Fred A. Busse

Fred A. Busse

Fred Adolph Busse (born March 3, 1866 in Chicago , Illinois , †  July 9, 1914 there ) was an American politician . Between 1907 and 1911 he was mayor of Chicago.

Career

Nothing is known about Fred Busse's youth and schooling. He first worked in the hardware industry and then became president of his own coal trading company, Busse Coal Co. He later worked for the Northwestern Coal Company . At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Republican Party . Between 1895 and 1898 he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives ; from 1899 to 1900 he was a member of the State Senate . From 1903 to 1905 he was State Treasurer of Illinois. He then worked from 1905 to 1907 as a postman in Chicago. In 1905 and 1910 he was also a member of the state board of his party.

In 1907 Busse was elected mayor of Chicago. He held this office after a re-election between 1907 and 1911. This time in Chicago was marked by corruption and organized crime. This development was to continue in the following years and culminated in the 1920s under Al Capone . Busse did little or nothing to counteract this development. He is even said to have corrupted himself. At least in one case he is said to have sponsored a brothel owner. Resistance to these conditions gradually arose among the population. The mayor was forced to set up a commission to investigate the situation in illegal gambling and prostitution. However, this commission did not submit a report on its results until Buss's resignation.

Fred Busse died of heart failure on July 9, 1914 and was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Web links

• Fred A. Busse in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Fred A. Busse at The Political Graveyard
• Chicago History