The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-28
BILL TlloIAp SON
MASS MEETING
PACKS THEATRE
Mayor Of Chicago Addresses Large
audience Of Believers aad Non.
Believers 1t Illinois.

AS.ASesNS VI 0OA1C va . 0440S <NOne
Believers 1t Illinois,.
William Hale Thompson, mayor
OF Chicago, leader Of the City Hall
ring which through Len Small Of
Kankakee. candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for governor.
seeks political control of state Of
fees. spoke in Rock Island last ev-
ening to an audience which packed
the Illinois theatre to the doors.
The mayor, who proclaimed him.
self an altruist with no other in
terest in the political affairs OF
Chicago, where he has held sway
for five years, and no other interest
in the state government which he
seeks to add to his province, than to
defend the welfare OF '.his people"
gained ready applause by his ALI
for-you" statements. But it was
noted that the hand-clapping dur
ing the early part of the evening
until the spirit of applause had been
given a good start, originated back
of the wings on the stage.
Among other sweeping state
ments, Big Bill alleged that Wood
row Wilson, president of the UNI
ted States, was keeping $4,000 Am
erican soldiers overseas at daily
expense of $1,000 0 to satisfy the
whims of the big interests and war
profitters who can see higher prices
and profits in the culm nation OF
their desire for another war.
Forecasts War.
SHOULD they be fired upon, we
all would rise to avenge the shoot
ing-ald that means war. And
war means that these greedy men
can advance the prices as they see
fit. Then we will be paying SO
cents a pound for sugar said the
mayor.
These allegations were made by
the mayor in answering questions
as to how he stood on the soldier
question, and the speaker retold his
story of the state Republican con-
vent:on when the Chicago henchmen
Of Thompson were defeated by the
Lowden faction in drafting a stats
platform. Thompson declared that
Iowden's men had voted mo" or
the questions of soldiers bonuses
as we'll as on the plank which pro-
vided for the immediate return OF
American soldiers from overseas
THE 600 delegates from Chicago
Bill Thompson's men, voted Aye
On both those questions" said the
mayor.
War Record Up.
As to his war record, the mayo,
left some doubt as to whether ht
was basing his defense on his op
position to foreign alliances result
ing from war or to alliance during
the war, and there was some doub
as the completeness of his own at
tituGe while the war was actual!
on. He did not tell of the thing.
he licensed and allowed to harper
in Chicago in those crucial days
but contented himself with assail
ing Chicago papers for publishing
incorrect information and garblet
reports of his conduct in genera
and numerous instances in partic
ular. Laying stress upon the visi
Of General Joffre, the French mar
shall, to Chicago, he alleged thu
! Chicago News printed the picture
of the visitor in the mayors car
killed the cut in the l O'Clock edi
! ton and in the O'Clock edition
declared that Thompson refused t
entertain Joffre. The mayor SAT-
(, he had the copies in evidence Of hi
statements.
| Recalling how George Wash
ington, our first pres dent had es
| tablished a never broken preceden
when he refused the nomination TO
the third term. the mayor laude'
the farewell address Of Washington
This priceless heritage which b
left us has guided the ship of stat
through the intricacies of foreigl
relations" declared the speaker
''And while we have had tenn
porary affiliations. we had al
ways avoided permanent entang
ling alliances such as he pictured
1t had been policy god enough TO
Washington, for our martyred Lin
coin, for Mckinley, for Cleveland
for Teddy Roosevelt. But it re
manned for Woodrow Wilson to sa
that that doctrine was old and an
tiquated. that it had outlived 1t
usefulness.
Thompson Backs Washington.
at remained for Woodrow Wilso
to say that they all were wron
and he alone was right. And be
cause I have taken stand wit
Washington. Lincoln. Cleveland
Mckinley. Roosevelt. and all tn
others. the commercialized pres
has called me a traitor to my coun
try.
LAS l understand it this is a ma
ton of free speech. but that a ma
cannot question the acts of tn
president. But when l know tina
the president is wrong. when I sc
him discarding the doctrines whic
were good enough for Washingto
and all the others. I will not onl
question him but l will condem
him as we'll. Never will Bi
Thompson keep his mouth SHIT
when the good of his country is er
Al 1911 Z