The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1931. “BIG BILL’S” DEFEAT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18848, 10 April 1931, Page 8

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1931. “BIG BILL’S” DEFEAT.

Although “Big Bill” Thompson could hardly go so far as to claim that he had displayed vigour and competence in the protection of decent citizenship, to say nothing of the faithful conduct of public business, he did not hesitate to say that he sought his fourth four-term as Mayor of Chicago | with a record that few could equal. Doubtless the electors of the city of many crimes appreciated the double meaning in “Big Bill’s” claim, and cast their votes accordingly. The whole issue swung round the declaration of the supporters of the vanquisher of such a formidable opponent, that every politician who “fronts” for the gangsters, every public official who aids or ! abets them in any way, and any I judge who assists these despoilers j to get under cover, around or through the courts, should be driven out of office. A good beginning has been made. The biggest buffoon of American civic affairs has been dethroned and decent citizens may breathe a sigh of relief that the most dis-1 tasteful figure in American public life has been cast info oblivion. Some months ago the opponents ! of “Big Bill's" regime hurled the \ following indictment at his j administration: The thing that probably has dons j more harm to our beloved city, its | business interests, and people, has I been the ruthless, arrogant, unchecked j reign of terror carried on by criminal gangsters and racketeers. They have hurt our business at home and abroad, and they have terrorised our citizens, visitors, and prospective visitors. Through political influence and j money, they have bought immunity from prosecution. We spend 20.000,000 dollars in a single county every year to maintain that big machine which is supposed to grind up criminals and dispense justice and equity. There are about ninety-eight judges in Cook County, about 1500 bailiffs, clerks, deputy sheriffs and court attaches, and about 6000 policemen. It is ridiculous to assume that all these officers of the law can not suppress and almost totally annihilate the little bands of skulking, cowardly assassins headed by Capone, ‘Bugs’ Moran, Druggan, and McErlane. J We should appoint the right kind of Civil Service Commission, and then a Chief of Police who would make it so hot for these crooks that they would leave town, unheralded and unescorted, before we fairly got settled in our new jobs. The idea of these crooks walking around Clark and Randolph streets, and through the City Hall, with revolvers sticking in their pockets, free from molestation, is an insult and a challenge to the citizens of Chicago. The voice of the people has at last spoken out of a heart demanding reform. The wonderful triumph gained by Mr Anton Cermak against the forces of crime and disorder is all the more significant in view of the shattering blow administered to the hopes of' reform when the coarse, corrupt, violent, incompetent and utterly unscrupulous buffoon, who was elected to the Mayoralty in 39-7 by a majority of 80,000, but was believed to have received his quietus in the crushing defeat of himself and his corrupt associates at the Republican primaries in the following year, in February last won the party’s nomination to the Mayor alty by a majority of about 45,000. This success was regarded as a favourable omen, and the party looked forward with confidence to “Big Bill’s” retention of the reins of office, and his unquestioned leadership of the Republican forces in Illinois. On several occasions high hopes have been raised by the confident assurances repeatedly given that Mr Thompson himself could never recover from the rout of his party machine in 1928. It was a disaster of the first magnitude, and the profound impression which the rout made at the time upon the whole country, and even outside, is revealed in some of the Press comments: There is a God in Israel, said the “Kansas City Star.” The primary brought results that are gratifying to the entire country, said the “Washington Star.” It was a | mighty blow for the restoration of law and order in Chicago. The voters seem to have been roused from their apathy. A miracle has supervened, said the London “Daily Telegraph.” But for a time “Big Bill” seemed invincible. Hopes of reform have been repeatedly shattered, until the crowning success this week in a long and fiercely contested battle in the interests of cleaner ctizenship, has given “Big Bill ” his long overdue quietus and infused new life in the influences for law and order which have been hampered under the blighting breath of an unclean ■ administration.