Paddy Bauler
Mathias 'Paddy' Bauler (January 27, 1890 - August 22, 1977)[1][2] was an American saloonkeeper and alderman of the 43rd ward of Chicago[3][4] from 1933 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",[5] or "Chicago ain't ready for a reform mayor"[6] which he exclaimed many times over while dancing a jig[7] in his saloon upon the news of Richard J. Daley's first election as mayor of Chicago in 1955.[8] Mayor Daley banned Bauler from attending public functions for a time shortly after the quote was published.[9] He was the brother of John Bauler.
Personal life
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) |
Mathias Bauler's father was born in Germany and his mother was born in Illinois of German descent.[10] He weighed between 225[11] and 275 lbs.[12] and claimed that he did not know that his real name was not 'Paddy' until he was six years old.[11]
Saloonkeeping and politics
Paddy operated a speakeasy at Willow and Howe streets during prohibition and once prohibition was repealed became the first person to obtain a liquor license in Chicago. [13]
Bauler was known as a corrupt politician, and against reform. He has been quoted as saying that one reformer was "[...] so dumb he probably thinks the forest preserve is some kind of jelly."[8]
His two story political office on North Ave. and Sedgwick avenues, was also a saloon called De Luxe Gardens.[14][15][16][17][18]
Bauler once shot two Chicago police officers[19] (non-lethally) because, in Baulers words "...they swore at me and called me a fat Dutch pig".[20] Bauler was cleared from any wrongdoing. Mayor Kelly was quoted as saying that Bauler "Was a real straight-shooter".[16]
He had been accused of being a "...political power that protects graft, gambling, vice and other lawlessness...[21]"
On his retirement as an Alderman in 1966 Bauler was asked how he stayed in office so long, he replied "There ain't a thing they ask me that I don't try to do," [22]"
Bauer was friends with Charlie Weber.[23]
Legacy
- The character of the corrupt alderman John O'Shea from the 1987 film, The Untouchables, was partly modeled after Bauler.[24]
- Bauler Park in Old Town is named after him.[25]
References
- ^ "St. Petersburg Times - Google News Archive Search". Google.com.
- ^ "Mathias J "Paddy" Bauler (1890 - 1977) - Find A Grave Memorial". findagrave.com.
- ^ "February 9, 1947 - VOTE TO KEEP BAULER OUT IS WALLER PLEA | Chicago Tribune Archive". Archives.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ^ "February 12, 1967 - 2 in Lead for Paddy Bauler's Seat | Chicago Tribune Archive". Archives.chicagotribune.com. 1967-02-12. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ^ "Good Government Movements". Encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ^ "Challenging the Daley Machine". Google.com.
- ^ "Ebony". Google.com.
- ^ a b "American Pharaoh". Google.com.
- ^ "Mayors and the Challenge of Urban Leadership". Google.com.
- ^ "Chicago". Google.com.
- ^ a b http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1953/01/29/page/2/article/paddy-bauler-rules-his-ward-from-a-saloon
- ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-12-25/features/0512250313_1_paddy-mr-alderman-tavern
- ^ "Chicago Politics, Ward by Ward". Google.com.
- ^ "Hidden History of Old Town". Google.com.
- ^ Sean Parnell. "De Luxe Gardens in Memoriam: Chicago Bar Project". Chibarproject.com.
- ^ a b "To Serve and Collect". Google.com.
- ^ Chicago Tribune. "Alderman Mathias". Chicagotribune.com.
- ^ "LIFE". Google.com.
- ^ "BAULER ARRESTED; BAR SHUT (December 20, 1933)". Retrieved 2015-06-17.
- ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=nGem2g467GAC&pg=PT91&lpg=PT91&dq=paddy+bauler+fat+dutch+pig&source=bl&ots=M7g98Gukgk&sig=rbCExLPGDh0TwIHVpvqu77aI1OA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiimdzfpufNAhUC9x4KHdJsBO0Q6AEIIjAB#v=onepage&q=paddy%20bauler%20fat%20dutch%20pig&f=false
- ^ "BAULER NAMED IN CRIME QUIZ (January 29, 1953)". Retrieved 2015-06-16.
- ^ "Chicago Politics In The Grand Style Of `Paddy` Bauler (September 11, 1988)". Retrieved 2016-04-16.
- ^ http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1973/01/01/page/20/article/tower-ticker/
- ^ "The Funniest One in the Room". Google.com.
- ^ "Bauler Playlot Park". Chicagoparkdistrict.com.
  | This article about an Illinois politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |