Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-05
WHAT OF MAYOR THOMPSON Now
Presidential POSSIBILITY" Assists in an Intimate Interview
NIb Of be Car Strike SettlementLormerism Redivivus
a Remarkable Chapter in Municipal Politics
Bv WILLIAM L. cHENERY

- CAA t@Ate1@N@
| that the city was tied up two davs 4
street car strike Chicago knows. too s.
mediation was obtained in. the Mayor.
flee at the end of an all-night session
Chicago gives "Bil Thompson" credit
The progressives fall to concur N i.
opinion They say that proeressiv.
socialistic leadership In the City co,,~
gave affairs such a turn that the oonnna.
had to surrender. Thompsons f,rst a..
program was thousand extra polioss.
fifty thousand rounds of ammunition a..
large special appropriation. The Ads
blocked that program. When the tenr..
the city was seen, an about face was 49,
and arbitration had won Later the u,ss
their increase in wages. That is rar.s.
gain which can't be explained away hv !.
system of political logic
1 had hoped Mayor Thompson wou,d u.
of the street car strike and OF the socI.,
sues which the strike reflected He Ala &
do not think he is aware Of the comn,,..
tions of great city I asked him - NJ,
what he hoped to accomplish in the a.,
four years. He said: II was elected 4, \,
people. am responsible to the peopls ~
Mayor"-his honor is fond of referrir.
himself in the third personals surro,ss,s
by people put there to work for the peon,s
II have laid stress on the splendid CO.,.
alton between our departments. i hs
stressed the revival of the old we win, srls
of Chicago-of what 1 call team work for 81
sake of Chicago
II want to do everything to bring h,s 1. A
ness here' To bring the greatest number {,
visitors here to spend money.
II have instituted what is known q, 4
Mayors Council, which is made up OF ~,
cago business men, with Mr. SimpEon 4.
of the dominating spirits in Marshall Fla,s
Co., as chairman 1t is made up OF railyo.s
presidents, of bankers and of merchants r.'
of large affairs in almost ali walks Of ,.
During my absence on the Pacific coast a.,
committee met and started the fund for n,
Eastland survivors"
That is William Hale Thompson's slnc.,.
ambition-to give the city business admla
istration. Yet a business administratlon
a hollow cry in municipal politics TO-DAY |
business administration is common hones,v
good foundation, an essential basis. and ,h.l
is ALL Despite the tradition which h :.
cumulating about him, the radicals in cAl
cago think that he cannot give even a ro,,
business administration. The charactsr !,
his appointments, they say, will prove Il
The Unforgotten Lorimer
For there is no doubt that Fred rn,a,.
successor to the vanquished Lorimer, is tAs
guiding spirit In the appointments clm
service in Chicago Is in worse plight thar
nas been In decade. In many branches q
municipal work men who have held Jobs q
years haUa iIloi ~
scarcity of funds"
The Health Department and the Bureau d
Public Welfare have been especialIv A..
acked. sixty-day men, temporary d
'ointees, have been obviously freouesl
thompson was elected as protest againssa
misuse OF the school system, and his first a.
eat at the hands of the council came wha
le attempted to block an aldermanic inquIu
f the School Board.
Wthout the heroic mist product OF th
ettieneht OF the street car strike, William
taie thompson would doubtless already b
i the end OF his honeymoon season. III
radltlon saves him. Behind him stand SOM
the shrewdest politicians in the State, and
y MS side now stand the ablest bushes
nen IN the city. Besides that. for six months
nd more he has been In the hands Of won.
N-AS"S shileu puDlclty men. The pah
city picture which is created from day
ay is a miracle Of success
Mayor Thompson Victor Yet
In the midst of it all sits "Bill" Thompson
I'LL the popular sportsman, the lover q
ean athletics. Well-to-do, ambitious, wis
least In his advisers, he presents the ag
re OF man OF whom America may hsa
luch, His simplicity may be his strength
s contrasted with men such as Charles
-erriam among, the Progressive RepuhH
ms Charles s. Deneen among the old-ln
epuolicans' or even Carter H. Harrisoa
nong the Democrats, William Hale Thomp
m moves as slowly as an old-fashlona
Liling vessel among high-powered steam
lips His opponents think around him
relies.
But In ancient times we learned that lha
ce is not always to the swift nor the BAT
to the strong, nor riches to men OF undsf
anding. And today William Hale Thomp
n is the victor of thapn ali