The Daley Triple

Chicago's Mayor Dick Daley, some times known as "King Richard," could say last week with England's third mon arch of that name, as portrayed by Shakespeare:

Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.

It was high time, for the Democratic panjandrum has weathered an ominous succession of challenges and controversies in recent years. In 1962, a $66 million city bond issue heavily touted by King Dick was ingloriously rejected at the polls. Since then, Daley's subjects have demonstrated repeatedly against city-hall domination of the local anti-poverty program and the administra tion's refusal to integrate schools more quickly. In last week's primary elec tions, Mayor Daley's rule faced a triple-threat challenge.

Antiques Extant. The mayor's prestige was at stake in two congressional races. Seeking a ninth term aboard Daley's delegation to Washington, Rep resentative Barratt O'Hara -- who at 84 is the oldest member of the House --was challenged by Abner Mikva, 40, a liberal with a distinguished ten-year rec ord in the state legislature. Though O'Hara rarely gets home to his problem-racked South Side constituency, the smooth-purring Democratic machine came to his rescue, helping him to win, 33,789 to 31,180. Said O'Hara, a Spanish-American War veteran: "It was my toughest battle since San Juan Hill."

Next door in the teeming Negro wards of the South Side's 1st District, another organization antique, Negro Congressman William L. ("The Man") Dawson, 80, seeking a 13th term, was opposed by Negro Social Worker Fred Hubbard, 37. Though Dawson was the favorite, Hubbard was expected to make a strong showing, partly out of sympathy because he was shot in the shoulder during the campaign by an unknown sniper. He was hurt politically even worse by Dawson, who was reelected, 42,049 to 25,387.

Pulpit Plugs. Greatest test of Daley's strength was another, more ambitious bond issue for $195 million to finance such brick-and-mortar improvements as rapid-transit extensions, street and alley lighting, and 63 miles of new sewers. As the city-hall machine moved into overdrive, bank depositors found among their canceled checks flyers urging a yes vote, police and firemen trod sidewalks distributing literature, and Chicago's Roman Catholic Archbishop John P. Cody resorted to the pulpit to plug the measure. Result: the bonds passed by a 2-to-1 margin.

The elections proved at least that in Chicago, whose pugnacious brand of politics has earned it the sobriquet "City of Clout," Daley will still have plenty at his disposal when, as expected, he seeks a fourth four-year term next spring.

In Illinois' senatorial primaries, Republican Charles Percy, 46, won easily. In nearly complete returns, he amassed 502,421 votes to 56,328 for two minor rivals, while three-term Democratic Senator Paul Douglas, 74, unopposed, picked up 747,896 votes. Too many imponderables make predictions risky, but the new vigor of the Daley machine will not make things easier for Charles Percy.

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