The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-19

DCneS about IT. don pretend to pc any
better than l am. I've lived in Mime
tation, such as 1t Is, to protect. It's a
mistake to suppose that because mans
in Jail he's dead to the world. People
expect to see ME sprouting horns. I've
got feelings like other people. But un-
5derstand something about the way crooks
are protected by the police and on what
conditions they operate.
o.. 49,. ~. ..... ......'..O
s'You may put it down as
gospel truth that no crook could
do business in Minneapolis, unless
he was 'sneaking,' If he hadn't
paid for the privilege.
o.. ........... ............ ...'..o
J ''Its. plain business proposition. If
he wanted to open up line of goods in
this town, all he needed was the price.
If he was there with the coin at police
headquarters, he could get the position; !;
that is, he would be free to graft or steal
fora certain length of time. 1t cost so
much a week so to speak.
TITS mistake to suppose that Howard
or or any one else had monopoly on the
situation. There was no limit to the
number OF crooks and grafters who could
operate here. There was an opening here
for as many thieves who wanted to do
business as were willing to make 'divvy'
at headquarters. The moment the Jig
was up and the police were looking for
them on the square, they made a quick
getaway every one. 3 ). =. a|
Edwards' Proof. ..E
Suppose there had been no investiga-
tion and crooks were free to come and. go
as they pleased DO you imagine for
a moment that they could have held, that
Elks' fair here, with a total attendance
of about 100000 people,, crowded into a
q SIN o1a at
being picked? Well, that's just what
happened. and 1t was because the police
had orders to prevent it. 1f~the police
department hadn't been on its good be-
havior, there would have been barrels OF
empty pocketbooks lying around after the
fair was over. IT'S up to the police to
keep bad actors out of town. When they
don't do It,, it's cinch that things have
been fixed at headquarters. Take St.
Paul. There amt better protected town
in the. country. John OConnora knows
the crooks and he won't stand for them:
-, why. Crooks Were Sore. ..t u
''They: made the great mistake in our
case Of not keeping faith with US. After
ness" for couple of weeks at one or more
joints; they would turn around and sell
the same privilege to some one else for
500 more. Do you blame us for getting
sore, when they, had our money? They
had 5000 of our coin when we were
pinched. Theylet us open up our joints for
that consideration, and then closed us up,
so that we were 'sneaked,' when Hicks
and Smith got us. guess they hadn't
been told to keep their hands off us, or
else they saw which way things were
going with the administration. It was
no easy matter to open up joint. It was
just as hard a proposition as opening up
a dry goods store or some other line of
business" .-, .. ... ~
Edwards volunteered the information
that both he and Howard had offers OF
sevral good paying positions along le-
gitimate lines as soon as they were re-
leased from custody.
; II think It's pretty we'll demonstrated
said Edwards. that I'm on the square
with people that T do business with.
When my term is up, however long it may
be, intend to accept one of the positions
offered which consider best suited to my
education and ahility.'