DeWitt Clinton Cregier Democratic Hempstead Washburne Republican The Chicago mayoral election of 1891 saw "Reform" candidate Hempstead Washburne narrowly win a four-way race against incumbent Democrat DeWitt Clinton Cregier, former mayor Carter Harrison III, and Citizens Party nominee Elmer Washburn.

Its goal was to reestablish the old elite's power in the city's politics In 1891, incumbent Dewitt Clinton Cregier sought reelection.

[3] Additionally, followers of former mayor Carter Harrison III felt that Cregier had been disregarding them when making political appointments.

[2] The primary to elect delegates to the city nominating convention was held on March 20, and showed a clear victory for Cregier.

[7] The Citizen's Party, which was operated through the Union League Club of Chicago and organized by notable businessmen such as Potter Palmer, Marshall Field, and Philip Danforth Armour, nominated Elmer Washburn.

[2] The Citizen's Party and Washburn's candidacy was a well-funded attempt by the old elite of the city to retake control of local politics for the claimed purposes of bringing cleaner and more efficient governance and lower taxes.

[2] Franklin MacVeagh, the original candidate sought by the (largely Republican) reformers behind the party, declined to run.

[2] In their platform Democrats, who nominated Cregier, supported an eight hour work day, affirmed that the streets were the property of the citizens, supported legislation for the masses, demanded that the city undertake its own construction work rather than relying on contractors, urged the enforcement of factory and tenement laws, urged a fixed salary to be paid to the city treasurer, and for the interest on deposits to belong to the city treasury.

[13] In addition to being nominated by the Citizens committee, Elmer Washburn was also backed/nominated by the Prohibition Party.

[14] Advancing a Sabbatarian agenda, the Citizens ticket he headed supported the closing of saloons, parks, and streetcar service on the Sabbath.

[2] Creiger's forces, in turn, tried to claim that, through Frank Lawler, Harrison was connected to widely unpopular streetcar magnate Charles Yerkes.

James Scott, a black man who served as a ticket peddler for the Republican Party, was shot to death during a fight outside of a polling place.

However, they ultimately united behind the party at this convention, supporting the Democratic ticket for the fall elections.

[9] Complaints of election irregularities and misconduct strengthened the push for the adoption of a secret ballot in Chicago.