Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-10-14
WAUSAU LIKES Ole
MAYOR OLE HANSON OF
SEATTLE CAPTIVATES
ALL WHO HEAR HIM

We had all heard much about Ole
Hanson since he sprang into fame as
nationanl character in almost
single day. 1t was known throughout
the country, within twenty-four
hours after he had, as mayor, sup
pressed what looked like one OF the
most serious strikes Seattle had ever
experienced. The strikers, so long as
they attended to their own business,
were not disturbed, but when they
undertook to run the city and all of
its departments, Mayor Hanson called
halt, and it came so suddenly, backed
up by Uncle Sans troops, and by the
will OF determined fearless and able
man, that the strike was ended forth
with and the leaders in the movement
hustled out of the city. 1t was per-
haps the first strike in America that
had been so summarily dealt with and
so quickly suppressed. 1t was thought
here, and no doubt throughout the
country, that Mayor Hanson was just
an ordinary man, who was lucky
enough to do the right thing on the
spur of the moment and publicity did
the rest, but his address here on
Thursday evening proved that he was
not just an ordinary man, but, rather,
one high above the average. He has
an attractive appearance, very pleas
ant face, full of determination and
character. He spoke for nearly two
hours and is possessed with a re-
markable flow of language and a de-
livery and expression, surpassed by
only few of the great orators OF our
country.
Mayor Hanson came to Wausau I'M
der the auspices of the New Era Club
OF the First Presbyterian church and
the club has the grateful thanks of
the large number who heard Mr. Han
son for the pleasure derived on Thurs
day evening for he gave an address,
which was second to none ever de-
livered here and as thoroughly en-
joyed.
Mayor Hanson was introduced by
Rev. d. j. Williams, pastor of the
Presbyterian church, who briefly
touched upon the life of the speaker,
saying that he was a Wisconsin pro-
duct, having settled in the state when
he came from the old country with
his parents. They came to Racine
county, and when a young man, more
to build up his health, he took his
family across the plains in a prairie
schooner to Seattle, arriving there
fully recovered. He entered immedi-
ately into business. Later he was
elected to the state legislature and
later to the mayors chair of Seattle.
Mr.. Hanson's address was one that
held every person to the close, and
all were intensely interested, for he
placed things before them in a diff
ferent light. He told his audience
that he found in his travels that 1t
was not the League of Nations, Fiume.
or the various foreign questions which
was troubling the people of our coun-
try, but it was the high cost of living.
He devoted considerable of his time
to the labor situation and denounced
Bolshevism and the l. w. w; he
called upon the laboring men of our
city to cooperate with the employers
and any Misunderstanding to adjust
them IN conference and not to resort
to strikes. He talked very plainly to
the employer as well as to the en-
ployes.
He discussed the immigration cues
ton and was not in favor of restrict
ing 1t for various reasons, but he had
a plan to assist the country as well
as the immigrant. He thought that
all coming to this country should be
classified as to their vocations and
Sent in whichever part of the United
States their particular services were in
demand. In this way, it was his
opinion, they could be kept ont of the
large cities and placed where they
could easily work out their own hap
piness.
He gave very interesting talk on
Russia, telling of conditions there un-
der the Car and the present Bolshe-
vik movement
He believed in giving the children
OF our country the very best educa-
tfonal advantages possible and in plac-
ing them in charge of teachers of un-
doubted ability. He thought today
that the teachers were underpaid as
compared to any other class of work.
ers. The comparison which he made
III backing up his assertions brought
forth great applause. He spoke long
and eloquently on the blessings of
our country; that the best paid work
ers in foreign countries did not re-
celVe the privileges and the comforts
OF the poorest paid in this country
He called upon all to stand by their
country and their flag. He referred
to the wars in which the U. S. had
participated and especially the worlds
war, where so many patriots had CIV
en- up their lives that we might en-
joy freedom, prosperity and happiness.
There is no one who heard Mayor
Ole Hanson Thursday evening, but
what are singing his praises. They
feel that he has the elements within
him to make a great man and that it
was not just happinstance that he
became famous.
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