Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-02
HELPLESS IN HANDS OF HE'LL.
tSHNESS

When California was in the raw,
when bad men dominated their fell
lows and ruled with high hand,
certain fearless folk united their eff
forts under the name "Vigilantes".
The criminal received prompt trial
before a court such as it was. There
were no appeals to higher courts al
lowed, there were no sob-sisters nor
flowers awaiting the criminal after
conviction, simply hangman's moose.
There were no paroles. there was no
straw bail, no politicians cultivating
crime as the phosphate for their
political gardens. The number of
executions were few but the method
was too much for the criminal nerve
and California was cleaned up.
Contrast this with what promi-
nent official in the state of Massa-
ehusetts is telling the world about
criminal conditions in Suffolk County
and note that crime isn't cleared up
but evidently thrives there as 1t does
al over the land in greater or lesser
degree-and will continue to thrive so
long as we permit grafters and ex-
perimenters to fondle it.
Chicago's law respecting citizens
evidently haven't the disposition to
make personal sacrifices to clean up
Chicago but call on Uncle Sam to
do 1t for them. Then. should the at
tempt be made and the petitioners
find their own comforts somehow be-
ing interfered with, they probably
would do as the Philadelphians have
done with Butler, get rid of Uncle
Sam and go back to laxity.
OF course the conditions in Chicago
once existed in California: of course
any resort to vigilant despotism is a
perilous one. In process of it the law
abiding drop out of the vigilant ranks
and the corrupt take their places
The forces SO set in motion become
misdirected and the ending Is worse
than the beginning. California large
1y escaped such an ending and on
the whole the effect appears to have
been excellent. Society was not then
SO complex. The days of interlock-
ing directorates of crime had not
come. Conditions had mot arrived
under which decent people seem to
unable to get concerted action while
there is skilful utilization between
crooks from the petty to the pompous
Yet 1t Is a pitiful plea that comes
from Chicago. The headline writer
might easily express it; Helpless in
the Hands of Hellishness".
Here are a few paragraphs from
the petition.
For the past four years, there has
been growing up in this community
q reign OF laWlessnesS and terror
openly defying not only the constitu-
ton and Jaws OF the state OF Illinois
but the constitution and laws OF the
United States as well. The people OF
this community find themselves help
less to combat and change this condi-
ton, and have been compelled to sur
render many of their rights anC
privileges as citizens of the United
States.
There has been for long time in
this city of Chicago a colony of I'M
naturalized persons, hostile to our in
situations and laws, who have formed
a super government Of their own
feudists, black handlers, members OF
the Mafia-who levy tribute upon
citizens and enforce collection by ter
rorizing, kidnapping and assasslna-
tons.
There are other gangs, such as
the O'Donnells. the Mclrlanes
Ragen's, Colts, Torrio and others
some of whom are citizens of the
United States"
A torrid tale. One wonders how
much is expended to maintain law
and order in Chicago. Who gets II
and why? The petition states that
five breweries are running In de-
fiance of all law. State or Federal
Who would wish to live in Chicago
or turn back to look upon the sink oil
iniquity as did Lots wife. Evidently
the Federal Government should aid
to the extent of cleaning up the
breweries and the struggled aliens.
Once Chicago pointed in pride to
its motto: II will" Now 1t is point
ing In shame to its motto trampled
underfoot. Evidently Chicago has
not properly attended to her respon-
sibilities.
Aside from the mischief thew do IL