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Paddy Bauler

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Mathias 'Paddy' Bauler (January 27, 1890 – August 22, 1977)[1] was an American saloonkeeper and alderman of the 43rd ward of Chicago[2][3] from 1933 to 1943 and again from 1947 to 1967. He was known as a corrupt, controversial and charismatic Chicago political boss and is famous for the quote, "Chicago ain't ready for reform yet",[4] or "Chicago ain't ready for a reform mayor"[5] which he exclaimed many times over while dancing a jig[6] in his saloon upon the news of Richard J. Daley's first election as mayor of Chicago in 1955.[7] Mayor Daley banned Bauler from attending public functions for a time shortly after the quote was published.[8] He was the brother of Herman and John Bauler, who had respectively been aldermen from 1909 to 1911 and 1912 to 1920 when the area was part of the 22nd ward.[9][10]

Paddy Bauler
Bauler circa 1926
Alderman of the Chicago City Council
In office
1947–1967
Preceded byJames B. Waller
Succeeded byGeorge McCutcheon
Constituency43rd ward
In office
1933–1943
Preceded byJames B. Waller
Succeeded byJames B. Waller
Personal details
Born
Mathias Bauler

January 27, 1890
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedAugust 22, 1977 (age 87)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityGerman American
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsJohn Bauler (brother)
ChildrenHarry Bauler (son)

Early life

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Mathias Bauler's father was born in Germany and his mother was born in Illinois of German descent.[11] He weighed between 225[12] and 275 lbs.[13] and claimed that he did not know that his real name was not 'Paddy' until he was six years old.[12]

Bauler had an early career in boxing, and contrary to the claim made above it has been argued that he first acquired the nickname "Paddy" while in the ring as no one without an Irish name would be taken seriously. (Bauler would continue to pretend to be Irish well into his political career.)[14]

His brother Herman was the first member of the family to get into local Democratic politics, moving out of the old family saloon and opening one of his own at the intersection of Clybourn Avenue and Blackhawk Street known as "Camp Kiowa." Herman was elected alderman of what was then the 22nd ward in 1909. Under Herman's aegis Paddy was first given a city job, which he would continue to receive throughout his career as late as 1957, and which continued under other brother John's aldermanic tenure from 1912 to 1920. Eventually the city jobs were lucrative enough to let Paddy quit his boxing career. Both of the elder Baulers were accused by police of allowing gambling in their establishments and would fight them on the matter.[14]

Paddy first ran for 43rd ward alderman in 1925, at which time he was a timekeeper at the County Treasurer's Office, although he was defeated by Republican incumbent Arthur F. Albert, 6,936 votes to 4,193.[15] Albert claimed that Bauler was given much money for his campaign by corrupt mob-linked Republican and erstwhile mayor "Big Bill" Thompson, while Bauler's supporters claimed that Albert was a supporter of Prohibition and a Klansman.[16] At the time Bauler was better known for the entertainment he provided at what would later become the De Luxe Gardens.[14]

He was a candidate for 43rd Ward Democratic Committeeman in 1928, along with Rudolph L. Schapp and James J. O'Toole.[17] By 1932 he was a district leader for the 43rd ward.[18]

Saloonkeeping and politics

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Bauler operated a speakeasy at Willow and Howe streets during prohibition and once prohibition was repealed became the first person to obtain a liquor license in Chicago[19] His two-story political office on North Ave. and Sedgwick avenues was also a saloon called De Luxe Gardens.[20][21][22][23][24]

Bauler was known as a corrupt politician and against reform. In addition to his infamous assertion of Chicago's unpreparedness for reform, has been quoted as saying that one reformer was "[...] so dumb he probably thinks the forest preserve is some kind of jelly."[7] He had been accused of being a "political power that protects graft, gambling, vice and other lawlessness."[25] In 1933 he shot two Chicago police officers[26] (non-lethally) because, in his words "...they swore at me and called me a fat Dutch pig".[27] Bauler was cleared from any wrongdoing. Mayor Kelly was quoted as saying that Bauler "Was a real straight-shooter".[22] From an early age he was also friends with Charlie Weber, who played a prominent role in the politics of the area and would eventually serve as alderman for the nearby 45th ward from 1955 to his death in 1960.[12][9]

 
The former two story office and saloon on Sedgwick and North Avenues as photographed circa 1966 after a fire. A painted advertisement for Bauler can be seen in this photo on the wall above the building.

He was also known for his charisma. Despite being himself of German extraction, he would often play the role of a "Jolly Irishman" to further his political ambitions.[28] On his retirement as an Alderman in 1966, he was asked how he stayed in office so long and replied "There ain't a thing they ask me that I don't try to do."[29]

Family

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His son was Harry Bauler (1910–1962) who was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives; Harry Bauler died before he was able to take the oath of office.[30]

Legacy

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Bauler Park, Chicago

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "St. Petersburg Times – Google News Archive Search". Google.com.
  2. ^ "February 9, 1947 – VOTE TO KEEP BAULER OUT IS WALLER PLEA | Chicago Tribune Archive". Archives.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "February 12, 1967 – 2 in Lead for Paddy Bauler's Seat | Chicago Tribune Archive". Archives.chicagotribune.com. February 12, 1967. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Good Government Movements". Encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  5. ^ Royko, Mike; Despres, Leon M.; Heise, Kenan (April 20, 2005). Challenging the Daley Machine. Northwestern University Press. ISBN 978-0-8101-2223-9.
  6. ^ "Ebony". Google.com. Johnson Publishing Company. March 1962.
  7. ^ a b Cohen, Adam; Taylor, Elizabeth (May 8, 2001). American Pharaoh. Hachette+ORM. ISBN 978-0-7595-2427-9.
  8. ^ Flanagan, Richard Michael (2004). Mayors and the Challenge of Urban Leadership. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-2895-2.
  9. ^ a b "Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office". Chicago Historical Society. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "Paddy Bauler – Alderman, Saloon Keeper, Pretend Irish, Big Fat Guy: Part 2". Renown Old Town. Blogspot. May 11, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  11. ^ Liebling, A. J. (February 2004). Chicago: The Second City. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-8035-1.
  12. ^ a b c "Chicago Tribune – Historical Newspapers". Chicago Tribune.
  13. ^ Kogan, Rick (December 25, 2005). "Paddy's place". chicagotribune.com.
  14. ^ a b c Leonard, William. "Paddy Bauler: Alderman on the Go". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  15. ^ "How the Candidates Ran in Each Ward". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "Thompson Clan Opposes Albert in Council Race". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  17. ^ Doherty, James. "G.O.P. factions draw lines for Ward battles". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  18. ^ Pettey, Tom. "Greet Cermak on Arrival in New York Today". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  19. ^ Fremon, David K. (1988). Chicago Politics, Ward by Ward. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-31344-9.
  20. ^ Baugher, Shirley (2011). Hidden History of Old Town. History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-207-6.
  21. ^ Sean Parnell. "De Luxe Gardens in Memoriam: Chicago Bar Project". Chibarproject.com.
  22. ^ a b Lindberg, Richard (August 1998). To Serve and Collect. SIU Press. ISBN 978-0-8093-2223-7.
  23. ^ Chicago Tribune (June 24, 2023). "Alderman Mathias". Chicagotribune.com.
  24. ^ "LIFE". Google.com. March 31, 1947.
  25. ^ "BAULER NAMED IN CRIME QUIZ (January 29, 1953)". Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  26. ^ "BAULER ARRESTED; BAR SHUT (December 20, 1933)". Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  27. ^ Cohen, Adam; Taylor, Elizabeth (May 8, 2001). American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley – His Battle for Chicago and the Nation. Hachette+ORM. ISBN 978-0-7595-2427-9.
  28. ^ "Paddy Bauler – Alderman, Saloon Keeper, Pretend Irish, Big Fat Guy: Part 1". Renown Old Town. Blogspot. April 21, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  29. ^ "Chicago Politics In The Grand Style Of 'Paddy' Bauler (September 11, 1988)". Chicago Tribune. September 11, 1988. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  30. ^ 'Set Services For Newly Elected Representative,' The Mattoon Journal Gazette, December 8, 1962, pg. 4
  31. ^ Johnson, Kim "Howard" (April 2008). The Funniest One in the Room. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-56976-436-7.
  32. ^ "Bauler Playlot Park". Chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Preceded by Member of the Chicago City Council
43rd Ward
1933 – 1943 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Chicago City Council
43rd Ward
1947 – 1967 		Succeeded by
George McCutcheon
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