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16Wilmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947September 18, 1947Hotlow the required quorum andhis own ticket and the conventionseffectually tie up any public busi-ticket was defeated. Fights Once Markedness.There was no contest in 1934 butWilmette* * *the following year, because of aAttemptchange in the election laws, all sixs to correct this source of Political Lifebadtrustees had to be elected. Harmony feeling had been made over theyearsput up one ticket and an opposition, but it was not until 1932 thatHarmongroup selected another. Harmonyy Convention Has a permanent and effective organiza-won. In 1937 there was no contestDontion was established.e Away With Many Ob- the standard tradition, promise ev-and in 1939 a battle was averteding* *.when the convention agreed to com-jectionable Featureery thsCalling itself the Harmony con-promise with an insurgent group. Invention, it strove to eradicate theWithiAlmost always the various1941 there was a fight over then the memory of many Wil-candidates were men of exem-evils of the old system. It drewpresidency and the Harmony can-mette citizens are the hot politicalplary character. They had to be.Wlaringneleytk aon the experience indidate, Henry J. Brandt, was de-campaigns which were wont to dis-The ticket wouldnt have stood a, where a public cau-feated by Harry C. Kinne, seekingrupt the community almost everychance otherwise.cus had for years precededre-election.spring.* *every spring election: village,The Harmony tickets were unop-Aboupark district, and school.t as often as not, two orWorst of all, with no real differ-posed in 1943, 1945, and 1947.* * *three complete slates of candidatesences in platform (however the con-would be entered for local offices.tending parties might try to makeWhil* * *e the rules of the HarmonyWhilChairmen of the Harmony con-econvention have been changed from the practice undoubtedlythem appear), it was inevitable thatvention have been: Frederick O.addedtime to time, its main outlines are considerable zest to villagethe campaign should be waged onEbeling (1933), Paul C. Langthese:life, critics of the arrangement overpersonalities.(1934,), Clarence Drayer (1935),the years point out several objec-Cries of "bossism" and misfeas-The Harmony convention getsStaver Moulding (1937), Georgetionable features.ance were common. So were chargesaway from the old closed-caucusR. Harbaugh (1939), Joseph H. that the opposition was selling out totype of nomination, for its membersHinshaw (1941 and 1943), Rich-Foare drawn equally from every votingard G. Finn Jr. (1945), and Har-rthe utility companies, the railroads, the most part the variouspartiethe highway contractors, or theprecinct in the village, and its workry I. Parsons (1947).s were not truly repre-apartment building speculators.is done in public. There are no pri-sentative* * * of the people as awhole* * *vate nominations by the convention.The convention has from the be-. Ordinarily, small groupsof local politicos would gather inOf course, in a small village,It cant perpetuate itself. No oneginning nominated candidates for thffsomeones home or office andpeoples feelings got hurt in suchcan serve on more than two conse-village offices. Beginning in 1949,draw up a hand-picked slate.campaigns, and the wounds tookcutive conventions. Before each con-according to the present plan, it willa long time to heal.vention, the previous chairman in-nominate also for the park district* *vites certain recognized civic or-commissioners. School board mem-The people had no voice in theOftenganizations to send delegates to abers are nominated by a separate a victorious party spentnominations. All they could do onmore"creative committee." These dele-caucus. time defending its actions thanelection day was to vote for which-gates fill the roll of the conventionAs pointed out above, the Harmonyin tending to village problems.ever group seemed least objection-Anbut cant be members themselves.convention does not elect any village off-year election more thanable.once* * *official. It simply acts as a village- went against the party to whichOutside of conflicting personal am-the village president belonged, andThwide, open caucus.e late Albert A. McKeighanbitions, there were seldom any realthe board of trustees would be di-was one of the tireless workersissues before the people. Wilmettevided three-and-three, with the vil-for the Harmony conventionTAILORING FIRMresidents have in the main wantedlage president casting the decidingideal.Henry Schultz, with his partnera community of homes, the lowestvote.* * A. E. (Jack) Nord founded andpossible taxes consistent with the* * *The Harmony idea has had itsoperated the Schultz and Nordbest possible municipal services andSometimes the three opposi-struggles for acceptance. The troublecleaning and tailoring establishmentall the improvements which couldtion trustees would absent them-began in the very next campaignfor many years. Members of thepossibly be financed.selves from the meetings. Thatafter its organization. The then vil-family are no longer connectedAll parties would invariably, inwould reduce the attendance be-lage president, C. P. Dubbs, pickedwith the establishment of that name.SKOKIE VALLEYCOAL & MATERIAL CO.is proudof the part they have had in thebuilding of Wilmette to the Villageit is today; a place of beauty,history, success and happiness forits many residents and businessmen.