Customer Reviews

Justice and Humanity: Edward F. Dunne, Illinois Progressive

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I bought this book as part of my research for my master's thesis on Midwestern progressivism. I expected the usual rather dull factual account. Instead I was pleasantly surprised by the comprehensive research, highly readable prose, and the profundity of the interpretation. Moreover, I learned far more about the realities of politics and society during the progressive period than I have from far more celebrated works. This is good history, and like all good history it focuses upon the past and not the personal saws of the writer. A bit pricey, I have never regretted the purchase. If you are looking for dynamic history at its best, check this out!

Historian Richard Allen Morton has accomplished a rare feat: while many thesis papers written by graduate students have been adapted for publication as books, few have been written with such brevity, conciseness and precision as to educate, entertain and inform readers who are not faculty members sitting on the dissertation committee. Too many dissertations seem to be compiled by writers who think that history is better if served by the pound and the heavier a book is, the better it is! Not so!

Edward F. Dunne has the distinction of being the only man to serve as the Mayor of Chicago and, later in his career, as the Governor of Illinois. To date, Dunne is the only Roman Catholic to have served as Illinois Governor. He was also an active leader in Chicago's Irish community. Dunne served as the first President of the influential Irish Fellowship Club. In his retirement, Dunne compiled a multivolume history of Illinois and its prominent citizens.

Dunne has been identified as a progressive politician and a supporter of Bryan Democracy. Morton documents how the Progressive political movement faltered in Illinois as political spoilsmen and party regulars such as Roger Sullivan (Democratic) and William Lorimer and his protege William Hale Thompson (Republican) ultimately prevailed over the reform minded progressives in their respective parties. This unfortunate trend has continued to the present day.

The Dunne family remained somewhat prominent in Cook County. Dunne's son and grandson followed in Edward F. Dunne's footsteps and served in the local judiciary. I actually met the late Arthur Dunne when he served in Chancery.

Unquestionably the best book I have ever read, or will read, in my entire life!