Evening star., 1927-11-08
OFFERS
BIG HISTORY PRIZE
Chicago Mayor Will Pay $10,.
600 for "True" Book on
Washington.

Waxing loquacious after an old
fashioned New England breakfast al
the White House, Big Bill Thomp
son, robust mayor of Chicago. sat or
a railing outside the House fioodcon
troll hearing today and explained de
tails of his America nization" plans
for Chicago's school text books.
"I've offered $4,000 to any one
who will write a history book for the
Chicago schools that doesn't depict
George Washington as traitor and
rebel" he said.
We're going to award the prize
next Fourth Of July. and the book is
going to replace every pro.British book
in our school system"
Will Pick Judges.
"Who's going to Judge the winner
in this contest?" the mayor was
asked.
Shifting the fat, black. unlighted
cigar from one side of his mouth to
the other, he replied:
II haven't decided who the judges
will be vet. but they are gonna be
prejudiced in favor of the United
States! YOU can bet on that.
II don't give n rap what any other
city wants to do. AS long as Bill
Thompson is mayor of Chicago ro
body's gonna teach our children that
George Washington was a traitor"
The mayor seemed particularly
pleased over the breakfast with Presi
dent Coolidge this morning.
Sure, he gave us hot cakes ant
sausage" he said. land they were
about as tasty as any I've ever eaten.
Pressed for details of the breakfast
conference. at which Gov. Len Small
and former Senator William Lorimel
OF Illinois and 10 others were guests
Mayor Thompson said there wasn't &
great deal of conversation.
Breakfast Was Bully"
ut was kind of quiet" he explained
Sort of Il nice. sociable affair. W.
enjoyed being with the President anC
the breakfast was bully. The Presi
dent appeared glad to learn that sen
tiih Mt Is for ade,. uate flood contro
Il oughout the country"
Besides Gov. Small, who is credited
with being the Republican power II
Illinois State politics, and former Sen
atDr Lorimer. those in this breakfast
company were: Representatives Frank
lNCiu vi AIihoiSb itity w VI
Louisiana, Thomas J. Hill, secretary
of the Chicago Flood Control Confer
ence; James M. Thompson, New Or
leans publisher, member Of the Mis-
sippi Flood Commission; lie Roy
Percy, former Senator from Missis
Sippi: Charles Burras. member of the
Chicago Flood Control Conference
John III. Walker, president of the II
linois Federation of Labor: Ash Hur
ley of New Mexico, member of the
Mississippi Flood Commission: Charles
NJ. Lewis of Kentucky, William Fl
Stuart, political editor of the Chicago
American.
After the breakfast the mayor re
turned to his suite at the MayflOwer
Hotel. His rooms adjoin those of for
mer Secretary Of the Interior Fall
who Is recovering from illness.
COnfers With Jadwin.
Gathering up a sheaf of documents
including the big volumes Of press
took to the White House yesterday
big Bill" went to the Munitions
Building for conference with Maj
Gen. Edgar Jadwin, chief of Engi
neers. regarding flood control ant
waterways development. Accompany
ing him was William II. Dawes. heaC
of the Chicago Sanitary Commission
and cousin of Vice President Dawes.
Thompson announced as he came
out of Gen. Jadwin's office that Gov
Small would confer with the genera
this afternoon and "offer the Govern
ment lock and dam sites for the deep
ening Of the channel from Chicago, st
as to open the Mississippi to com
merce from Chicago to the Gulf"
The mayor proceeded to the com
mittee hearing at the House Office
Building. where he spent the re
| mainder of the morning talking ant
chewing on his big cigar outside the
caucus room.
"What are your plans for the after.
poon?" he was asked.
"Darned If l know" he replied. "Ton
! Hill is running this show, and hes
making a beautiful job Of it.. Look al
all these prominent people taking part
In 1t. I'm leaving everything to Tom
tom" In SECRETARY of the Chicago
dood commissiod :, .--.---.--.-------.-..---..