The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-06-12
Chicago "Racketeers."
(New York Times. )

tSeW fOIk llucSJ
 When some time ago "Scarface Al' Capone, king Of Chicago's bootleggers abdcated to the accompaniment of lively publicity the action was interpreted a step toward better if less profitable way of life. Consistent with a soul struggling upward to the light would be the later news that Capone has accepted partner ship in large firm of dyers and cleaners. Un- fortunately, this second chapter in a pilgrims progress is expounded in more realistic terms by the very who is responsible for Capone's entrance into legitimate business life. The head of the firm declares that ten years of compe- ttion, taking the form of his places of busi- ness burned and bombed and his employees as- saulted, is enough Being only moderate optimist, he did not turn for protection to the public agencies of law and order in Chicago He took in Capone partner, thus enistng the services of two-fsted citizen capable of holding gun in each fist. Capone's partner feels free to go about conducting his busi- ness and fixing his prices against the kind of "compettion' that has made Chicago famous
 The rise of "Scarface Al" has it's precedent in the history of many ages and climes, not cluding the story of our town times. Porfirio Diaz of Mexico had a way of overcoming rifle and pistol competition by taking the bandits into the Government service. On large scale the practice is thriving in all the Chinese armies, recruited in large part from surrendered prisoners and hired bandits Not rarely the em- ployed bravo succeeds in making hself the mas
 ter of his employer, with the condottier Of the medieval Italian towns again in China today In Chicago for some years the close as- sociaticn of business and the automatic pistol has been technically known as racket" Leaders of professional gunmen have organized a large number of protective associations which busi- ness men-mi1k distributors, garage owners, re- tail shops of varius kinds-have been "invited' to join. Initiation fees and monthly dues have been steep, but perhaps not too high in view of the "proteetion accorded Primarily this con sisted in immunity from having their places of business blown up set fre their wagons raided their customers automobiles wrecked and their employees assaulted. ''Scarface As" new role would mark step in the evolution of the racket Instead of offering his services to the general business public, the gunman now offers his exclusive services to individual firms
 New York is not in position to point the hnger at Chicago with 100 per cent scorn. We too, have had a taste of the gangster in business In the old days of chronic strife in the garment industries the hiring of "gorlas" by employers and labor unions became common. In the course Of time the gorilla" developed ambition: he went into business for himself He defed lock- outs from employers and strike orders from the unions Some remnant of this evil practice may perhaps, have fingered to the present day But New York can fairly claim that at no time has 1t challenged the eminence of Chicago There terrorized business men and ccmplacent courts nave created a situation described by a repre- sentative of the Chicago Employers Association as the sayagery of the jungle"