New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-02-23
big BILL again
Chicago NOMINEE
Thompson Captures Republican
Primary Nomination

Chicago, Feb. 23.-tR - William
Hale Big Bill" Thompson, carrying
his banner of America First" has
charged through the republican
primary on the crest of the largest
plurality ever registered in a mayor
atty contest, to become Mayor Will
liam f. Devers opponent in the
April S election.
The wartime mayor rolled up a
landslide plurality of more than
1901 over Edward r. Litsinger,
member of the board of review, and
the Senator Deneen- Edward Brun-
dage pick for mayor, beating his
nearest rival better than two to one,
and carrying all but one ward. Mayer
Dever had only minor opposition on
the democratic ticket.
Breaking all records in Chicago,
the Thompson plurality exceeded
the 147,477 lead with which the
former mayor won his election in
1915, at that time record breaker.
Thompson rolled up 342,279 votes
against Litsinger's 162,24S in returns
from all but two of the city's 1852
precincts. In the missing districts the
BALLOT boxes were stolen.
With no fireworks in the demo-
cratic primary, Mayor Dever received
1892 votes to 1920 for Martin
Walsh, his only opponent. Dever
won 10000 votes in the primaries
four years ago, when he had no
opposition, and polled S90,413 votes
in the election. or nearly 10000 more
than Thompson received yesterday.
AS the returns piled up, primary
vote of phenomenal size was shown.
The republicans cast 506,307 votes
compared with 100000 in the re-
publican primaries last spring, a
blistering factional battle. The total
vote was 66S,9S9 out of a registration
of one million.
With the primary out OF the way,
the two leading candidates plunged
today into perhaps the most furious
battle Chicago ever has seen over
mayor, They will be Joined for a
three cornered battle by DR.. John
Dill Robertson, West Park commits
sioner. who withdrew from the re-
publican primary to run as an indie
pendent in April.
This move was seen by some as a
step by Fred LLndin. the Poor
Swede," once a power in Chicago
politics and erstwhile hacker of
Thompson to hurt his former politi-
cal ally, by dividing the republican
vote in the election. Lundin is the
hacker of Robertson. Since he fell
out with Lundin and Robertson,
Thompson has been particularly Bit
ter at the two. and in his campaign
speeches has described DR.. Robert
son as man who gets egg on his
whiskers, soup on his vest and who
never takes a bath"
Thompson's victory was win for
the republican faction of States At
torney Robert F. Grove and the head
of the ticket along the rest of the
factions slate for city Offices, al
though the votes of the minor cam
ddates did not approach that regis
tered by Thompson.
This was taken by democratic
chieftains as indicating that despite
the urgings Of Mayor Dever that
democrats stay in their own pri-
maries, great numbers of them cross
cd over to vote for Thompson. be-
cause they deemed him the easier
man for Dever to beat.
Dever's Prediction
Dever, himself predicted he would
be reelected in April with q total
count of more than 100000 votes,
double his estimate Of the Thompson
strength.
II have no doubt now what the
results will be-" he said. II believe I
can almost give you the figures.
Probably $4,000 of the Litsnger
votes will go to the democratic can
didate. Add these to the total polled