1927 Chicago mayoral election

none January 2025 November 2019 1927 Chicago mayoral election Chicago 1917 presidential No 1923 Chicago mayoral election 1923 1931 Chicago mayoral election 1931 April 5, 1927 no William Hale Thompson (1) (3x4a).jpg William Hale Thompson Republican 515,716 51.6% File:William Emmett Dever 1923 headshot (1).jpg x150px William Emmett Dever Democratic 432,678 43.3% File:Dr. John Dill Robertson May 4, 1915 (1).jpg John Dill Robertson People's Ownership Smash Crime Rings d0d0d0 51,347 5.1% Mayor William Emmett Dever Democratic William Hale Thompson Republican Chicago 1927 mayor by ward.png Results of the general election by ward Ward results The 1927 Chicago mayoral election was held on April 5, 1927. Democratic incumbent William Emmett Dever was defeated by Republican candidate William Hale Thompson, who had served as mayor from 1915 to 1923. John Dill Robertson (the president West Parks Board, as well as former health commissioner and school board president), who had been previously allied with the ex-mayor, broke with Thompson to run on his own and received more than five percent of the vote. It remains 2023 y the last Chicago mayoral election to be won by a candidate who is not a member of the Democratic Party. Dever had enforced Prohibition despite being personally opposed to it. This led to increased bootlegging and violence in the city and reduced citizen support. Thompson and Robertson seized the opportunity and entered the race. Thompson promised to end the enforcement of Prohibition and accused the United Kingdom of trying to retake control of the United States, while Robertson promised to quash the crime wave. Thompson bitterly attacked his campaign opponents and it was public knowledge that he was supported and funded by Al Capone. Dever's supporters pushed back against Thompson's rhetoric, asserting that Dever had the sensible policies and the "decency" appropriate for the city. Thompson's victory damaged Chicago's national reputation. To receive the Democratic nomination, Dever won the party's primary election with 91 percent of the vote, facing only a single weak opponent. Thompson defeated Cook County Board of Review Chairman Edward R. Litsinger in the Republican primary by a 14.61-percent margin of victory. Background Democrat William Emmett Dever had been elected mayor of Chicago in 1923 and initially focused on reform.Schmidt 1995 pp. 87–89 Observing the corruption of city government caused by bootleggers, he resolved to crack down on the illegal liquor trade and strengthen enforcement of Prohibition.Schmidt 1995 p. 89 He was himself opposed to Prohibition, but felt that disregard for one law could lead to disregard for others. His crackdown on Prohibition was initially effective and led to him being considered a potential dark horse candidate for President of the United States.Schmidt 1995 p. 90 Nevertheless, the limited supply of alcohol led to bootleggers competing with one another, increasing violence in the city, lowering Chicagoans' approval of Dever's performance.Schmidt 1995 p. 97 Aware of the effects of Prohibition enforcement on his mayoralty, Dever was reluctant to run for a second term in 1927, a feeling strengthened by poor health and lucrative job offers in the private sector.Schmidt 1995 p. 93 George E. Brennan, chief of the Democratic party, felt that Dever was the Democrats' strongest candidate against Thompson,Schmidt 1989 p. 148 and he and businessman Julius Rosenwald convinced Dever to run for reelection.Schmidt 1989 p. 150 Republican William Hale Thompson, known as "Big Bill", had been mayor for two terms from 1915 to 1923 and took advantage of the situation to run for a third term, promising to end the enforcement of Prohibition.Schottenhamel p. 42 Having declined a bid for reelection in 1923, he had managed to stay in the public eye by constructing a yawl named the Big Bill with his head as the figurehead and spending $25,000$US 25000 1927 2018 -4 c in 2018. Thompson split the cost with allies William Lorimer and George F. Harding. to take it on an expedition to Borneo to find a tree-climbing fish, all ostensibly as a publicity stunt for the Illinois Waterway.Schottenhamel p. 41 He was immensely popular with the city's African-American community,Schottenhamel p. 43 having served as alderman of the 2nd ward, home of Chicago's largest black population, from 1900 to 1902.Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office. http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm Chicago Historical Society March 18, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052355/http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm September 4, 2018 dead He also had enemies from his previous tenure, including the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Daily News,Schottenhamel p. 33 and had started to wear out his welcome with former allies such as party boss Frederick Lundin.Schottenhamel pp. 42–43 West Parks Board President John Dill Robertson, also known as "J.D.", "Doctor Dill", and "Dill Pickle", who had previously been the city's health commissioner from 1915 to 1922,Dr. Robertson Resigns https://www.newspapers.com/image/70491169/ March 28, 2019 The Daily Pantagraph 76 28 1 February 2, 1922 subscription Newspapers.com the President of the Chicago Board of Education after that,DR. J.D. ROBERTSON OF CHICAGO DIES; Former Health Commissioner Succumbs to Heart Disease at the Age of 60. RAN FOR MAYOR IN 1927 Broke With Thompson to Head Independents--Organized Loyola University's Medical School. https://www.nytimes.com/1931/08/21/archives/dr-jd-robertson-of-chicago-dies-former-health-commissioner-succumbs.html subscription The New York Times 19 April 2020 21 August 1931 and an ally of Thompson,Schottenhamel p. 32 ran against Thompson in the Republican primary supported by Lundin. Serving at the time as President of the West Parks Board,One of 22 organizations that would be merged to form the Chicago Park District in 1934.History of Chicago's Park https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/about-us/history-chicagos-park Chicago Park District March 21, 2019Schmidt 1989 p. 154 he promised to enforce Prohibition while it was still on the books and to smash organized crime in thirty days if elected, comparing gunmen gangs to boils and the bootleg industry to an appendix.Douglas W. A. S. Dr. Robertson Puts Out Poetry To Win Chicago Women's Votes https://www.newspapers.com/image/373315311 January 4, 2019 The Baltimore Sun 180 40D 1 January 3, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Lundin later had Robertson withdraw from the Republican primary in order to campaign for candidate Edward R. Litsinger, and Robertson agreed not to run as an independent in the general election if Litsinger won the primary.Evans Arthur Litsinger cites fee scandal of Thompson rule https://www.newspapers.com/image/354967319/ January 4, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 34 1 February 9, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Early in the campaign Thompson debated with live rats as stand-ins Robertson and Lundin.Selzer Adam Rahm might be bad, but Chicago's last Republican mayor was worse https://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/rahm-might-be-bad-but-chicagos-last-republican-mayor-was-worse TimeOut March 23, 2019 February 13, 2015Bright pp. 257–258 Primary elections thumb|Officials sorting blank ballot papers in the offices of the Chicago Board of Elections ahead of the primaries Primary elections took place on February 22,Schmidt 1989 p. 156 along with primary elections for City Clerk and City Treasurer and the first round of aldermanic elections. February 22 was incidentally Washington Day.Big Bill Wins Nomination in Chicago https://www.newspapers.com/image/668526671 Newspapers.com subscription The Associated Press The Watchman and Southron 22 October 2023 en February 26, 1927 The primaries were plagued by electoral violence. The New York Times characterized the primaries as plagued by, "shootings, sluggings, theft of ballot boxes, police raids and the arrest of about two hundred gangesters and repeaters at the polls".Thompson Winner In Chicago Primary; Dever Renominated https://www.nytimes.com/1927/02/23/archives/thompson-winner-in-chicago-primary-dever-renominated-mayoralty.html The New York Times 10 January 2022 23 February 1927 The Associated Press provided a similar description. Ahead of the election, Cook County Highway Police Chief Michael Hughes came into conflict with General Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department Morgan Collins regarding election security. Hughes had ordered county highway police to supervise polls on the city's West Side. However, Collins then ordered the city police to arrest any county policemen found to be "loitering" around polling places.Chicago Trembles on Eve of Primary https://www.nytimes.com/1927/02/22/archives/chicago-trembles-on-eve-of-primary-rioting-feared-at-polls-and-a.html The New York Times The Associated Press 7 September 2022 22 February 1927 Democratic primary thumb|alt=Democratic primary results by ward|Results of the Democratic primary by ward Dever faced no genuine opposition in his party's primary.Evans Arthur Call Political Einsteins for Vote Analysis https://www.newspapers.com/image/355162916/ March 18, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 48 6 February 25, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Attorney Martin Walsh of the 27th ward filed on February 2, claiming to have the backing of "the old municipal ownership leaders" and joining the race "to give Mayor Dever a little exercise."Evans Arthur Redeem G.O.P., Litsinger plea; race speeds up https://www.newspapers.com/image/354964491/ January 4, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 29 4 February 3, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Barratt O'Hara, former lieutenant governor of Illinois, withdrew from the race on February 11, claiming that running against Dever was hopeless and that he expected that Democrats opposed to Dever would vote in the Republican primary for Thompson instead of voting in the Democratic primary.Evans Arthur O'Hara Pulls Out https://www.newspapers.com/image/354968674 January 4, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 37 5 February 12, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Ahead of the primary election day, Dever put up a confident face, touting his leadership and his prospects for the general election, remarking, Chicago is well worth saving. I am not going to spare anyone, but I will hold up to ridicule those who have done so much to make this city a laughing stock of the world. The time has come for plain talk. I don't care a snap of my finger who is nominated on the Republican side. Whoever it is in for the biggest and best beating a candidate ever got in this city. Dever touted as successes of his mayoral term the construction of a large number of new school buildings, the construction of Wacker Drive, the construction of new bridges, road paving projects, river-straightening projects on the Chicago River, and street lighting installation. Although he overwhelmingly defeated his token opponent, winning all the wards and securing the citywide vote by more than 10 to 1, Dever's vote total in the Democratic primary was less than the margin of victory Thompson had secured in the Republican primary. Dever's camp argued that this was not a bad omen but rather that, due to the lack of a competitive race in the Democratic primary, many of Dever's supporters either did not participate in the primaries or voted instead for Thompson in the Republican primary to try and nominate the weaker prospective opponent. Dever anticipated that he would still be able to win reelection with more than 600,000 votes in the general election. Mayor of Chicago 1927 (Democratic Primary)Canvassing Sheet of Primary Election in the City of Chicago—February 22nd, 1927 February 22, 1927 The Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago and ex-officio that of the City of Chicago Heights, the Town of Cicero and the Village of Summit Democratic Party (United States) William Emmett Dever (incumbent) 149,422 91.85 Democratic Party (United States) Martin Walsh 13,260 8.15 162,682 100.00 Republican primary William Hale Thompson 1927 mayoral campaign#Republican primary campaign thumb|alt=G.O.P. primary results by ward|Results of the Republican primary by ward thumb|Newspaper advertisement in support of Edward R. Litsinger's campaign, advertising Litsinger's pledge to be a "working mayor for Chicago" Edward R. Litsinger, who was chairman of the Cook County Board of Review and backed by reform-minded U.S. Senator Charles S. Deneen and Edward J. Brundage, (the latter of whom had split from his political ally Robert E. Crowe by supporting LitsingerBukowski pp. 182–183), announced his platform on January 9. He promised to compel the City Council to adopt an ordinance that would end the Chicago Traction Wars and consolidate all transportation lines under public ownership,At the time, Chicago's streetcar lines were managed by Chicago Surface LinesHistory – The CTA is created (1947) http://www.chicago-l.org/history/CTA1.html Chicago "L".org March 24, 2019 while the "L" was under the control of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the buses were operated by the Chicago Motor Coach Company,Wilson Mark R. Porter Stephen R. Reiff Janice L. Chicago Motor Coach Co. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2604.html Encyclopedia of Chicago Chicago Historical Society April 9, 2019 all private corporations. Public control would come with the formation of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to control the "L" and streetcars in 1947, and complete consolidation took place when the CTA acquired the Chicago Motor Coach Company in 1952. to construct subways, to form a police investigation into the rampant crime, to look at causes of recent tax increases and investigate potential ways to reverse them, and to clean up streets and alleys.Litsinger for subways now, platform says https://www.newspapers.com/image/354906294/ January 9, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 8 8 January 10, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com He criticized Thompson as having been corrupt during his previous tenure as mayor. In his campaign, Litsinger pledged "to be a working mayor for all Chicago." Litsinger placed the blame for the city's crime on Robert E. Crowe, the Thompson-aligned Cook County state's attorney.Mayor Battle Grows Hotter on All Fronts Chicago Tribune February 16, 1927: Mayor Battle Grows Hotter on All Fronts https://www.newspapers.com/image/355158739 Newspapers.com subscription 1 Chicago Tribune 22 October 2023 en February 16, 1927 Mayor Battle Grows Hotter on All Fronts https://www.newspapers.com/image/355158757 Newspapers.com subscription 2 Chicago Tribune 22 October 2023 en February 16, 1927 Robertson initially planned to run in the primary before dropping out in favor of Litsinger per his agreement with Lundin, mounting an independent bid upon Litsinger's primary loss.Bukowski p. 183 Former policeman Eugene McCaffrey filed for candidacy on February 2 and attracted suspicion as many of the names on his petition sheets appeared to have been written in the same handwriting. He was allowed on the ballot and received more than 1,500 votes. The Republican primary was marked by intense vitriol between the candidates. Thompson accused Robertson of messy eating, stating that "[With] eggs in his whiskers, soup on his vest, you'd think the doc got his education driving a garbage wagon." Robertson retaliated, accusing Thompson of corruption. Litsinger reiterated such accusations against Thompson and further accused Thompson of conspiring to get 50,000 Democratic votes. Both candidates asserted that they were guaranteed victory and accused the other of conspiring to steal the primary.Evans Arthur Big Bill mauls Doctor Dill for being unrefined https://www.newspapers.com/image/355159682/ March 18, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 42 5 February 18, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com In an open letter, Thompson charged that Edward Brundage and Fred Lundin were suburbanites and were guilty of betraying their city roots. He also alleged that Litsinger, who had come from Back of the Yards, had abandoned his roots, writing "You moved to the Gold Coast. Are you thinking of joining the high brows of Lake Forest and becoming a resident of Lake County too?" Thompson won by a surprisingly large margin;Bright p. 249 to many, his victory itself was a surprise. He carried 49 of the city's 50 wards. After Thompson's victory, both partisans of Robertson and Democratic leaders claimed that Democratic voters for Thompson had propelled him to the Republican nomination, with the Democrats claiming that they did so in order to give Dever a weaker opponent in the general election. Additionally, The New York Times reported that thousands of Republicans had refused to cast a vote for either candidate in the primary. Litsinger delivered a concession speech at his campaign headquarters in the Morrison Hotel, saying, I will concede that Thompson received more votes than I. I will not concede that he is the better man nor the better candidate. I still believe that the corporation of Chicago needs a businessman at the head of its government. We appealed to the voters of Chicago on the issue of political decency and were rejected. It is unfortunate for Chicago that its citizens rejected political decency. With this experience of defeat still fresh, I say that [if I could do it all] over again...I would [run] again, and make the same sort of campaign...win or lose, I would have no regrets. I have none.Browne Parke Lundin's Bomb for Thompson Set for Today https://www.newspapers.com/image/355162032/ Newspapers.com subscription Chicago Tribune 22 October 2023 en February 23, 1927 With Thompson's primary victory Robertson launched his independent campaign,Evans Arthur Litsinger hit 2 to 1 in every ward but one https://www.newspapers.com/image/355162013/ March 28, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 46 1 February 23, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com having filed a petition the day of the primary with 43,724 signatures to get his People's Ownership Smash Crime Rings party on the ballot. Mayor of Chicago 1927 (Republican Primary)Data missing for McCaffrey from the 5th ward Republican Party (United States) William Hale Thompson 342,279 67.62 Republican Party (United States) Edward R. Litsinger 162,240 32.05 Republican Party (United States) Eugene McCaffrey 1,633 0.32 506,152 100.00 Independent Republican primary The "Independent Republican" ticket held a primary. The mayoral slot had no candidates, but write-in votes were cast. Thompson won this primary, but chose not to accept their nomination. Mayor of Chicago 1927 (Independent Republican Primary)City To Vote On Home Rule; File Petition Today https://www.newspapers.com/image/355092894 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 5, 1927 Write-in William Hale Thompson 173 43.58 Write-in John Dill Robertson 115 28.97 Write-in Edward R. Litsinger 77 19.40 Write-in William Emmett Dever (incumbent) 31 7.81 Write-in Oscar Wolff 1 0.25 397 100.00 General election The general election was held on April 5, along with general elections for City Clerk and City Treasurer and aldermanic runoffs.Albert defeats Haffa in bitter Council battle https://www.newspapers.com/image/354945272 December 31, 2018 Chicago Tribune 86 82 5 April 6, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Campaign William Hale Thompson 1927 mayoral campaign#General election campaign right William Emmett Dever campaigns before stockyards workers in the lobby of the Exchange building on April 2, 1927.jpg Dever campaigning before stockyard workers in the Exchange Building of the Union Stock Yards William Hale Thompson speaks at a mass ,meeting held at the Medinah Temple on the night of April 2, 1927 (2).jpg Thompson speaks at a mass meeting at the Medinah Temple Campaign events held by Dever and Thompson, both on April 2, 1927 thumb|alt=A sketch of Thompson with text exhorting the reader to "Vote for 'Big Bill the Builder'" who it says "cannot be bought, bossed, or bluffed"|Thompson campaign poster, touting him as "Big Bill the Builder" who "cannot be bought, bossed, or bluffed" thumb|Advertisement in support of Dever's campaign, characterizing the election as a fight to preserve the reputation of the city|alt=Campaign poster with the heading "This is your fight, this fight for Chicago's good name" Thompson accused Dever of treason. Using the slogan "America First",Bright p. 242 he alleged that the school superintendent, William McAndrew, was a British agent sent by King George as part of a grand conspiracy to manipulate the minds of American children and set the groundwork for the United Kingdom to repossess the United States; he accused the "left-handed Irishman" Dever of being part of the plot.Schmidt 1995 p. 94Bright p. 253 Thompson based these claims on McAndrew being critical of such artworks as Archibald Willard's The Spirit of '76 and allowing the use in schools of textbooks which Thompson believed were unpatriotic. Thompson declared that his America First slate would elect so many of its candidates that "the king of England will find out for the first time he is damned unpopular", and implied that he might have Dever sent to jail. He described Dever as "very weak, no courage, no manhood, doesn't know how to fight".https://m.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/06/02/chicago-mayor-big-bill-thompson-used-american-first-decades-before-trump Chicago mayor Big Bill Thompson used 'America First' decades before Trump Nichols Jeff June 2, 2017 Chicago Reader March 22, 2019 March 22, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190322043049/https://m.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/06/02/chicago-mayor-big-bill-thompson-used-american-first-decades-before-trump dead He promised to reform the police department by ending enforcement of prohibition. He also criticized the League of Nations and the World Court.Herrick Mary J. The Chicago schools : a Social and Political History 1971 Sage Publications Beverly Hills, Calif. 080390083X 166–168 Thompson also supported ending the metering of municipal water. Democratic chief Brennan said that "All the hoodlums are for Thompson", which Thompson used to convince his supporters that the Democrats were elitist and looked down upon them. Campaigning for German votes, Thompson stated: They called me pro-German during the war because I kept my oath to protect the people. If you make a mistake and vote for some one who doesn't care for you or his oath to God, you'll have to pay the penalty. If I'm elected mayor, I'll build the largest town hall in the world where your German choruses of 25,000 voices can sing as they never have before. Dever largely refused to engage in Thompson's style of rhetoric.Schmidt 1995 p. 95Bright p. 250 He instead promised to engage in a debate of substantive issues, partaking only in a "decent, friendly discussion without malice or sensationalism".Dever is ready;gives outline of platform https://www.newspapers.com/image/355162013/ December 31, 2018 Chicago Tribune 86 46 1 February 23, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com This was not without exception, as Dever did once comment in an interview with the Chicago Daily News that, "Thompson's trouble is mental". Largely, however, Dever responded to Thompson's accusations by declaring them "blarney" which he had no intention of dignifying, and noting that Thompson's comments on international affairs were irrelevant to the duties and powers of the mayoralty. He ran on the slogans "Dever for Decency" and "The best mayor Chicago ever had",Schottenhamel p. 44 the former also used by The Independent Republicans for Dever Committee.Schmidt 1989 p. 157 He attempted, particularly early in the race, to tout parts of his record such as his construction of Wacker Drive and 51 new schools, as well as a pure milk ordinance he had helped pass. He promised to continue his construction program, including building a long-anticipated State Street subway and widening LaSalle Street.The State Street Subway would open in 1943.Operations – Lines -> State Street Subway http://www.chicago-l.org/operations/lines/state_subway.html Chicago-l.org March 20, 2019 He demurred that "no superman can be found to eliminate crime". Dever's campaign characterized Thompson as, "a political pyromaniac".Nichols Jeff Chicago mayor Big Bill Thompson used 'America First' decades before Trump https://chicagoreader.com/blogs/chicago-mayor-big-bill-thompson-used-america-first-decades-before-trump/ Chicago Reader 10 January 2022 2 June 2017 Dever allies accused Thompson of receiving $100,000 in campaign contributions from transit and public utilities mogul Samuel Insull during his 1915 mayoral campaign, and insinuated that he was again receiving significant financial support from Insull.Intimating Insull Supports Thompson https://www.newspapers.com/image/830420170 Newspapers.com subscription The Associated Press New Britain Herald 23 October 2023 en March 18, 1927 Supporters of both Thompson and Dever resorted to bigotry. Some Republicans used anti-Catholic rhetoric against Dever. Despite Dever also having had a positive relation with black residents of the city, some Democrats attempted to take advantage of Thompson's particularly positive relation with the city's African-American community in order to divide voters racially,Schottenhamel pp. 43–44 claiming that Thompson's election would lead to "Negro supremacy". Palm cards were circulated with an image of Thompson kissing a black boy and with the reverse side reading "Thompson—Me Africa First".Bukowski p. 182 Some Democrats hired black people to canvass white neighborhoods for Thompson in an effort to scare white voters. They also attempted to lure black Thompson voters downtown, where they did not often go, with a fake rally outside of Thompson's campaign headquarters. Additionally, the song "Bye Bye Blackbird" was sung at some Dever rallies. Dever supporters also mocked Thompson and his supporters by having a Black man dress up as Paul Revere ride on horseback through the Chicago Loop shouting "The British are coming."Carl Jim "Good politics is Good Government": The Troubling History of Mayoral Control of the Public Schools in Twentieth-Century Chicago American Journal of Education 2009 115 2 305–336 10.1086/595666 10.1086/595666 145078307 https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/595666 0195-6744 subscription Supporters of each candidate accused the other's supporters of plotting to use underhanded tactics to steal the election. In the closing day of the campaign, Dever and Thompson accused each other of attempting to incite a race riot among the city's Black populace.Thompson and Dever in Home Stretch https://www.newspapers.com/image/304634293 newspapers.com The Times (Munster, Indiana) International News Service 14 January 2022 en subscription March 28, 1927 Robertson continued his platform of quashing crime, promising to "find another Theodore Roosevelt" as police chief and smash organized crime within thirty days.Evans Arthur Robertson dares razzer to face him in person https://www.newspapers.com/image/355041095 March 22, 1927 Chicago Tribune 86 69 4 October 3, 2018 subscription Newspapers.com At a rally on March 28, 1927, Robertson announced that, if elected, he would appoint former United States attorney Edwin A. Olson as police chief.Evans Arthur Lundin Smites 'Big Baby Bill' As City's Shame https://www.newspapers.com/image/355045611 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 14 January 2022 en subscription March 29, 1927 In the closing days of the campaign, analysts perceived Dever to be gaining new momentum.Hoffman Gene Troops Ready For Trouble At Polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/304637061 newspapers.com The Times (Munster, Indiana) I. N. Service 14 January 2022 en 15 subscription April 4, 1927 none center Example campaign advertisements "America First" ad from Chicago mayoral election, 1927.jpg A newspaper clipping of an image of George Washington accompanied by the question "Why America First?" followed by a paragraph of text A campaign ad in support of Thompson baring the slogan "America First". This full-page ad was run March 30, 1927Tarvardian Arthur Norman Battle Over the Chicago Schools: The Superintendency of William Mcandrew https://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4241&context=luc_diss Loyola University Chicago 210 11 March 2020 1992 "What kind of city do you want to live in?" advertisement by Independent Republican Dever Committee.jpg An image of Dever atop the skyline of Chicago accompanied by the question "What kind of a city do you want to live in?" and paragraphs of text. Ad run by the "Independent Republican Dever Committee" in the Chicago Tribune urging voters to reelect Dever "for Chicago's good name" and asking voters to consider "what kind of a city" they want to live in John Dill Robertson 1927 mayoral campaign at "Have You A Child To Spare?".jpg Newspaper advertisement run in support of John Dill Robertson's candidacy by the Chicago Business Men's Republican Committee. The ad touts Robertson as the candidate who could quash the "beast" of crime. Endorsements Thompson was backed by two Hearst-owned newspapers, as well as the African-American Daily Defender and L'Italia, the city's second-best selling Italian newspaper. Four of the city's daily newspapers backed Dever, as did the city's largest Polish, Jewish, and Italian newspapers. thumb|Cook County Wage-Earner's League newspaper advertisement claiming that "95% of the Trades Unions in Chicago Endorse Thompson"|alt=Large advertisement with the heading "Union labor presents a solid front for William Hale Thompson for Mayor" The Chicago Federation of Labor endorsed Thompson. Margaret Haley, president of the Chicago Federation of Teachers, personally endorsed him as well. The Cook County Wage-Earners' League ran an advertisement for Thompson in the Chicago Tribune, in which it claimed that 95 percent of the trade unions in Chicago endorsed him.Union Labor presents a solid front for Wm. Hale Thompson for Mayor https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942505/ March 18, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 79 8 April 2, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com However, in actuality, labor support was divided between the two major party candidates. While the Cook County Wage Earners, headed by Chicago Federation of Labor vice-president Oscar F. Nelson, backed Thompson, a notable group of labor officials also backed Dever. Among those backing Dever were Chicago Federation of Labor president John Fitzpatrick and Illinois State Federation of Labor secretary Victory A. Olander. Dever also received the endorsement of the union representing the city's transit employees (workers on its streetcar and elevated lines).Street Car Men Uphold Dever; Rap Thompson https://www.newspapers.com/image/355096158 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 7, 1927Herrick John "Think of City-Vote For Dever," New Battle Cry https://www.newspapers.com/image/355095695 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 7, 1927 After Thompson beat Deneen's favored candidate in the primary Deneen backed Thompson in the general election. Martin Walsh, who had run against Dever in the Democratic primary, served as a stump speaker for Thompson. Thompson was also endorsed by Illinois Attorney General Oscar E. Carlstrom, Illinois Secretary of State Louis Lincoln Emmerson, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Fred E. Sterling, Cook County Sheriff Charles E. Graydon, Cook County Coroner Oscar Wolff and Chicago Postmaster (and 1923 Republican mayoral nominee) Arthur C. Lueder.G.O.P. Foes Bury Hatchets At Big Thompson Rally https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942748 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 3, 1927Election's Eve Brings Chicago Riot Warning https://www.newspapers.com/image/413238009 newspapers.com The Billings Gazette The Associated Press 14 January 2022 en subscription April 5, 1927Black Ordered To Chicago For Situation Review https://www.newspapers.com/image/569733688 newspapers.com The Selma Times-Journal The Associated Press en subscription April 3, 1927 Thompson also received a last-minute endorsement from Illinois Governor Len Small.Hoffman Gene Troops Ready For Trouble At Polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/304637061 newspapers.com The Times (Munster, Indiana) I. N. Service 14 January 2022 1 en subscription April 4, 1927 Thompson received the endorsement of Al Capone after promising lax enforcement of Prohibition.Eig pp. 94–95 It was public knowledge that Capone was supporting Thompson's campaign effort, collecting campaign contributions from those who sold his beer. Capone donated between $100,000$US 100000 1927 2018 -5 in 2018 and $500,000$US 500000 1927 2018 -5 in 2018Schmidt 1989 p. 162 to Thompson's campaign. Other crime figures backing Thompson included Jack Zuta, who gave $50,000$US 50000 1927 2018 -4 c in 2018 to his campaign,Bukowski p. 187 Timothy D. Murphy, and Vincent Drucci. Dever was endorsed by prominent reformers campaigning for "Dever and Decency" on his behalf, including Charles Edward Merriam, Harriet Vittum, Harold L. Ickes, and Jane Addams.Eig p. 95 The Ministerial Association of Chicago also endorsed Dever, calling him "the best mayor Chicago ever had ... [and] as loyal as a Catholic as he is [a] citizen".Ministers Endorse Dever https://www.newspapers.com/image/514520523/ March 18, 2019 The South Bend Tribune 53 319 2 April 15, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com He was backed by businessmen Sewell Avery, Julius Rosenwald, and W. A. Wieboldt, as well as university presidents Max Mason and Walter Dill Scott and attorney Orville James Taylor. He was also backed by socialites Louise deKoven Bowen and Edward Ryerson Jr, as well as builder Potter Palmer and Donald Richberg. Congressman Adolph J. Sabath was a strong backer of Dever's campaign.Hon. William E. Dever, Mayor of Chicago, Who is Being Forced to Wage the Political Life of His Life in Order to R-occupy the City Hall Four Years Longer https://www.newspapers.com/image/900609867/ subscription Newspapers.com The Broad Ax 22 October 2023 en March 26, 1927 School superintendent William McAndrew distributed a letter to school principals urging for people to vote Dever. thumb|Edward Herbert Wright campaigns for John Dill Robertson In addition to Lundin, Robertson was supported by the incumbentAlbert had been defeated by Haffa in the first-round aldermanic election.Hewitt Oscar Barbee, Albert, and Fick go into discard https://www.newspapers.com/image/355162013/ April 9, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 46 1 February 23, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com However, he filed an appeal to have the result struck, and at the time of the endorsement had gained a new race in the runoff, which he would win. Ultimately, however, the council would vote to unseat him in favor of Haffa on October 31, claiming that the judge in the case had erred in counting spoiled ballots to determine the majority needed to avoid a runoff and thereby granting Albert a new race.Albert ousted; Haffa sworn in as Alderman https://www.newspapers.com/image/354956468/ January 3, 2019 Chicago Daily Tribune 86 209 3 September 1, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com 43rd ward alderman Arthur F. Albert,Albert swings to Dr. Dill in 43rd ward race https://www.newspapers.com/image/355039086/ December 31, 2018 Chicago Tribune 86 12 7 March 20, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com whose opponent Titus Haffa endorsed Thompson. Henry F. Batterman, Lundin's 41st ward committeeman, supported Robertson before crossing over to Thompson.Evans Arthur G.O.P. groups spurn Big Bill, turn to Dever https://www.newspapers.com/image/355098504/ January 4, 2019 The Chicago Tribune 86 11 1 March 13, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Despite Thompson's popularity with African American voters, there were Edward Herbert Wright-aligned Black Republicans who publicly backed Robertson.Big Bill Your Worst Enemy, Negroes Told https://www.newspapers.com/image/354944516 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 4, 1927 Polling Chicago Tribune straw polls The Chicago Tribune conducted straw polls during a portion of the campaign. The first of these polls was published on March 20, 1927.Hewitt Oscar Tribune Poll Shows Early Thompson Lead https://www.newspapers.com/image/355039034 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 20, 1927 These were not modern scientific polls, and many focused on specific sub-portions of the city's populace, rather than true representative samples. The Chicago Tribune straw polls indicated that Thompson had very strong support among African Americans.Hewitt Oscar Dever Gains On Thompson By South Side Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942484 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 2, 1927 The cummulative result of all 132,107 straw votes cast over the polls published between March 20 and April 4, 1927, was 51.20 percent for Thompson, 44.22 percent for Dever, and 4.56 percent for Robertson. Despite Thompson regularly leading these polls, on April 4, 1927, the Chicago Tribune wrote that a "Dever plurality" was indicated by an increasing trend towards the mayor in the later days of straw polling.News Summary https://www.newspapers.com/image/354944511/ newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 14 January 2022 en subscription April 4, 1927 Chicago Tribune straw polls for the 1927 Chicago mayoral election.chart Chicago Tribune straw polls for the 1927 Chicago mayoral election.tab 700px Chicago Tribune straw polls Datepublished Samplesize William Emmett Dever(Democrat) John Dill Robertson(Independent) William Hale Thompson(Republican) LeadApril 4, 1927Trend of Straw Votes Indicates Dever Plurality https://www.newspapers.com/image/354944524 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 4, 192711,716This straw poll was conducted in all three sides of the city. Locations were South Side street corners, South Side theaters, various West Side locations (including Chicago "L" stations), West Side theaters, and North Side Chicago "L" stations.46.36%5.56%48.09%+1.73April 3, 1927Tribune Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942739 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 3, 192713,789This straw poll was conducted in all three sides of the city. "Collected from north side theaters and north side stations of the elevated, from south side street corners, and then two canvasses of the west side, one of street corners alone, and another of street intersections and elevated stations. Mayor Dever took the lead in the north side "L" stations and in one of the polls of the west side, and the race was reasonably close on the south side".Sraw Ballot Race Is Hotter; Bill Still Leads https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942745 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 14 January 2022 en subscription April 3, 192746.77%3.50%49.72%+2.95April 2, 1927Tribune Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942462 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 2, 19276,198Straw poll of street intersections on the South Side44.34%5.25%50.41%+6.07April 1, 1927Hewitt Oscar Size of Vote by Women May Decide Election https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942210 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription April 1, 19278,943Straw poll conducted March 30, taken at "west side street intersection and loop theaters". It was noted that, "women predominated heavily at the movies, and at those places Mayor Dever took the lead; while at the west side street intersections Thompson had a substantial margin".44.70%4.90%50.38%+5.68March 30, 1927Hewitt Oscar Mayoral Race Gets Closer On Straw Course https://www.newspapers.com/image/355046172 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 30, 192710,473Straw poll an amalgamation of, "the opinions of 10,473 persons found at west side theaters and street corners, at one or more street intersections in each ward of south side, and three separate polls, exclusively of women, in outlying districts"44.82%4.16%50.01%+5.19March 29, 1927Hewitt Oscar Latest of Straw Votes, Favoring Dever, Lowers Thompson's Previous Lead https://www.newspapers.com/image/355045631 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 29, 19278,283Straw poll an amalgamation of, "six different polls. One was of south side movie theaters, another was of Jewish, another of German, another of Swedish, another was of Swedish, and still another of Norwegian residents. With one exception, the poll by races was obtained Sunday at the door of churches attended principally by each nationality. Some of them were too late for adequate check and corrolation yesterday morning." Saturday, in this instance, would have meant March 26, 1927.53.89%3.03%43.07%+10.82March 28, 1927Hewitt Oscar Dever Swamps Bill In Poll of Church Voters Chicago Tribune en March 28, 1927: Hewitt Oscar Dever Swamps Bill In Poll of Church Voters https://www.newspapers.com/image/355045129 newspapers.com 1 Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 28, 1927 Hewitt Oscar Dever Swamps Big Bill In Poll of Church Voters https://www.newspapers.com/image/355045179 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription 4 March 28, 19274,741Straw poll an amalgamation of polls of select churches, and polls of North Side theater-goers.56.85%4.26%38.89%+17.96March 27, 1927Hewitt Oscar Big Bill Sweeps Colored Section In Tribune Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/355042820 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 27, 19275,956Straw poll taken at, "west side movie theaters and certain street intersection in the heart of the south side colored area"31.20%3.54%65.16%+33.96March 26, 1927Hewitt Oscar Factory Straw Vote Cuts Into Thompson Lead https://www.newspapers.com/image/355042500 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 26, 192712,916Straw poll an amalgamation of, "120 different polls" of factory workers and clerical help43.31%4.76%52.91%+9.60March 25, 1927Hewitt Oscar Factory Straw Vote Cuts Into Thompson Lead https://www.newspapers.com/image/355042109 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 25, 19275,664Straw poll partially among, "employees of factories, mills, and plants which have not heretofore been polled by The Tribune." The poll showed, "Mayor Dever made an unexpected showing in view of previous straws collected, and ran ahead among office employees of factories". Additionally, "sundry street intersection and three loop office buildings were polled." Additionally, "a poll was taken of the street car men at the North avenue barn. They lined up stronger for Dever than had been anticipated. More than three-fourths of them cast Dever ballots".46.58%6.48%48.00%+1.42March 24, 1927Hewitt Oscar Straw Ballots Still Favoring Thompson https://www.newspapers.com/image/355041718 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 24, 19276,94636.19%4.35%59.46%+23.27March 23, 1927Hewitt Oscar Big Bill Holds 81% of Negroes' Ballots In Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/355041318 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 24, 19278,029Straw poll, "from 21 south side movie theaters, four street intersections in white neighborhoods, five street corners in colored sections, all on the city's south side; and several miscellaneous locations. The total votes collected are 8,929, of which more than 80 per cent were gathered on the south side" 6,524 votes in the straw poll were collected from the South Side.41.64%3.75%54.59%+12.85March 22, 1927Hewitt Oscar Dever Gains On Bill In Poll of White Collars https://www.newspapers.com/image/355041100 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 13 January 2022 en subscription March 22, 19279,321Straw poll conducted at downtown office buildings and South Sude "sundry theaters"53.68%4.25%44.22%+9.46March 21, 1927West Side Pads Thompson Lead in Tribune Poll https://www.newspapers.com/image/355040767/ subscription Newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 26 April 2023 en March 21, 19235,368Straw poll of West Side35.46%5.76%58.77%+23.31March 20, 19275,882Straw poll of patrons of prominent movie theaters, with 20 theaters canvassed (14 on the North Side, and six on the South Side).44.08%4.25%51.66%+7.58 Chicago Business Men's Republican Committee straw polls Newspaper advertisements for Robertson's campaign run by the Chicago Business Men's Republican Committee included straw polls which each surveyed several locations in the city. The committee, which actively supported Robertson's candidacy, had tabulated the straw polls itself.Advertisement "Have You A Child To Spare?" https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942925 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 14 January 2022 en subscription April 3, 1927Advertisement "Ask Your Neighbor! The Answer Is 7 Times out of 10 John Dill Robertson Who Is the Best Man For Mayor?" https://www.newspapers.com/image/354942330 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 15 January 2022 en subscription April 1, 1927Advertisement "As You Vote, so you must pay!" -John Dill Robertson" https://www.newspapers.com/image/354944671 newspapers.com Chicago Tribune 15 January 2022 en subscription April 4, 1927 Chicago Business Men's Republican Committee straw polls Datepublished Samplesize William Emmett Dever(Democrat) John Dill Robertson(Independent) William Hale Thompson(Republican)April 4, 19271,361Straw poll conducted outside a Protestant church on North Side, outside a Catholic church on the North Side, outside a Protestant church on South Side, outside a Catholic church on the South Side, outside a Protestant church on West Side, outside a Catholic church on the West Side, at a pool room on the North Side, at a pool room on the South Side, at a pool room on the West Side, at a soft drink parlor on the North Side, a soft drink parlor on the South Side, a soft drink parlor on the West Side, a movie theater on the North Side, a movie theater on the South Side, a movie theater on the West Side, in front of the First United Methodist Church of Chicago40.12%40.34%19.54%April 3, 1927856Straw poll conducted on April 3 of 2 poll rooms on the North Side, 2 pool rooms on the South Side, 2 pool rooms on the West Side, 3 streetcars on the North Side, 3 streetcars on the South Side, 3 streetcars on the West Side, one station of the Oak Park Elevated, outside three Masonic Order meetings, and outside one Knights of Columbus meeting21.96%61.21%16.82%April 1, 19271,660Straw poll conducted of Motor Row District, State and Madison and 12:00pm, Chicago "L" trains, 12 streetcars originating in The Loop, three pool rooms, and in front of 5 churches from different denominations.32.29%45.72%21.99% Election day security thumb|Police Superintendent Morgan A. Collins (fourth from left) and several police captains plan for election day peacekeeping thumb|Policemen stand guard of blank ballot papers stored in the office of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners ahead of the general election Due to fears of race riots on election day, ahead of the election, there was talk of the military potentially providing security in the city on election day.Fear Riots At Chicago Polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/18354616 newspapers.com Modesto News-Herald United Press 14 January 2022 en subscription April 3, 1927 Ultimately, the Chicago Police Department sent 5,000 men (including standard policemen, plain clothes officers, and special machine gun squads) to guard the polls. Police Superintendent Morgan A. Collins warned the city's criminal elements, "Any gangsters that are out Tuesday had batter wear bullet-proof vests," warning that the police planned to, "shoot first, talk afterward". The Sherman House Hotel, home to both Dever and Thompson's campaign headquarters, was given police security scrutiny on election day.Fist Fights Common https://www.newspapers.com/image/65233053 newspapers.com Quad-City Times en subscription April 3, 1927 Despite Cook County Sheriff Charles E. Graydon requesting that Illinois National Guardsmen be kept at the ready, they were not called to the city. Instead, Adjutant General of Illinois Carlos E. Black promised that guardsmen would be able to be deployed on a two-hour notice.Police and Machine Guns Guard Polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/8817398 newspapers.com The Decatur Daily Review The Associated Press 14 January 2022 en subscription April 5, 1927 Thompson himself had urged for the National Guard to be sent to secure the polls in Chicago.Buckingham Max Anticipate Trouble At The Polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/304636330 newspapers.com The Times (Munster, Indiana) United Press 14 January 2022 en subscription April 1, 1927 In all, more than 5,000 police officers in 100 squads guarded the city during the election.Bombs, Bullets Menace Chicago Voters https://www.newspapers.com/image/594369794 Newspapers.com The Oklahoma News subscription 24 October 2022 en April 5, 1927 The city avoided rioting on election day. Universal Service described the election as the city's "quietest election in recent years" in terms of electoral violence.Chicago Holds Quitest Election In Recent Years https://www.newspapers.com/image/774753854 newspapers.com Times Record News Universal Service 14 January 2022 en subscription April 6, 1927 In an incident of election crime, gangsters managed to steal the ballot boxes from the 29th precinct of the 45th ward at gunpoint.Six Gangsters Seize Precinct Ballot Boxes https://www.newspapers.com/image/774753854 newspapers.com Times Record News Universal Service 14 January 2022 en subscription April 6, 1927 Shot fatally during election law enforcement activity was mobster Vincent Drucci.Drucci, Chicago Gang Leader, Killed By Police https://www.newspapers.com/image/8817398 newspapers.com The Decatur Daily Review The Associated Press 14 January 2022 en subscription April 5, 1927 thumb|Men inspecting the wreckage of a bombed ward Democratic Party headquarters building, an instance of electoral violence in what was overall considered a relatively low-violence general election (by the standards of its era) The election was marked by an unusually low level of crime: only one ballot box theft and a negligible amount of violence.Quiet election surprises Cops guarding polls https://www.newspapers.com/image/354945282 January 6, 2019 The Chicago Tribune 86 82 7 April 6, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Some claimed that this was due to Capone using his men to guard polling stations and ensure votes for Thompson, but contemporary accounts make no mention of gang activity and police were dispatched to guard polling stations, aided by City Hall employees. Police attributed the quiet at least in part to the death of Drucci, who had allegedly raided the downtown offices of the Dever-supporting 42nd Ward alderman Dorsey Crowe the day before the election and was killed by police upon his arrest later that night.Eig p. 96 Among some of the incidents of crime that were reported was the kidnapping of two election judges. Two buildings were bombed, including a soft drink establishment owned by State Representative Lawrence C. O'Brien and the 42nd ward Democratic Party headquarters.Central Press Presents Interesting Scenes Taken During Chicago's Hot Election https://www.newspapers.com/image/676036804 Newspapers.com Central Press Meridian Record 22 October 2023 en April 8, 1927 subscription Result thumb|Thompson (center) casts his own ballot|alt= Black and white photograph. Thompson stands before a ballot box, inserting his ballot paper into the box. He has a male. To the left of Thompson is a male, and to the right of him is a woman, both also standing thumb|Thompson making a celebratory phone call to his wife after the election returns indicated that he had won the election|alt=Black and white photo. William Hale Thompson stands before a desk, surrounded by others, while using a telephone of the candlestick telephone-design, with the mouthpiece held to the right-side of his face by his right hand and the earpiece held to his left ear by his left hand thumb|Crowd of Thompson supporters gather in celebration outside of the Sherman House Hotel after Thompson's victory|alt=Black-and-white photograph showing a wide and busy street in a city center, with the outer lanes of traffic as well as the sidewalks filled by a massive crowd of people standing in celebration. Only the center two lanes of the road are being used by automobiles. In these center-two lanes is bumper-to-bumper automobile traffic, with the traffic consisting solely of dark-colored personal automobiles of an 1920s-era design. The vehicles are traveling bi-directionally in the North American-style norm of having vehicles drive on the righthand side of their respective direction The election set the then-record for the most votes cast in a Chicago mayoral election,Chicago Election Proves Failure of Theory Labor Should "Reward or Punish" Old Parties https://www.newspapers.com/image/878746717 Newspapers.com Daily Worker 24 October 2022 subscription en April 12, 1927 with just under a million votes being cast. Thompson won the election with more than 51 percent of votes cast, carrying 28 of the city's 50 wards. Dever's campaign ultimately failed to achieve momentum; Thompson had dominated the discourse early on and left Dever's supporters struggling to react to Thompson's campaign and ultimately failing to fully promote Dever's own message. Dever saw a significant decline in support from the Democratic party's stronghold, the city's white, working-class, inner-city wards. His support improved in traditionally Republican White Anglo-Saxon Protestant precincts along Chicago's lakeshore. Thompson carried the Black vote by more than 10 to 1, taking the three wards of Chicago's "Black Belt" by more than 59,000 votes.Schottenhamel pp. 44–45 The Associated Press credited the Black vote with supplying Thompson with his victory.Black Vote Gives Palm To "Big Bill" https://www.newspapers.com/image/568242417 newspapers.com The Spokesman-Review The Associated Press 15 January 2022 en subscription April 6, 1927 According to one study, Thompson received 42.20 percent of the Polish-American vote, Dever 54.07 percent and Robertson 3.73 percent;Kantowicz p. 79 other sources suggest Thompson may have carried as much as 46 percent of the Polish-American vote.Bukowski p. 186 By some accounts, Thompson carried 41 percent of the Czech-American vote and 43 percent of the Lithuanian-American vote, groups that typically firmly supported Democrats. He also won more than 60 percent of the German-American and Swedish-American votes,Bukowski pp. 186–187 as well as the Italian-American and Jewish votes. Edward Mazur divided his study of the Jewish vote into two groups, the European/German Jews and the Eastern European Jews.Schmidt 1989 p. 166 He found that Eastern European Jewish precincts were carried by Thompson 55 to 41 percent, while the German Jewish precincts were carried by Dever 62 to 35 percent. Mayor of Chicago 1927 (General Election)Elections – City of Chicago – April 5th, 1927 April 5, 1927 The Board of Election Commissioners of the City of Chicago and ex-officio that of the City of Chicago Heights, the Town of Cicero and the Village of Summit Republican Party (United States) William Hale Thompson 515,716 51.58 Democratic Party (United States) William Emmett Dever (incumbent) 432,678 43.28 People's Ownership Smash Crime Rings John Dill Robertson 51,347 5.14 Socialist George Koop 2 0.00 999,743 100.00 Results by wardSchmidt 1989 Table 3 (p. 187)Ward Dever Dever % Thompson Thompson % Robertson Robertson % Koop Koop % 1st 11,076 70.38% 3,931 24.98% 731 4.64% – – 2nd 1,791 6.76% 24,169 91.25% 526 1.99% – – 3rd 3,484 11.02% 27,715 87.64% 423 1.34% – – 4th 6,848 25.00% 20,107 73.40% 439 1.60% – – 5th 13,148 54.47% 10,236 42.40% 756 3.13% – – 6th 12,220 51.02% 10,843 45.27% 887 3.70% – – 7th 15,416 52.33% 12,969 44.02% 1,077 3.70% – – 8th 13,226 47.19% 13,256 47.30% 1,543 5.51% – – 9th 6,766 41.70% 7,654 47.17% 1,805 11.12% – – 10th 4,547 34.07% 7,913 59.29% 886 6.64% – – 11th 6,882 54.55% 5,253 41.64% 480 3.80% – – 12th 8,433 44.06% 10,031 52.41% 676 3.53% – – 13th 6,379 65.29% 3,214 32.89% 178 1.82% – – 14th 10,163 55.90% 7,685 42.27% 332 1.83% – – 15th 15,268 50.54% 13,437 44.48% 1,506 4.98% – – 16th 9,049 47.57% 9,288 48.82% 687 3.61% – – 17th 8,389 45.51% 8,977 48.70% 1,069 5.80% – – 18th 11,727 49.63% 10,803 45.72% 1,098 4.65% – – 19th 15,822 49.82% 14,240 44.83% 1,699 5.35% – – 20th 4,200 34.12% 7,822 63.55% 286 2.32% – – 21st 6,239 48.53% 6,167 47.97% 451 3.51% – – 22nd 7,721 57.96% 4,688 35.19% 913 6.85% – – 23rd 10,282 55.42% 7,338 39.55% 934 5.03% – – 24th 8,174 58.89% 5,361 38.63% 344 2.48% – – 25th 6,740 56.58% 4,608 38.68% 564 4.73% – – 26th 4,853 40.02% 6,948 57.30% 325 2.68% – – 27th 7,164 42.47% 8,565 50.78% 1,139 6.75% – – 28th 6,035 33.44% 10,377 57.50% 1,635 9.06% – – 29th 12,059 49.35% 11,095 45.40% 1,283 5.25% – – 30th 16,998 53.28% 13,479 42.25% 1,424 4.46% – – 31st 3,864 41.98% 5,069 55.07% 272 2.95% – – 32nd 5,392 48.58% 5,204 46.89% 503 4.53% – – 33rd 5,603 47.69% 5,562 47.34% 585 4.98% – – 34th 6,416 50.22% 5,812 45.50% 547 4.28% – – 35th 4,254 29.11% 9,150 62.61% 1,208 8.27% 2 0.01% 36th 5,027 30.05% 10,293 61.54% 1,407 8.41% – – 37th 14,647 42.70% 16,366 47.71% 3,288 9.59% – – 38th 6,431 40.35% 8,529 53.51% 978 6.14% – – 39th 13,621 43.72% 15,709 50.43% 1,822 5.85% – – 40th 9,877 33.26% 18,139 61.08% 1,681 5.66% – – 41st 10,961 36.60% 17,212 57.47% 1,778 5.94% – – 42nd 6,879 50.63% 6,255 46.03% 454 3.34% – – 43rd 5,601 37.65% 8,431 56.68% 844 5.67% – – 44th 6,887 42.54% 8,386 51.79% 918 5.67% – – 45th 5,897 36.36% 9,378 57.83% 942 5.81% – – 46th 6,668 38.39% 9,515 54.78% 1,188 6.84% – – 47th 7,893 34.61% 12,754 55.92% 2,161 9.47% – – 48th 8,037 42.79% 9,619 51.22% 1,125 5.99% – – 49th 16,797 55.14% 12,233 40.16% 1,433 4.70% – – 50th 10,827 40.30% 13,935 51.86% 2,107 7.84% – –Total432,67843.28%515,71651.58%51,3475.14%20.00% Aftermath The results of the election damaged Chicago's reputation nationally.Schmidt 1989 p. 167 Will Rogers remarked that "They was trying to beat Bill [Thompson] with the Better Element vote. The trouble with Chicago is that there ain't much Better Element."Rogers is sometimes erroneously said to have written this in response to Thompson's 1915 victory.Schottenhamel p. 35Teaford p. 199Rogers Will Will Rogers' Dispatch https://www.newspapers.com/image/430951696/ April 15, 2019 The Boston Globe 111 97 1 April 7, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com The St. Louis Star declared that "Chicago is still a good deal of a Wild West town, where a soapbox showman extracting white rabbits from a gentleman's plug hat still gets a better hearing than a man in a sober suit talking business." The campaign was such that philosopher Will Durant wondered whether democracy was dead.Schmidt 1989 p. 161 The election of Thompson attracted not just national, but also strong international attention.English Comment is Sarcastic. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/04/07/99395039.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 The New York Times 12 January 2022 en April 7, 1927 The British The Daily News newspaper declared that the election affirmed the validity of, "the description of Chicago as the most lawless city in the world," and wrote, [I]t isn't merely the manner wherein Chicago elects its mayor that is profoundly startling, but the kind of man it elects as Mayor. The successful candidate has already been dismissed from office for graft. He has declared himself wet and promised before election that he would break any policeman who tried to interfere with drinking. The manner wherein the election was fought imperiled the whole principle of democracy. The result of it made it, so far as Chicago is concerned, ridiculous." Many experts concluded that Thompson had won because of his skilled campaigning, providing entertainment while Dever called for virtue.Schmidt 1995 pp. 95–96 Elmer Davis of Harper's Magazine mused that the mystery was not that Dever lost but that he had received 430,000 votes.Schmidt 1995 p. 96 George Schottenhamel, writing in 1952 for the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, argued that Dever "would have been easy opposition for any candidate" running "on a campaign of 'Dever and Decency' despite four years of rampant crime in Chicago".Schottenhamel p. 49 The New York Daily News credited opposition to Dever's enforcement of Prohibition and Thompson's pledge to cease such enforcement as key to Thompson's victory, expressing hope that it would warn leaders of other large city's not to enforce "the tyrannous nonsense that is prohibition". However, the newspaper also decried the result as a "victory of a political haymaker over a sincere man", calling Dever "an earnest and an honest mayor as far as can be discerned", and characterizing Thompson as holding a political record "of administrative rottenness surpassed only by certain Tammany pirates of fifty years ago."Chicago Boots Volstead https://www.newspapers.com/image/411110045 Newspapers.com The New York Daily News 22 October 2023 en April 7, 1927 The New York Times regarded Thompson's victory to be "a blow" to the power of Frank Orren Lowden, as it was anticipated to give Thompson and Deneen control over Cook County's delegates to the 1928 Republican National Convention.Thompson Victory A Blow To Lowden; New Chicago Mayor and Senator Deneen Will Control Cook County Delegates https://www.nytimes.com/1927/04/07/archives/thompson-victory-a-blow-to-lowden-new-chicago-mayor-and-senator.html The New York Times 12 January 2022 7 April 1927 Thompson had previously unfulfilled ambitions to run on the Republican Party presidential ticket in 1920. In the immediate aftermath of his victory, The New York Times observed that, "these ambitions have been fired anew by his success in the Mayoralty election." No news outlets had expected Robertson to win.Schmidt 1989 pp. 161–162 The Chicago Tribune noted that he had finished a "poor third" and polled "only" 51,209 votes;Evans Arthur Dever beaten in battle of 993,617 votes https://www.newspapers.com/image/354945257/ January 7, 2019 Chicago Tribune 86 82C 1 April 6, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com The Daily Independent of Murphysboro considered him to have finished at a "hopeless third".Buckingham Max Thompson wins Chicago mayoralty https://www.newspapers.com/image/11033513/ 1 January 9, 2019 The Daily Independent April 6, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Koop's performance of two votes was picked up by the Associated PressEvidently married https://www.newspapers.com/image/489874979/ May 23, 1927 The Record Associated Press 32 292 17 January 7, 2019 subscription Newspapers.com and used by an editorial of the Ottawa Citizen as evidence that the threat of socialism was overblown.Mr. Koop's two votes https://www.newspapers.com/image/456413718/ January 7, 2019 84 256 22 The Ottawa Citizen April 15, 1927 subscription Newspapers.com Communist leader Arne Swabeck called the election "one of the greatest mud-slinging contests ever managed by the 'celebrated' American political parties," and opined that it demonstrated how labor voters should cease "awarding friends and punishing enemies" of capitalist politicians in the major political parties. thumb|Thompson's subsequent mayoral inauguration In his inaugural address, Thompson reiterated his pledge to oust Superintendent McAndrew.Mayor William Hale Thompson Inaugural Address, 1927 https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-william-hale-thompson-inaugural-address-1927/ www.chipublib.org Chicago Public Library 31 December 2020 In August 1927, the Chicago Board of Education, now under Thompson's influence after he appointed a number new members, voted to charge McAndrew with insubordination and unpatriotic "conduct incompatible and inconsistent with, and in direct violation" of his duties, suspending him pending an administrative hearing held by the board. The administrative hearing would last months, and the Chicago Board of Education would find McAndrew guilty. The Cook County Superior Court would later void this decision.Schmidt John R. The trial of the school superintendent https://www.wbez.org/stories/september-30-1927-the-trial-of-school-superintendent-william-mcandrew/8da9c577-0814-4497-a5e4-643fd96f85bc WBEZ Chicago 30 December 2020 en 30 September 2011Todd James McAndrew William Gilbert Charles E. Hemingway James A. Documents Relating to the Suspension of William McAndrew The Elementary School Journal 1927 28 2 96–123 10.1086/456013 995578 143752260 https://www.jstor.org/stable/995578 7 January 2022 0013-5984 subscription Thompson would lose to Democrat Anton Cermak in the 1931 Chicago mayoral electionChicago Mayors, 1837–2007 http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1443.html Encyclopedia of Chicago Chicago History Museum June 13, 2018 as his public approval fell victim to continuing crime and the Great Depression.Schottenhamel pp. 45–46 Historians generally consider Thompson one of the most unethical mayors in American history, in large part due to his alliance with Capone.Grossman p. 329 Dever would serve as the vice president of a bank and died of pancreatic cancer in 1929.William Dever Cancer Victim https://www.newspapers.com/image/338577809/ 52 1 March 28, 2019 The Dispatch September 4, 1929 subscription Newspapers.com Robertson was re-elected by the West Park to serve as its president two days after the mayoral election,Dr. Robertson re-elected Chief of West Parks https://www.newspapers.com/image/354946397 April 8, 1927 December 22, 2018 Chicago Tribune 86 84 22 subscription Newspapers.com and died in 1931 of heart disease.Foe of Thompson dies at Fontana https://www.newspapers.com/image/339224746/ The Dispatch 54 1 Associated Press August 20, 1931 April 6, 2019 subscription Newspapers.com To date, this is the last mayoral election in Chicago won by a Republican candidate.Chicago mayoral elections became nonpartisan in 1995, effective 1999.Shefsky Jay How, and Why, Chicago Has Nonpartisan Elections https://news.wttw.com/2019/02/26/how-and-why-chicago-has-nonpartisan-elections March 23, 2019 WTTW February 26, 2019 Since that time, all the winners—Richard M. Daley, Rahm Emanuel,Rahm Emanuel Facts & Biography https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rahm-Emanuel Britannica 26 April 2023 en Lori Lightfoot,New Face and Longtime Politician Vying for Chicago Mayor https://news.wttw.com/2019/04/01/new-face-and-longtime-politician-vying-chicago-mayor April 6, 2019 WTTW Associated Press April 1, 2019 and Brandon JohnsonWoefel Mariah Voters in Chicago elect Brandon Johnson as their new mayor NPR https://www.npr.org/2023/04/05/1168116119/voters-in-chicago-elect-brandon-johnson-as-their-new-mayor 26 April 2023 April 5, 2023—have been de facto Democrats. In the 21st century, Thompson and his 1927 campaign have both been analyzed by some modern writers as precursors to the political career of Donald Trump and Trumpism.Nichols Jeff Chicago mayor Big Bill Thompson used 'America First' decades before Trump https://chicagoreader.com/blogs/chicago-mayor-big-bill-thompson-used-america-first-decades-before-trump/ Chicago Reader 10 January 2022 2 June 2017Pacyga Dominic Before The Donald, there was Big Bill of Chicago https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/18/21445868/william-hale-thompson-chicago-history-politics-trump-dominic-pacyga Chicago Sun-Times 10 January 2022 en 18 September 2020Shafer Jack Trump Is Running the White House Like He's America's Mayor https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/26/trump-president-style-mayor-215294/ POLITICO Magazine 10 January 2022 en July 2017 Gallery Selected newspaper headlines center File:"Whole Country Laughs at Chicago's Comic Opera Election Campaign (The Appleton Post Crescent Apr 4, 1927) (1).jpg "Whole Country Laughs at Chicago's Comic Opera Election Campaign" (run in The Appleton Post Crescent on April 4, 1927) Headline to a news story an pictorial reads "Whole Country Laughs at Chicago's Comic Opera Election Campaign" File:"Thompson Wins Race For Mayor" (UPI headline in The Knoxville News Sentinel, April 6, 1927).jpg United Press International headline on Thompson's victory with a sub-header remarking on the relative lack of election day violence. Run in The Knoxville News Sentinel on April 6, 1927. A newspaper headline; the top row says "THOMPSON WINS RACE FOR MAYOR" in all-capital letters, the second "Chicago Election Passes Without Serious Riot" in title case, the third "NEARLY 1,000,000 VOTES" in all-capital letters, and the bottom "Dever Defeated By More than 83,000 Plurality". File:Chicago Tribune Wed Apr 6 1927 page 1.jpg April 6, 1927 post-election cover page of the Chicago Tribune Refer to caption Chicago Tribune political cartoons center Chicago Tribune "The Whole County Is Watching Us" front-page anti-Thompson cartoon on eve of the 1927 Chicago mayoral election.jpg "The Whole Country Is Watching Us"; an anti-Thompson cartoon run on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on the eve of the general election depicting Uncle Sam asking, "is it possible that any American community would honor such a man?" while reading a sign listing negative aspects about Thompson. The cartoon alleges that, in his campaign, Thompson had appealed "to race hatred in effort to gain vote", and attacked King George of England "to arouse passions of German voters". Anti-Thompson cartoon run on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on the eve of the general election depicting a sign rising about the Chicago skyline listing various negative points about Thompson, including failures and scandals that took place during his previous mayoralty, "appeals to race hatred in effort to gain vote", and attacks on King George of England "to arouse passions of German voters". Uncle Sam is depicted to be looking at this sign and asking, "Is it possible that any American community would honor such a man?" Chicago Tribune comic "There Seems to be a Great Demand for Thompson's Return".jpg Anti-Thompson cartoon run on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on March 28 depicting a "great demand for Thompson's return" among various sorts of grafters that Dever is depicted as having kicked out of City Hall and put "out of work for four years" Chicago Tribune "Ten Years Behind the Parade" cartoon of William Hale Thompson.jpg "Ten Years Behind the Parade"; an anti-Thompson cartoon run on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on March 24 depicts Thompson marching ten years behind "The Big Parade 1917". This alludes to the United States' effort in World War I, as Thompson had been a public opponent of United States entrance into that war in 1917.Nichols Jeff Chicago mayor Big Bill Thompson used 'America First' decades before Trump https://chicagoreader.com/blogs/chicago-mayor-big-bill-thompson-used-america-first-decades-before-trump/ Chicago Reader 26 April 2023 2 June 2017 This cartoon criticizes Thompson for claiming patriotism to his advantage, while having failed to support the U.S. war effort a decade prior. "Ten Years Behind the Parade". This anti-Thompson cartoon run on the front page of the Chicago Tribune on March 24 depicts Thompson marching ten years behind "The Big Parade 1917". This alludes to the United States' effort in World War I, as Thompson had been a public opponent of United States entrance into that war in 1917. Thompson is also depicted as and beating a drum emblazoned with his "America First" slogan. A paper sits on the drum's sheet music stand reading "patriotism that pays". Hanging from Thompson's belt is a stake reading "private war on King George". This cartoon criticizes Thompson for claiming patriotism to his advantage, while having failed to support the United States war effort a decade prior. Chicago Tribune cartoon April 6, 1927 "Do politicards consider it more important to be "regular" than right?.jpg Chicago Tribune political cartoon published the day after the election deploring politicians for publicly endorsing candidates in general elections who they had previously condemned strongly during preceding primary elections. Notes References Works cited Bright John Hizzoner Big Bill Thompson, an idyll of Chicago Jonathan Cape and Harrison Smith New York, New York 1930 557783528 Bukowski Douglas Big Bill Thompson, Chicago, and the Politics of Image University of Illinois Press Urbana, Illinois and Chicago, Illinois 1998 0-252-02365-X Eig Jonathan Jonathan Eig Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster Simon & Schuster New York, New York 2010 978-1-4165-8059-1 registration https://archive.org/details/getcaponerealsto00eigj Grossman Mark Political Corruption in America: An Encyclopedia of Scandals, Power, and Greed Grey House Publishing Armenia, New York 2008 978-1-59237-297-3 registration https://archive.org/details/politicalcorrupt0002gros Kantowicz Edward 1972 The Emergence of the Polish-Democratic Vote in Chicago Polish American Studies 29 1 67–80 20147849 Schmidt John R. "The Mayor Who Cleaned Up Chicago" A Political Biography of William E. Dever 1989 Northern Illinois University Press DeKalb, Illinois 0-87580-144-7 Schmidt John R. Green Paul M. Holli Melvin G. The Mayors: The Chicago Political Tradition William E. Dever (1923–1927) Revised Southern Illinois University Press Carbondale, Illinois and Edwardsville, Illinois 1995 0-8093-1963-2 82–98 Schottenhamel George 1952 How Big Bill Thompson Won Control of Chicago. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 45 1 30–49 40189189 Teaford Jon C. Jon C. Teaford Cities of the Heartland: The Rise and Fall of the Industrial Midwest https://archive.org/details/citiesofheartlan0000teaf Indiana University Press Bloomington, Indiana 1993 0-253-20914-5 registration collapsed collapsed 1927 Chicago Chicago mayoral Category:1927 in Chicago Category:William Hale Thompson Category:April 1927 in the United States