“BIG BILL” ROUTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 327, 12 April 1928, Page 1

“BIG BILL” ROUTED

Downfall of His Faction

ILLINOIS ELECTION UPHEAVEL “WORK OF OUTRAGED CITIZENSHIP” (United. P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. CHICAGO, Wednesday. REPRESENTING what is characterised as the greatest upheaval in Illinois, the political faction of Governor Len Small, Mayor William Thompson, and State Attorney Robert Crowe, with the slogan “America First,” was buried under an avalanche of Republican primaries on Tuesday.

*YTR. SMALL was defeated for Governorship nomination by the Secretary of the State, Mr. Louis Emerson. Crowe lost his State Attorney candidature and the faction lost the State Senator candidature and many lesser offices. Mr. Thompson was defeated for cominatiou as a ward committeeman. An earlier message said: With the victory of Judge Swanson over Mr. Crowe now practically certain, the former issued a statement saying he interpreted the vote as ‘ indicating a fixed determination on the part cf the voters to change the standards, policies and principles of the office of State Attorney.” The newspapers demand that Mr. Thompson fulfil his threat to resign. The “Chicago Tribune,” in a leader, says: “Lees than a v/eek ago Mayor Thompson said he would resign if Mr. Crowe v/ere defeated. Crowe has been defeated. The defeat of Mr. Crowe is the defeat of Mr. Thompson, with all he represents of misgovernment and demagogy. The victory is the work of an outraged citizenship, resolved to end corruption, machine-gunning, pineappling and plundering.” A message received 3till earlier said:—

The Illinois State primary elections in Chicago ended with less violence than had been expected. One negro was fatally shot, but his Is the only death reported. It is said there have been six cases of kidnapping and other scattered acts of violence. It is clear that the Mayor, Mr. William Thompson, has suffered a political rout. Senator Deneen's ally, Mr. Emmerson, seems assured of the Republican nomination for the governorship. Mr. Thompson’s boast that he would have 20 delegates to support Mr. Coolidge for the Presidential nomination at the Republican Convention is an empty one. Only eight supporters of Mr. Coolidge have been elected, whereas 53 delegates instructed to support Mr. Frank O. Lowden, formerly Governor of Illinois, have been chosen. ANOTHER SET-BACK

Colonel Frank Smith, who. was elected Republican member of the Senate for Illinois in 1926, and was twice not permitted by the Senate to take his seat, owing to excessive campaign expenditure, again stood for the Republican nomination for the Senate, but apparently he has been defeated by Mr. Otis Glenn. This is another set-back for Mr. Thompson. The Mayor stood for appointment as delegate to the Republican National Convention, but was defeated.