John Coughlin (alderman): Difference between revisions

 

==Political career==

Coughlin's tenure was marked by a large amount of corruption, in which he, Kenna, and 19th ward alderman [[John Powers (alderman)|Johnny Powers]] led the [[Gray Wolves (Chicago)|Gray Wolves]], a group of notorious aldermen. In the late 19th century Chicago would award franchises to private companies for construction of such utilities as gas and public transit, the latter of which [[Chicago Traction Wars|would prove contentious]] in Chicago. Businesses seeking such lucrative contracts would bribe and otherwise work with the aldermen in a practice known as "boodling". Such antics ultimately led to the creation of the reform organization Municipal Voters' League to run and endorse candidates in opposition to the Gray Wolves.<ref name="E of C">{{cite web |url= http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/540.html|title=Gray Wolves |accessdate=2008-03-22 |author=Maureen A. Flanagan |work=Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago |publisher=Chicago Historical Society }}</ref> Despite being almost invariably excoriated by the Municipal Voters' League Coughlin himself was re-elected 19 times and never defeated,<ref>{{cite news |title=The Story of Bathhouse John: Chicago's Fabulous First Ward Alderman Coughlin |last=Doherty |first=James |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 24, 1953}}</ref> running unopposed in his last four elections. Indifferent if not enthused about his reputation for corruption, upon being accused of [[political corruption|corruption]] he demanded a retraction not for the charge of graft but for the claim he was born in [[Waukegan, Illinois|Waukegan]].<ref name = "rites" />