.
Comment by Chicago Guy Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:26 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
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:31 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
Comment by Roman Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 1:33 pm
“Save a Million” what? Dollars? People?
Comment by ughh.. Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:00 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.
Comment by W Flag Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:02 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.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:04 pm
I have a mint condition reelect Paul Powell poster from his last election. It’s coveted by many of my political friends
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 2:24 pm
@Pieroge tirebiter -
Do you keep it in a shoe box?
Comment by JoanP Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 3:13 pm
JoanP-
Yes; in my hotel room closet.
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 3:44 pm
–Pieroge tirebiter–
That’s an original handle beyond my decipher.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 6:51 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.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 7:52 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.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Dec 11, 17 @ 7:57 pm
when jazz cigarettes were legal, bootleggers prospered from prohibition
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:41 am
G’Kar– back in 1926, Michael Madigan was wearing short pants.
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:54 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.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 8:39 am