The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-30
Big Boss
OF CHICAGO
Is Indicted
Fred Lundin, Power Behind
Mayor Thompson's Machine,
and % Others Named
i'm School Frauds.
Controlled Most City Jobs

Chicago, Jan. ao.-Fred Lundin. for.
mer congressman and known as the
silent power behind the political ma.
chine of Mayor William Hale Thomp.
son, and % others were named in a
blanket indictment returned in court
today by the special grand jury which
Is investigating school board affairs.
Nirtus Rohm. Lundin's nephew, also
was among the indicted men who in
cluded several indicted previously by
the same grand jury in connection
with the administration of the school
funds and property.
The indictment contains a blanket
conspiracy charge and contains "a
counts.
Conspiracy Charged.
The third count OF the indictment
charged conspiracy to obtain $1,000, 900
from the city of Chicago. and the
fifth count charged a conspiracy to
obtain 81 900, 900 from the state. The
18th count charged conspiracy for vio-
lation Of duty in allowing contracts TO
be let at the instance of Lundin. who
with others was charged with sharing
in the profits. The 18th count charged
prevention Of competition. The 10th
charged that 81 5000 was diverted
to the private use of various persons
and firms by letting contracts and
making purchases at eXorbitant prices.
The true bill was returned before
Chief Justice Michael l.. Mckinley OF
the criminal court. who set the bonds
of the defendants at $4,000 each.
Mr.. Lundin was reported to be in
cuba and Mr.. Rohm was recently re-
ported to be in Los Angeles.
Enormous Business.
Rohm is in the insurance business
and it was reported that he and Lun-
din were partners for a time and did
an enormous business in school insur-
ance. 1t was reported that this IN
s,rance business was barred before
the special grand jury and that II
was in connection with the insurance
deals that the grand jury acted In
connection with the case of Lundin
and his nephew.
Many of the others named III inc
indictment were past or present o.
ficers. members and employees OF the
school board.
At the height of his power. Lundin
was reputed to be the dictator Oh
an organization that controlled Sfo''
000. 600 n year in patronage and So'-
900 political jobs in Chicago alone.
Beginning Of Breakup.
Tho beginning of the breakup of
the machine started year ago wheh
every candidate on the Lundin'
THOMPSON slate was defeated in the
Cook county judicial election. Then
the Chicago Tribune sued five
wheel horses" of the organization in
an effort to recover millions WINCH
the newspaper charged had been IL
legally expended to experts III con-
nection with public improvements. A
special grand jury began investigation
of alleged graft in the expenditure OF
school funds and that inquiry has
been under way since August. An
other grand jury more recently be-
gan investigating charges of pro
tected vice.
DOTH Ill SWcucu.
L,ndin was born in the Parish OF
West Tollstad, OsterSotland, sweden
May is, 1868. His parents took nm
to Minneapolis when he was a small
boy. His first money was earned
selling newspapers in Chicago.
An old photograph tells the story OF
his first venture into business. II
shows Lundin. in the garb OF a
street spellbinder, seated in rickety
wagon emblazoned with signs for
Lundin's Juniper ade, wholesome
delicious, Incompatible, refreshing,
foaming but non-alcoholic beverage.
The driver was a tail, gaunt youth
a cowboy hat of colossal proportions
topping mass Of yellow hair while
his ewes were shaded by huge amber
glasses.
Two negroes drumming guitars
completed the business equipment
Under a flaming gasoline torch, with
Nhe negroes strumming soft southern
melodies, and Lundin ballyhooing his
soft drink business was brisk and the
odd figure became familiar in man,
parts of Chicago.
Wins Political Power.
At that time William Lorimer, late
sent to the United States senate on,
TO bo ousted by his colleagues, wa:
rising to political power. Lorime'
sent for the young yellow-hairet
Swcde and enlisted his aid as n polit
ical spellbinder. Lundin made goo'
by capturing string of precincts
AS a reward he was given the stat
senatorial nomination in a democrati
district. and as n result of repuh
lican landslide was elected, servin,
four years.
Years later, having won further PC
litcal power. Lundin entered the con
gressional fight in 1908 and was elect
cd. serving one term, only to be dc
feated. He had met William Hal
Thompson about the time Lorime
put Thompson on the ticket for mem
ber Of the county board OF review. Il
1915 Thompson was elected mayo
and Lundin then came to be know
as the controlling power in Chicag
politics.