![]() ![]() A major role was played by William Thompson, Chicago's flamboyant mayor known as "Big Bill," who toured the flooded area and spoke at cities across the nation, urging contributions and championing his own flood-control proposals. But much of the money came from smaller donations, like the $20 that the Camp Fire Girls of Round Lake raised through a bake sale. Chicago raised just short of a million dollars by May 10, partially by sizable contributions like the $8,000 donated by the clothing workers union. The public was asked to bear a significant portion of the immediate relief effort. ![]() Even the paper's Editorial Board recognized: "Only the resources and jurisdiction of the federal government can cope with the task of flood control."īut it would take time to translate plans into programs. "Coolidge Backs Gigantic Flood Control Scheme," a Tribune headline announced. Yet as community after community was devastated, it became apparent that a problem of such magnitude could be dealt with only by the federal government, and Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover became the administration's point man. The reigning political maxim was that local problems should be dealt with locally. President Calvin Coolidge was pressured to call a special session of Congress but declined to do so. 1004 11TH ST S Columbus, MS 39701 169,900. ![]()
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