Arizona republican., 1919-04-03
The Disqrace of Chicago

The Disgrace of Chicago
 The reelection of William Hale Thompson to the Chicago mayoralty is a disappointment in which the whole nation shares It proves that something is wrong with the American people, for Chicago may be regarded as fairly representative American city. It is a little less cosmopolitan than New York or San Francisco and to that extent is American than either of them Thus what happened in Chicago might have happened in almost any large American city
 As a matter of fact something like it happened in New York at the last mayoralty election It is true that Judge Hylan, the democratic candidate had no such un American record Thompson but he had the loud support of ayowedy un-American. pro-Ger- element, and if he American he did not dare proclaim it lest he should deach that support. The opponent of Judge Hylan not only thorough and pronounced American, but Mayor Mitchell had given New York the best administration it had ever had.
 On the other hand, there was less to choose from among the Chicago candidates Tuesday. Sweitzer offered no appeal the good citizenship and had be- hind him only the support of faction, though the strongest faction of the democratic party Hoyne though he the and had the support of the better may say the ultra better element had really no organization following. His support half hearted because it hopeless It almost foregone conclusion that Thompson would be reelect ed at any rate he could be beaten only by Sweitzer.
 Thompson was nominally the republican candi-
  can machine, but republicanism in Chicago well throughout the nation valves any claim to participa tion in the glory of his victory and denies that Thomp sonism is repubcanism. The glory all belongs to Thompson.
 Apart from his un-Americanism there abun- dant reasons why he should have been reelected. Before he had catered to the German element at the time the United States went to he already dscredited among citizens and after entered the he himself apart from the republican party chief characteristic became it's loyalty to the country it's allies The democratic party the powerful democratic leaders divided reluctantly following the president who himself was reluctantly driven to war; others almost openly pro-German while stir others maintained attitude of indifference. Republican statesmen with we be- Iieve a single exception heartily in support of the administration urging it to greater effort against Germany. Thompson certainly could not have been representative member of such a party.
 The Chicago Tribune is an unchallenged exponent of republcansm not only of Chicago, but of the nation What it said Of Thompson last Saturday pudation of him in the name of the party:
 Some stanch republicans said to be considering whether they had better hold their and for Thompson.
 They are disgusted with the waste and spells politics of the administration They think it is of the greatest importance to the restoration of the bus-
  people that republican government be put back in power as possible, and they have been told that the defeat of Thompson the republican candidate mayor of the second city of America, will be set back for the party.
 We think the opposite is true. The election of Thompson a republican would be black eye for the republican party throughout the nation and the possible start for the crucial campaign of 1920. Thompson a deficit republicanism and asset the democrats. His reelection would have to be excused palliaed and, if possible explained for the next four years.
 For the better part of this present term Chicagoans have had to apologize for Thompson wherever they have gone His record the the prestige and tarnished the good of the city. The effect will fall upon the publican party if he elected
 Does any republican who respects his party and who wishes it to win the confidence of the American people think he is voting good republican when he votes for Thompson? If Thompsonism were republi- canisn which it is not then republicansm could not deserve to be placed in power. Thompsonism has disloyaty in the face of the enemy It has meant demagogic appeals to class hatred It has meant spos politics of the kind It has meant padding the school system and loading the pay rolls with political workers. It has constant attacks upon and the of the best men in the council. It has meant turning back the clock the citys progress in every respect
 Does this represent repubcanism? It does not Can any loyal republican put his seal of approval such misrepresentation of republicanism? do not see how he can
 vote for Thompson is vote against republican, ism We could understand how partisan democrat might wish for the reelection of Thompson an aid the democrats iii 1920. But certainly intelligent republican hope for anything but the overwhelm- eg repudiation of Thompson ct the polls.