Maclay Hoyne

Maclay Hoyne
Hoyne in 1916
Cook County State's Attorney
In office
1912–1920
Preceded byJ. E. W. Wayman
Succeeded byRobert E. Crowe
Personal details
BornOctober 12, 1872
DiedOctober 1, 1939
Chicago, Illinois, US
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
RelationsThomas Hoyne (grandfather)
OccupationLawyer

Thomas Maclay Hoyne II (October 12, 1872 – October 1, 1939) was an American politician and lawyer. As a Democrat, from 1912 through 1920, Hoyne served as Cook County State's Attorney. Hoyne also ran as an independent candidate in the 1919 Chicago mayoral election.

Early life

Hoyne was born October 12, 1872.[1] Hoyne was the grandson of Thomas Hoyne.[1]

Career

Hoyne circa 1912

A mentee of Chicago mayor Carter Harrison Jr., Hoyne was tasked in his early political career with overseeing the city's Sixth Ward Democratic Organization.[1] In 1903, after he was elected to a fourth consecutive term as mayor, Harrison appointed Hoyne as the city's Assistant Corporation Counsel. A few years later, Hoyne made an unsuccessful run for county judge.[1] He was later promoted to the First Assistant Corporation Counsel.[1]

In 1908, Hoyne ran for the Democratic nomination for Cook County State's Attorney, supported by the wing of the Carter Harrison Jr.-led wing of the city's Democratic Party. He was up against six other candidates, including William Emmett Dever (supported by the Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne-led wing of the party), and J.J. Kern (supported by the Roger Charles Sullivan-led wing of the party). Kern wound up winning the primary.[2]

In 1912, Hoyne ran again, and was elected Cook County State's Attorney.[3] He was reelected to a second term in 1916.[3] During his tenure, his prosecuting staff procured over 5,000 penitentiary convictions. In his later years as prosecutor, his house was fired upon in assassination attempts.[1] Yet, Hoyne ignored warnings about his safety, and refused the protection of bodyguards.[1]

Hoyne unsuccessfully ran as an independent candidate in the 1919 Chicago mayoral election.[1]

In 1920, Hoyne ran for a third-term as Cook County State's Attorney. However, he lost the Democratic primary to Michael L. Igoe, who went on to be defeated in the general election by Republican Robert E. Crowe.[4]

From 1927 until 1929, Hoyne served as counsel for the Sanitary District of Chicago.[1]

Death

Hoyne died October 1, 1939, in Chicago.[1]

Electoral history

1912 Cook County State’s Attorney election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mackay Hoyne 122,419 27.85
Republican Lewis Rinaker 113,181 25.74
Socialist William A. Cunnea 107,647 24.49
Progressive George I. Haight 93,495 21.27
Prohibition John H. Hill 2,896 0.66
Total votes 439,638 100.00
1916 Cook County State’s Attorney Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maclay Hoyne (incumbent) 90,759 86.24
Democratic Charles E. Erbstein 14,483 13.76
Total votes 105,242 100.00
1916 Cook County State’s Attorney election[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maclay Hoyne (incumbent) 236,384 44.57
Republican Harry B. Miller 191,456 36.10
Socialist William A. Cunnea 102,579 19.34
Total votes 530,419 100.00
1919 Chicago mayoral election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William H. Thompson (incumbent) 259,828 37.61
Democratic Robert Sweitzer 238,206 34.48
Independent Maclay Hoyne 110,851 16.05
Cook County Labor Party John Fitzpatrick 55,990 8.11
Socialist John Collins 24,079 3.49
Socialist Labor Adolph S. Carm 1,848 0.27
Total votes 690,802 100.00
1920 Cook County State’s Attorney Democratic primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael L. Igoe 59,658 54.68
Democratic Maclay Hoyne (incumbent) 43.71 44.57
Democratic John K. Murphy 1,750 1.60
Total votes 109,097 100.00

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j TIMES, Special to THE NEW YORK (October 2, 1939). "MACLAY HOYNE, 67, DEAD IN CHICAGO; State's Attorney for Cook County 2 Terms, 1912–20 --Won 5,000 Convictions FIRST CITY POST IN 1903 Counsel for Sanitary District, 1927–29—Williams Athlete Was Grandson of Mayor". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Schmidt, John R. (1989). "The Mayor Who Cleaned Up Chicago" A Political Biography of William E. Dever. DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press.
  3. ^ a b c d The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... Chicago Daily News Company. 1921. p. 784. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "The Daily News Almanac and Political Register for ..." Chicago Daily News Company. 1920. p. 791. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... Chicago Daily News Company. 1916. p. 598.
  6. ^ Bright, John (1930). Hizzoner Big Bill Thompson, an idyll of Chicago.