Ever wonder why Chicago became and stayed such a firmly Democratic city for all these years?

[NNN0LHI]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hale_Thompson

William Hale Thompson

William Hale Thompson (May 14, 1869 – March 19, 1944) was mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill", Thompson was the last Republican to serve as Mayor of Chicago, and ranks among the most corrupt mayors in American history. snip




In 1927, Al Capone's support allowed Thompson to return to the mayor's office. Pledging to clean up Chicago and remove the crooks, Thompson instead turned his attention to the reformers, whom he considered the real criminals. According to Thompson, at this time the biggest enemy the United States had was King George V of the United Kingdom. Thompson promised his supporters that if they ever met, Thompson would punch the king in the nose. During this final term in office, the "Pineapple Primary" occurred (April 10, 1928), so-called because of the hand grenades used to disrupt voters. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre also took place while Thompson was mayor. Thompson blamed Ruth Hanna McCormick's lack of support for his loss at the 1928 Republican National Convention, and he returned the favor during her 1930 campaign for the United States Senate. Thompson had had a longstanding rivalry with the McCormicks. He intensely disliked Robert Rutherford McCormick who published the Chicago Tribune. U.S. Senator Joseph Medill McCormick, was the publisher's brother., and after his death, his widow ran against Thompson for the vacant seat.



After Thompson's defeat, the Chicago Tribune wrote that

For Chicago Thompson has meant filth, corruption, obscenity, idiocy and bankruptcy.... He has given the city an international reputation for moronic buffoonery, barbaric crime, triumphant hoodlumism, unchecked graft, and a dejected citizenship. He nearly ruined the property and completely destroyed the pride of the city. He made Chicago a byword for the collapse of American civilization. In his attempt to continue this he excelled himself as a liar and defamer of character.

Upon Thompson's death, two safe deposit boxes in his name were discovered to contain nearly $1.5 million in cash.

[saltpoint]

1. I really like this post, NNNOLHI.

It's a damned interesting subject to begin with and the language of the excerpts you chose is juicy stuff.

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He made Chicago a byword for the collapse of American civilization.

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Recommended.

[HopeHoops]

2. As a joke, I was going to post, "The GOP ran out of ammo for the tommy guns" - not so much a joke

:shrug:

[jaksavage]

3. All the repubs moved north? nt

[undeterred]

4. Vote early, and vote often.

That's what we used to say to each other on election day when I lived in Chicago. I always figured that the Democratic machine was counting the votes.

[grantcart]

5. Never underestimate the value saving on your monthly household budget

Returning the coke bottle, collecting your change and putting it into a piggy bank, oh and remember those S and H stamp books. They all add up!