DEFEAT OF “BIG BILL.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18848, 10 April 1931, Page 9

DEFEAT OF “BIG BILL.”

Chicago Press Comments. THOMPSON HOTLY ATTACKED.

United Press Association—By ElectHo Tel egraph—Copyright (Received April 9, 9.30 p.m.) CHICAGO, April 8. “Big Bill” Thompson who leaves office on Friday, when Mr Acton Cermak will be sworn in, receives the following editorial comment from the Chicago “Tribune”:—“lt is an unpleasant business to catch a skunk, but one does it. But for Chicago, Thompson’s name meant filth, corruption, obscenity, idiocy and bankruptcy. He has given the city an international reputation for moronic buffonery, barbaric crime, triumphant hoodlism, unchecked graft and dejected citizenship. He has nearly ruined property and has completely destroyed the pride of the city. He has made Chicago a byword for the collapse of American civilisation.” “BIG BILL’S” CAREER. ANTI-BRITISH CAREER. William Hale Thompson, cowboy man of wealth, politician and twice Mayor of Chicago, is best known as the initiator of the anti-British campaign in that city. To his friends he is always “Bg Bill.” He was born at Boston Mass., in 1869, but spent many years of his early life on ranches in the West. His father, however, made money, and Thompson soon became the pampered son of a wealthy parent. He turned to yachting, tennis and golf, and acquired fame throughout the Middle West as a sportsman. Politics then attracted him. A friend who had a great admiration for his beaming good-fellowship said in later years: “I like Bill. Thompson as a man, but I detest him as a politician.” It has also been said of him that he is “not a reasoner, but a shouter of statements.” In 1915 he was elected Mayor of Chicago and introduced “freedom,” which gave the city a reputation for unbridled lawlessness. Eventually a reform movement drove him from office. During the war he took up the pro-German cry and, Chicago having in its population, in addition to its erman-born citizens, a large foreign element which saw dollars n the return of Thompson’s “freedom,” he won the mayoral election in April 1927. The conditions of his former regime were quickly restored—“bootlegging” and other forms of lawlessnes being practically unrestricted. “Big Bill’s” anti-British campaign began with attacks on school books wmch, he said, were “tainted” with British influence. He was opposed by William M’Andrew, superintendent of schools, but soon succeeded in securing the dismissal of that official. He was startled, however, to find that the opinion of the rest of the United States was against him. In the State and city elections of April, 1928, his nominees were all rejected and in the next few months his set-back was intensified by actions for large sums being started against him and his associates for alleged damages suffered by various interests under his administration. Among these was a claim by M’Andrew for £50,000.

‘ The vituperation of “Big Bill” Thompson and his rival, Judge Lyle, were said to “echo through the streets from a thousand loud-speakers” during the political campaign. Of Judge Lyle, “Big Bill” roared: This lily-liver-ed reformer has attacked my integrity. That's too much. I'll knock him down and jump on his face and kick hell out of him. You watch Bill Thompson.” To which Judge Lyle replied:— People have grown tired of this blubbering jungle hippopotamus, defending his gansters, his crooked contractors, and lazy blook-sucking jobbers by slobbering insults against the people of Chicago. An Eskimo at the North Pole or a Hottentot in darkest Africa might as well have been mayor for all the good the city has got out of him. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but Thompson did not even fiddle while Chicago’s affairs went smash. Drunk with power, he celebrated his election by snoring in abject forgetfulness until another election year rolled around. The forceful judge presented this picture of his opponent: “Two jackass ears on the side, a cowboy hat on top, and an empty space in between.” He declared that he had a list of gangsters in his pocket and if elected he would say to the police: “There’s the list. Now bring them in, preferably alive, but dead or alive,” and he hinted at rewards by adding. “Why, I’m liable to make the rear-rank cop who brings in Capone chief of police.” Mr Thompson added to his armoury by staging a street circus that grew bigger every day. It included elephants, camels, jackasses, donkeys, and ponies. One of the camels carried a placard stating: “I can - go without a drink for eight days But who the h wants to be a camel?”