
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990                   TAG: 9003071407
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO                                 LENGTH: Short

CHICAGO TEACHES DEMOCRACY

This city whose political scandals have made national headlines is teaching the tricks of the trade to Polish officials hoping to help restructure their government.

Supporters of democracy in Poland hope to take government out of the hands of the Communist apparatus. So three Polish reformers have come to the United States to learn how democratic local governments operate.

The reputation for crooked politics in the Windy City was "not at all" among topics discussed, mayoral aide Robert Repel said Tuesday, the final day of the Poles' two-day stop.

In recent years in Chicago, as federal prosecutors have cracked down on public corruption and reform has replaced machine politics, dozens of crooked city officials have been sent to jail.

"We still have crooked local politics, it's just that the politicians aren't as adept at stealing as they once were," Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Royko said.

But most Poles know virtually nothing about Chicago's political reputation, said visitor Wlodzimierz Kocon.

"We both have to learn from each other, as much as we can," he said.

by CNB