Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1904 — Harrison Hit Hard. [ARTICLE]

Harrison Hit Hard.

1 The Coroner’s Jury which for I weeks’ past hrs been investigating • the Iroquois theater fire, and the 1 responsibility therefor, has at lust made its report. Eight men were j held mainly responsible. The first of these is Will J. Davis, manager of the theater. The second is Carter H. Harrison, the wide-open, free and easy, political power and popularity hunting mayor of Chicago. The paragraph in the jury’s report which concerns the mayor, . is a stinger, but not more cutting than just. It is as follows: “We hold Carter H. Harrison, as Mayor of the City of Chicago, responsible, as he has shown a lamentable lack of force, by bis efforts to sbiik responsibility, evidenced by testimony of Building Commissioner George Williams and Fire Marshal William H. Vtusham Heads of department! under the said Carter H. Harrison, following this weak course, have given Chicago inefficient service, which makes such calamities as 'he Iroquois Theater horror a menace until the public service is purged et incompetents; and we, ♦he jury, recommend that the said Carter H. Harrison be held to the grand jury until discharged by due course of Jaw.” A warrant of arrest was served on Harrison, Tuesday, and he gave bail for $5 000. He and the other accused are held to the grand jury. It is doubtful however if any indictment is found against them, or that they could be convicted if tried. In Harrison’s case this is specially true, for though morally responsible, the same.as he is for the carnival of crime which his wide-open policy baa produced in Chicago, it will be a difficult matter to fasten the legal responsibility upon him clearly enough to secure a conviction. But in any case the finding of the coroner’s jury is rebuke to him of almost crushing force.