The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-04
WILLIAM {, DEvER
DIES SUDDENLY IN
CHICAGO Of CANCER
Proudest Claim Was No SiQn Of
Scandal Marked His Four
Years as Mayor
THOMPSON DEFEATED HIM
Followed Fortunes OF Chicago
Cubs Until 4 Few Min.
utes Before Death
THOMPSON DEFEATED HIM

Chicago, Sept. 4.-tR-William EN-
NETT Dever, whose proudest claim was
that no sign Of scandal marked his
four years . mayor Of Chicago. died
suddenly yesterday after . years III
ness. He was 81 years old.
Drafted from the Superior court
bench BY the Democrats to run for
mayor. Dever was elected In 1922 with
100000 vote margin over Arthur Lued-
er, incumbent postmaster. His term
of office, 1881. was sandwiched be-
tween the three terms Of Mayor VIII
liam Hale Thompson, who defeated
him for reelection two years ago.
Mr.. Dever had been seriously III
since shortly after retiring from the
city hall. The cause Of death was
given Is cancer Of the pancreas.
Only the day before his death the
former mayor was following the for
tunes Of the Chicago National League
Baseball club by radio. evtncing q
lively interest in the knowledge that
the Chicago-I viii spirit" as he put
It. Was bringing . championship to
the city whose destinies he once d.
rected.
Sees Cubs A Champe
Baseball WAS In his mind ever In
the hours Immediately preceding
death. He was talking with the Rev.
Alexander Thaine Of 81. Ita's parisf,
Of the Cubs chances for . worlds
championship. and remarked with Z
twinkle, Chicago always IS entitled
. first place." A few moments lateE
the priest was administering Extreme
Unction.
During . public service Of IS years
william Z. Dever regarded his accom-
plishmeuts merely Is duties and work
that had been expected Of him.
There has not been . scandal In
the city hall for four years." he said,
and that is unique
Yet his administration had been
notable for It's constructive legislAtion
and It's epochal public improvements.
It's achievements had been substan-
tial, although not spectacular. Wack-
er Drive. Chicago's famous double
decked boulevard. was completed dur
Ing his term and Mayor Dever pushed
through the legislation that made
possible the Strengthening Of Chicago
River.
Wen ~ lo6yeoo vetes
A split In the Republican ranks
which caused Mayor william Hale
Thompson to withdraw from the
race 1or denomination In lo22 gave
the Democrats the opportunity to
capture the maycralty. Judge Dever,
who had been On alderman from 1e03
to 1910. majority leader during two
Democratic administration and
Judge q the Superior and Appellate
Courts II years. Was selected 70 lead
them. HIS margin o. victory was
10000 votes.
Mayor Dever chose his cabinet from
among the ablest civic and business
leaders of Chicago without regard to
politics Of creed. His selections did
not meet with favor from some good
government" societies that adjudged
his appointees wholly unqualified Tor
Office" One city voters league, how
ever, paid him this compliment: ny
his Leadership and judicious iise Of the
veto he has done much to make up
for the shortcominss Of one Of the
worst city councils chicago ever had. /"
An accusation b. the federal dis
trict attorney In lo96 that the city
administrator WAs W1nking at liquor
Continued on pago llne)