The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-08
SOLDIERS MOB
THOMPSON AIDS
Troops, Sailors and Citizens at
Chicago Yell Stacker" and
Rip Banners From Autos.
OFFERED A GERMAN FLAG
"Blg Bill" and His Political Henchmen
on Way to kankakee Fair Saved
From Violence by Assembly
Call by the Officers.


Washington, Sept 6.-Searching in
quiry into the utterances of German
language newspapers in the United
States, socialistic magazines and liter
allure of so-called peace societies and
associations, regarded as likely to lead
to prosecution in some instances, is be-
ing conducted by the department of
justice. Recent utterances and activi-
ties of Mayor Thompson of Chicago,
and his paper, "The Republican" in
connection with the convention there
of the Peoples Council of America for
Democracy and Peace also are being
scrutinized.
Chicago, Sept, 6.-Mayor Thomp-
sons departure for the Kankakee state
fair at the head of his political army,
planned as triumphal procession, was
spoiled at the outset by violent dem
onstration started by soldiers from
Grant park, who caught sight of the
Thompson parade, fifty autos strong
as it modified in South Michigan ave-
nue. at Van Buren, street.
The soldiers and sailors charged
the machines in a menacing manner
and stripped Thompson banners from
the cars. Cries of "SlackerW "Take
that American flag from your ma
chinew and similar remarks were
hurled at the mayor by the soldiers
and taken up by the hundreds of pc
destrians and Automobiles who lined
Michigan avenue. Many held their
noses as TIE mayors auto passed and
Indicated their disapproval In other
ways.
Lasts for Several Minutes.
The demonstration continued several
minutes, increasing in volume as the
crowd of mayor baiters increased in
size. At times the congestion about
the Thompson machines was such that
the attitude Of the soldiers, sailors and
civilians became so menacing that Sc
rious trouble was expected.
That nothing more serious took
place was attributed to the sudden ap-
pearance Of several commanding off
GERS from the Grant park camp of the
Second Illinois field hospital, accom-
panied by buglers. The commands of
the officers were obeyed with military
promptness and the men marched over
the Van Buren, street viaduct to Grant
park.
Started by Hospital Corps.
The trouble started shortly after
eight o'clock as the mayors cohorts
were modifying. Members of the Sec
ond Illinois field hospital caught sight
of the parade and Immediately set up
Stacker" cry. Scores of others came
running until hundreds of soldiers and
sailors were In the crowd.
During the demonstration the city
hall politicians crouched in their seats
and pulled their "Big Bill" hats over
their eyes. After the procession had
passed Thompson banners, which had
been stripped from the machines, lit
tered the street. Some bore the in
scription. civilian Hale Thompson
Republican club"
Offered a German Flag.
An effort was made to present to
the mayor a German flag as his party
passed along Michigan avenue at Thir-
ty-third street, A small boy, evidently
delegated by a crowd that lined the
curb, ran toward the first automobile
and offered what appeared to be the
German colors. The automobile sped
by without pausing and the boy at
tempted to throw the flag into the ton
neau Of the car, but failed.
Thompson Not Present.
Kankakee, Sept. 6.-The William
Hale Thompson Republican club, af
ter being mobbed and ridiculed by sol
diers, arrived In Kankakee without
Thompson, without banners, without
welcome and with fallen feathers and
plenty Of dust. Along the entire route
the party was met with banners show,
ing the hostility of the people.
SUFFRAGISTS ARE SENTENCED