The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-08
Democrat Is Given
Largest Majority
In History Of City

ress exhibition. This truly begins q
new day for Chicago"
Bedlam broke loose in the streets of
downtown Chicago as shouts of fren-
zied Cermak supporters hailed his VIC
tory over the master Snowman. Bombs
and bullets added to the din, but they
were fired harmlessly into the heav-
ems. The outburst of enthusiasm was
one of the loudest since the signing
OF the armistice. There were no dis
orders Tuesday night or during the
days balloting.
But for big Bill" who entered the
campaign after a bitter partisan cam
paign fight announcing he would
never seek public office again, there
was no cause for rejoicing. He smiled
congratulated his victorious oppon.
ent and then served notice that the
vote that reduces him to the rank Of
a private citizen would not deter him
in efforts. to aid Chicago.
IT will" he said, "redoublc my ef-
forts for completion Of the waterways
to bring to Chicago a greater pros
perity and to this end I have charter
ed the Mississippi river steamship,
Cape Girardeau' and will leave on a
tour Of the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio
and Tennessee rivers April Q. 49,
love Chicago and believe in the des-
tiny of city"
Thus the man who once said he
would bust King George of England
IN the snoot" greeted the result OF
the Democratic broom which not only
removed Thompson but apparently
swept into the council chamber
enough Democratic councilmen to
give Cermak a working majority.
The returns indicated the ratio would
be 26 or more Democrats to "a or less
Republicans.
Second Democrat Victory
1t was the second big victory for a
Democrat within the last year, the
| other having been that of James
Hamilton Lewis, elected to the United
| States senate last November over
Ruth Hanna Mccormick, Republican
nominee. There were these, however,
who did not view Cermak's triumph
as a partisan victory. Among them
was Municipal Judge John H. Lyle,
one of Thompson's opponents In the
primary. who ran al an "anti-gang"
candidate.
"Mr. Cermak's victory" said Judge
Lyle, lis O victory for the Democratic
party and it also Is a victory for the
Republican party.
Judge Lyle said that it was a VIC
tory for the Republican party because
it had purged itself of Thompson,
adding that Cermak would make an
excellent mayor.
There was a little solace in the re-
turns for the Republicans.
They succeeded in electing two out
of three candidates for offices below
mayor, naming James A. Kearns, city
treasurer. and Edward Casey, associa-
tie Judge of the municipal court.
Peter j. Brady, a Democrat, was
elected city clerk over his Republican
opponent, Patrick. Sheridan Smith, a
Thompson lieutenant.
Was Coal Miner
Cermak. "the immigrant boy"
worked his way up from digging coal
in the southern Illinois coal fields to
maycrship Of Americas second larg-
est city.
For eight years he has been almost
continuously, the head of the county
board and now. he is. the undisputed
chief Of 10th the city and the county
Democratic organizations. His pow
er as such is comparable with that Of
the late Democratic leader of the
midwest-George H. Brennan.
Cernak, born So years ago In Pra-
que. was brought to the United States
in his infancy. He is a product of
the grade and night schools, his
career reading something like a
Horatio Alger book. He served as a
hired hand on Illinois farms, dug
some coal and came to Chicago when
16. earning his own way a. q two-boy
for street cars and by carting wood
in the back Of the yards" district.
Once he got into politics. however.
his rise smacked something of the
spectacular. the political route carry
ing him to the city council, the state
legislature, the county board, and
finally to the worlds fair mayorship
Of Chicago. He describes himself as
a champion of personal liberty" and
as a dripping wet"
One of the first to congratulate
him was Alfred e. Smith. who wired
him that his election Is notice that
the 1gangsters must vamoose."
Cermak is a widower, the father Of
three children and seven grand
chi1drcr t.