Wounded Lion

When the U.S. Conference of Mayors was held in Chicago last week, there was a conspicuous absentee: Host Richard J. Daley. King Richard, now 74, was off fishing in Florida, resting up from his humiliation on Election Day when, despite his Democratic machine's efforts, Gerald Ford carried Illinois and Republicans beat the mayor's candidates for Governor, attorney general and Cook County state's attorney.

Daley can still turn out the vote: of Chicago's 1.6 million registered voters, 79% went to the polls, only 5 points below the average since 1960. But because of the city's loss of residents to its solidly Republican suburbs, the Daley organization can no longer guarantee Democratic victories in either the state or county. This year Chicago contributed only 25.7% of the statewide vote, down from 35% in 1960, when Daley produced enough votes for John Kennedy to win the state--and the presidency.

Still, even Daley's foes figure that there are several hurrahs left for the mayor. Republican Governor-elect James Thompson, who as U.S. Attorney convicted scores of Cook County Democrats and Republicans for political corruption, likened Daley to "a wounded old lion," bloodied but still dangerous. Indeed, Thompson has promised to "work closely" with Hizzoner.

The Daley machine's Young Turks are urging the mayor to broaden his appeal by bringing into his inner circle popular downstate Democrats like Alan Dixon, who was elected secretary of state with 66% of the vote. Daley may not take this advice; in 21 years as mayor, he has relied almost exclusively on his own instincts. After all, observed a young Chicago alderman, "Daley is the organization." But the mayor fully realizes that times are changing, and as he left for Florida, his mind was clearly on the future. Said he: "You never look back. Tomorrow is a better day, my mother used to say."

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