The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-09-17
From Other
Editorial Pages
THE MYSTERY Or THOMPSON.

THE MYSTERY OF THOMPSON.
Christian Science Monitor Some day,
perhaps, the reasons, impulses. and mo-
tives that have impeued the mayor Of
Chicago, William Hale Thompson, TO
run counter 10 his own early record,
to his party; to public sentiment, to
the national government, and to the
generally recognized interests of the
country i'm a time Of war, will be made
clear. The change that has come over
the man since he was elected. for a
term Of four years, to the highest office
within the gift Of the second municipal.
ity in the United States, on April G..
1915 has been no more remarkable than
mysterious. a Bostonian by nativity, a
descendant of a long and respectable
line Of New Englanders, he was taken
to the west as a child and, in a very
large sense, has been identified with
that section from early manhood.
He was of the Rooseveltian type Of
young American, an athlete, fond of the
great outdoors, a cattle ranchman. a
progressive Republican He was veal.
thy. He became actively identified with
politics, and numbered among his polit
Of the Republican party. He was nomi
mated for the mayoralty, and was de
clared elected by the remarkable plu.
rality of 100000 votes. His victory dis.
armed all opposition. In a prosperity
parade intended to celebrate his tri
umph $1,000 people. Of all shades Of
opinion, participated. There We're no
less than 1900 automobiles in the pro.
cession.
Strangely enough, the man whom he
defeated for the mayoralty was Of Ger
man descent, and bore the Teutonic
name Of sweitzer. Friends Of the latter
used these facts to advance his candi
dacy; enemies employed them TO ad.
vance the candidacy Of his opponent
William Hale Thompson was commonly
accepted, by the voters Of Chicago, as
representing pro-Ally sentiment in the
campaign The patriotic men, as well
as the patriotic women, Of the city, gave
him their support During the cam
paign the cry went forth that a vote
for Sweitzer would mean a vote for
the kaiser. The overwhelming election
Of Thompson was, therefore, regarded
as a sentimental victory for the allies
IN one Of the leading centers of Ger.
man population in the United States
Thompson settled a threatened gen.
eral tie-up Of the traction lines when
everybody else. seemingly, had failed
This enhanced his popularity still fur.
ther In his difficulties with the board
Of education, public opinion was di-
vided He dared the saloon, brewing
and distilling interests by stopping the
sale of liquors on Sunday. He opposed
extravagances in administration His
I'm the course Of time,
made for him many enemies, but also
won for him friends.
Suddenly he began 20 oppose the war
attitude of the national administration.
He criticized the president. He an
tagouizel war measures I'm congress.
He undertook 20 interfere with the Lib
erty loan. refusing canvassers the right
OF soliciting subscribers IN the city
han. He talked Of Chicago as the sixth
German city of the world and, conse-
luently. community I'm which German
interests should Dee considered. and Ger.
man opinion should have weight He
opposed the entertainment by the mu-
nIcipality of the French mission he
lct BE- be known that he would not wei.
come the British mission The city
council consurej him for disc0urtcsv
and disloyalty lie was treated coIdly
iu the clubs. and threatened with eX-
pulsi1n from membership. The friend
ship for the man and his policies dis
played by q notorious daily publication
strengthened the popular antipathy
which his course invited. federation.
and even encouragement of the wan
deriug and generally repuiiatej paci.
fists is the latest blow which the once
popular and respected mayor has Boo.
nictej upon the civic pride of the com
munItv IL is evidently the desire of
lam patriotic. riEltthiuking ChiCaro3us
that the world shall understand how
koculy they feel the disgrace hoapel
upon the city by its chief officer The
Inundated people are hoping and look
ing for q way our. and they are hoping
and looking eXpoctantly Tor. 90 most
LOT them. nothing appears more certain
than that the present conditions can.
NOT IIur endure