Early in his career, Busse worked as a
bailiff. He was one of the bailiffs in the courtroom of Judge
Theodore Brentano during
the high-profile murder trial of
Patrick Eugene Prendergast (who
assassinated Mayor
Carter Harrison III). Busse became a local
Republican leader, first elected to the
Illinois House of Representatives in 1894 and again in 1896. In 1898, Busse was elected to the
Illinois State Senate. He then served as
Illinois state treasurer beginning in 1902. In 1905, President
Theodore Roosevelt appointed him
postmaster of Chicago, a political position at that time (see
USPS History). He won the 1907 election for mayor against
Democratic incumbent
Edward F. Dunne. In business, Busse had been Secretary and Treasurer of the
Northwestern Coal Company until 1905.
Mayor of Chicago Busse was elected
mayor of Chicago in
1907. Busse was sworn-in as mayor on April 15, 1907. Busse's mayoral tenure is noted for its extensive
corruption and presence of
organized crime in the city. Busse had connections and was a political ally with a number of organized crime figures. Busse's image was used by at least one brothel owner to promote her business. While reform, both political and moral, was beginning to appear Chicago, Busse noted, "They don't need anyone sleuthing around after me. They can always get me any evening at J.C. Murphy's saloon, Clark Street and North Avenue." As mayor, Busse was a strong supporter of the
Plan of Chicago. He and the City Council established a 328-member
Chicago Plan Commission in order to realize the plan. Busse ultimately lost his bid for reelection
in 1911 to Democrat
Carter Harrison IV, and was succeeded by Harrison on April 17, 1911.
Death He died on July 9, 1914, of
valvular heart disease at 48 in
Chicago, Illinois. He was buried in
Graceland Cemetery. ==References==