The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-22

fRmAY, DECEMD8R =, -
DRIVING CRIMINALS OUT OF
POWER IN ROCK ISLAND.
The Argus this evening eAers for The serious
consideration Of Tie people Of Rock Island
he report Of the grand Jury printed in full on
M frst page Of thls Issue. That report tells .
story that needs no elaboration here. It vinai-
eatss every warning and every charge that has
BEEN printed In the columns Of this newspaper
since the beginning Of the campaign against
oflcially protected aAd entrenchsd 'lawissshsss
IN this community.
History has been made in Rock island
oounty and in the state Of illinois BY the Grand
Jury that nnished III trying labors vest1rdsy.
It had besa In almost continuous session for
three months dealing with situation uhpre-
csdented in the state Of Illinois or In any other
state for that matter. A crisis had arisen in
Roek Island where the local authorities seemed
powerless To exercise the force OF their ofhcial
positions In the interest of the common wel-
fare. It was realised BY the members Of the
Grand Jury after the underworld climax pre-
clpitated by the murder Of william Gabsl that
Il would require the power Of the legal ma
chihery Of the state OF Illinois to obtain results
that would afford the community the telief that
II had been vainly hoping for over long per-
iod OF years.
gratitude that they can never repay to the
members Of that grand jury and - Attorney
General Edward J. Bruudage and his aids in
the memorable Investigation that has been
under way here the past few months. The GRIM
inal combination that had for years controlled
the politics and the police and the courts Of
this city and county was not without Its in
nusntial strings in high places that It did hot
hesitate. to pull at every opportunity. It re-
quired courage to sit az a member Of the grand
jury that finished its work yesterday. 1t re-
quired courage on the part OF the attorney
general Of Illinois and his aids to invade the
stronghold OF the vicious ring that had 30 COM
pisteiy dominated the community that It did
NOT hesitate to take human life In exacting
Obedience to It's laws and its connands.
The Argus desires to Congratulate the srand
Jurors and the attorney general Of Illinois and
his eficisnt aids for the splendid work they
have accomplished in behalf of the law-abiding
citizenship. The Argus has played its part
merely % the defender Of law and order. Ths
Argus did not underestimate the power OF lie
underworld government that had gained the
upper hand In Rock Island when II began IA
exposure of the conditions that were heading
the city to inevitable ruin. The Argus knew
that It had assumed bitter fight and a grave
responsibility. but It undertook the task with
L. 49,
better city after the operation had been COM
pleted. 1t was not an Argus fight, as the Grim
inal crowd would have had you believe. 1t was
q peoples fight, but fight in which the people
would have been helpless without the leader
ship Of . newspaper that could not be ham
pefed or embarrassed in the defending of q
cause that Il knew to be right.
The Argus knew that II had 10 center its IRE
and Its wits and its resonrcesagainst power
full organization directed by one of the most
cunning and tfsachereus criminals that ever
cursed city or state. The only way that the
community could be delivensd Of the curse Of
Loonettsm was By breaking down the orgaAi-
sation that he had built through connivance
with ofacialaouL Tho night that TAoanas Cox
was Invested of his power as head OF the Rock
Island police department the temple OF LooAey.
ism in Rock Island began to crumble' Cox took
his orders from Looney as head oe the police
department
The grand jury has returned indietmsAts
against the men who turned the city Of Rock
Island from psaesfai community to one ct
oflcially protected lawlessness. Looney, the
braina o. the criminal crowd. is fugitive irum
justies. His chief co-workers either are II Jail
Of q hhsrty pnder heavy bonds awaiting trial
b Jury fUe tAslr crimes. The peopls are co..
deht that the stats u Illinois will ~ to It that
full justice u dene IN The prosscatieh Il tAose
under indictnent.
In the meantime feeling Of security and
contentmsnt pefvades the community. Rock
island already s. Displaying stgas II having
benefited nom IT. triumph ever lawlsssnsee.
Rock Island n future II going To b 1 bsstsf
and happier hume for those who are nov here
and for those who will come later on.
cANNIRAlS AND COLLEGES.
From IohdoA comes tale tAat apeeals =
~ imagination q everybody interested IN -
ucaticn cf ethics. Three yuung missionaries
wsre selsel " eAAnibal natives who prepares
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