Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
PILGRIMAGE FAILS, BUT BIG BILL, :"
AND THE BOYS" SHOW NO GRIEF
1--WE Done All We Could, "
Booms "Mayor" as Boulder
Dam Mission Ends.
Day of Mysterious Activity
Followed by Night of "JoIIy
Good Fellowship"

night. a hoarse male quartet from
the Windy City sang in an ante
room of the Mayflower Hotel the
praises of Big Bill" Thompson. Re
publican nominee for mayor of Chi
cago.
1t was a. big day yesterday for
Mayor" William Hale Thompson.
even IL the mission of the famous
Boulder Dam Special did come to
grief in the Senate. But big Bill
and his crew Of 10 loyal Chi
cagoans are a stout hearted crowd.
and If there were any signs of per-
sonal grief over the outcome none
appeared on the broad. f1orid features
of the boss
I've done all we could" doomed
the great voice of the future mayor, .
and there. for all the Chicago delega-
ton seemed TO care, the matter
dropped.
Looks Like Real Boss.
Big Biz needs no background to
make him stand out prominently in
any gathering. Like his middle name.
he's a hale fellow we'll met" but he
likes a colorful background just the
same. His nearly 800 pounds of bulk.
his great ford features. sombrero of
fashionable mode and long dark over.
coat, more Chesterfieldian In the
shoulders and knees than in the mid
die. mark him anywhere as a poll
teal boss" Of now passing type.
Whether you agree with him or not
once you fall under the spell Of this
breezy son of the Middle West, you
can't help but take a liking to him
Confidence fairly oozes from his pores
and radiates to the circle of admirers
who cling to him in public places. To
the boys" back in Chicago he is al
ready mayor, yes, sir, by a. plurality
of 10000 Republican votes, though
the election is still some 40 days dis
tant. And big Bill" himself vouches
for It., because wherever he goes the
hotel registers record Mayor William
is typical of Thompson all through.
Wrapped in a great brown bath robe
in his headquarters suite at the May
flower yesterday. before a late break
fast. MAYOR" Thompson received call
ers" and dispatched his aides on vari
GUS strange and mysterious missions
about the city. 1t was the morning
Of the big fight on the Boulder Canyon
Dam bill and Chairman Thompson OF
the illinois Lakes to the Gulf Water
way Commission" and 10 enthusiastic
followers had come all the way to
Washington on a special train to help
pull California out of hole.
just . Boom for big Bill"
But It soon was apparent that the
fate Of the Boulder lam bill was least
in the minds of the Chicago delega
ton. 1t was the means to an end. the
end being one of tho best arranged
"i,,nkets" that Was hehgton has seen
The atmosphere of the headquarters
was singly devoid yesterday OF any
weirhtv discussions relative to the leg
islatiye problem confronting the skip.
per" of the Boulder Dam Special:
II was converted into a boom for Big
Bill" Thompson, and there were ~ IN.
diyidual boosters for the next mayor
Of the second largest city In the coun-
try. , .s .p;.
BIZ started sixth and finished three
lengths in front yesterday" was one
nearl of wisdom vouchsafed by one
member of the party.
Eyes. sure would have liked to
have some of that money l won last
night 'plastered on his nose, respond
ed another" And thus the converse
ton drifted to other subjects as closely
connected with the great issue the
delegation is supposed to have come
to Washington to straighten out, as
tree-climbing fish.
For the story of big Bill's' famous
expedition near the mouth OF the Mis-
sissippi River some years ago to eaten
e.climbing fish" still brings chuc'
kles from even Mr.. Thompson MIN,
self.
For all of his nearly 900 pounds OF
weight, Thompson is man exceed
ingiv swift in action. He was here,
there and everywhere yesterday, ex.
cent in the gallery or the corridors OF
the Senate. when Senator johnson OF
California and the cause of Boulder
Dam went down in defeat. After he
left his hotel, shortly before noon.
''Rig Bill" worked i'm a strange and
mvst erious way. "That's his Chicago
training" one of his cohorts remark
ed. s.But you can bet il he has any
thing UP his sleeve, something is 60
ing to happen"
Fails to See Deneen.
Whatever that something may
have been. apparently no one except
big Bill" himself knows. There were
whispers that he was to see senator
IJGnRen.
osrdjng the control of the Illinois
delegation to the next Republican ma
tionaI convention. But until late
hour Yesterday he never showed up
ar the Deneen offices at the Capltol.
And Senator Deneen, who is poltl-
cal opponent. evidently made no eI-
fort to meet him half way
At the White House. where ne nad
dined with President Coolidge on his
last visit to Washington. no WORD nad
haen heard from the mysterious MT.
Thompson. =
Coming back to yesterday morning,
when Mayor" Thompson 1oioed ms
bath robe carefully about MIN ana
reached for the inevitable cigar, when
he chews even before breakfast, TINS
man who has a. personal following
sacond only to AL Smith in his nome
town. presents an interesting side
light on American politicians. lt
wasn't 40 many years ago. during the
world War, that Big Bill thompson
was under suspicion for being pro-Ger-
man. He was mayor of Chicago tnen'
and now II seems that he is ABOUT 10
come into his own again.
In size only does he somewhat re-
semble the late Senator Penrose OF
Pennsylvania, the biggest Repuphcan
..hoss'; Of them all. Thompson's voice
10 well nourished. though. while Pen
rose spoke with q nasal tone hardy
in keeping with his size.
Penrose cast off his one.time
ward politician personality after ne
came TO the Senate. but Big BIZ
GIVES one the opinion that he giories
in that atmosphere. His whole man
nor smells the hail fellow as ne
clans his friends on the shoulder ana
TRUSTS out hand that would MAKE
the average man vince from ,he eA
pectant grip. Gray mar anu sp s;.
tacles add touch OF dignity 10 MS
appearance.
No Time to Talk Politics.
"Politics?" asked Thompson. 1
haven't got time to talk. politics: TOO
many things to do right now. There 8