Evening star., 1944-03-20
Big Bill Thompson,
Three Times Mayor
Of Chicago, Dies
ey the Associated Press.

and with his slogan punch King
George in the snoot," was one of the
most colorful mayors in city which
has tradition of colorful politics,
died yesterday. He was in his 18th
year.
He had been under an oxygen tent
for "a hours following a severe heart
attack last Thursday. His sister,
Mrs. William Nelson Pelouse. and a
brother Gale were at his bedside in
his Blackstone Hotel suite when he
died. His wife, Mrs. Mary Wyse
Thompson, had left short time
before after long vigil. Funeral
arrangements have not yet been
made.
Mr.. Thompson-"Big Bill"-served
three terms as chief executive of
Chicago, from 1915 to 1923 and from
1927 to 1881. They were turbulent
years, productive of headlines
throughout the world, charges of
graft and corruption at home and
countercharges by Mr.. Thompson
himself of "lies."
Entered Politics in 1900.
In 1927 he contended the public
school textbooks were filled with
British propaganda and adopted his
bellicose slogan regarding nose
punching. In other campaigns he
espoused freedom for Ireland, op-
posed the World Court, and advo-
Gated scent streetcar fare.
At times Mr.. Thompson cam
paigned with circus parades and
wild west shows. With his huge
stature and infectious smile, he was
the star performer Of all these
shows.
He was born in Boston May IA,
1869, and was brought to Chicago,
while still an infant. Here his
father, William H., ST., founded a
real estate business that ultimately
enabled the son to participate free
~ in yacMing as yell as politics.
UMr. 1hssnpson sn<sred politics in;
1900. serving as alderman and later
as Cook County commissioner, but
1t was not until his World War
terms. as mayor that he acquired the
colorful Significance that was to
cling to him all the rest of his
career.
Characterizing Chicago as tho
sixth German city" of the world
thousands Of votes IN
the heavily Teutonic city. But it
broughr the wrath of many persons
during the war who considered his
Actions 'pro-German.a e.
b Later Backed Aid to Britain.
However, in 1941 when Germany
had overrun France and stood at
England's doorstep he stated pub
licly he hoped Britain would emerge
victorious. He said he favored
American shipment of arms to
Britain because I believe that in so
doing we are helping the defense of
this country"
During his later campaigning he
adopted the sobriquet Big Bill the
Builder" and could point to such
impressive achievements as the
Michigan link bridge and much of
the city's famed boulevard system.
Opponents countered by charging
the costs were too high-but to
thousands of Chicagoans using the
streets, parks and bridges these
charges were simply politics, and
they kept backing Mr. Thompson
until he began to fade out of the
picture in 1880. Since then he has
lived In virtual retirement.
Mr.. Thompson's years at the city's
helm saw unusual expansion and
building activity. but ended in flnan-
cial chaos. -Four aggressive money
raising campaigns and four suits
for libel against Chicago newspapers
and individuals also marked his
political career.
Denied Diverting Funds.
Charges that he had diverted to
his own campaign fund part of a
mississippi flood relief fund" he
organized in 1927 were dragged
through the courts for years. In
1889 he complied with an order OF
the Illinois Appellate Court requiring
him to turn over to the Illinois
attorney general s72,79479. Mr.
Thompson contended he had spent
1.-The money for promotion and ad-
1ministration of the relief fund.
Mr. Thompson tried for a fourth
term in 1881, but was defeated by
Anton Cermak, a Democrat. He
didn't campaign again until 1886
When he ran poor third as the
Union Progressive partys candi-
date for Governor.
He made his last campaign three
years later, seeking the Republican
nomination for Mayor, but was de-
feated in the primary by Dwight
H. Green, now Governor of Illinois
Gov. Green was defeated by Mayor
Edward J. Kelly in the election.
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