Ole Thorsteinsson Hanson was an American politician who served as mayor of Seattle, Washington, from 1918 to 1919. Hanson became a national figure promoting law and order when he took a hardline position during the 1919 Seattle General Strike. He then resigned as mayor, wrote a book, and toured the lecture circuit, earning tens of thousands of dollars in honoraria lecturing to conservative civic groups about his experiences and views, promoting opposition to labor unions and Bolshevism. Hanson later left Washington and founded the city of San Clemente, California, in 1925.
Hanson driving the first municipal streetcar over University Bridge, July 1, 1919
Ole Hanson and his wife were parents to ten children, one of whom died in infancy in a train wreck.
Dust jacket of the first edition of Hanson's 1920 book, Americanism versus Bolshevism
The Seattle General Strike was a five-day general work stoppage by 65,000 workers in the city of Seattle, Washington from February 6 to 11, 1919. The goal was to support shipyard workers in several unions who were locked out of their jobs when they tried to strike for higher wages. Most other local unions joined the walk-out, including members of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The national offices of the AFL unions were opposed to the shutdown. Local, state and federal government officials, the press, and much of the public viewed the strike as a radical attempt to subvert American institutions.
Union Record Monday, February 3, 1919
The pamphlet entitled "Russia Did It."
Newspaper caption, "How the Great Seattle Strike was broken - Our photo shows machine gun crews ready to fire upon the strikers. Police, soldiers and armed civilians were used by Mayor Hanson"
Hanson, July 1, 1919