Evening star., 1928-12-27
CHICAGO OFFICIAL
ANALYzES CRIME
Swanson Declares Citizens
Must Show Backbone in
Fight on Crooks.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, December 27.-John A.
SNanson. a six-feet-two giant, whose
200 pounds seem cramped in the office
of the States attorney, which he as
sumed this month, put Chicago crime
under the microscope today, analyzed
it's causes and prescribed his remedy.
Don't look for miracles" said the
man who was swept into office as the
voters protest against rampant crime.
Citizens themselves must show some
Of the backbone and courage which they
expect of me and my assistants.
He spoke of the bombings that have
destroyed thousands Of dollars worth OF
Chicago property; he talked Of slayings,
of hoodlum rule, of gangsters and gun
men; and he picked each felony apart,
seeking its basic cause.
Talks Of Bombings.
The States attorney strode nervously
Courts Building He spoke particu-
larly of bombings, for he himself mar
rowly escaped death when bomb was
tossed at him a few weeks before the
primary election last April.
The immense revenue collected by
organized crime" Is, in the States at
torneyS opinion, the principal obstacle
in Chicago to law enforcement.
"A great share of this immense
revenue, running into millions, is COL
lected from liquor law violators,
racketeerS, commercial vice leaders and
gamblers, and is spent for protection"
he said. "The patrolman of beat is
fixed Then his sergeant, then the
lieutenant. In order to get the facts,
the States attorneys Office must con-
duct its own investigation, and that
takes time"
The attorney paused at window and
gazed toward the Chicago River, said
to contain more secrets of past crimes
than the River Seine. He pushed his
spectacles onto his forehead
Dynamite Easy to Get.
why do we have more bombing in
Chicago than other cities? 1t Is a Pc
culiar psychology, this bombing Why
we Of Chicago seem to suffer more from
this form of terrorism do not know.
Dynamite is not hard to obtain
Workers have no great difficulty in
sneaking sticks from jobs where they
are employed. And 1t can be bought
without great deal of red tape.
I'VE hope to shut off the source of
dynamite to the racketeers and black
handlers" Is
up to December 1, 1o3 bombs were
thrown in Chicago this year.
More than 500 persons have been
slain in the city since January !. AS
to the reason for the wholesale homi-
cides. States Attorney Swanson, who
was born, reared and has lived his en-
tire life here. baked in explanation.
Give me time" he parried. II have
been in Office comparatively few days
and will be able to tell you more about
that later.
City Is Cosmopolitan.
Chicago Is hundred cities In one,
made up of all nationalities," he con-
tinued. "a good percentage of the in
habitantS do not read or speak Ameri
can-I say American because the
statute of the State of Illinois defines
the language as American rather than
English
1T is dificult to Undue these foreign
ers with respect for law and order.
Countries that have been drilled for
centuries in obedience to law, where
the inhabitants are of one race, do not
have the problems We in America do"
To aid him In his big joe, States At
torney Swanson said selection OF JurieS
must be speeded up, more judges must
be obtained, and there must be more
cooperation on the part Of the c1ti-
zenry
Shortly after he took office. trouble
broke out in connection with the tr1ai
of three men for the kidnapping OF
1O-year -old Billy Ranieri. Black Hand
letters threatened the trial Judge. the
prosecutors and the witnesses with
death.
States Attorney Swanson leaves no
doubt that he realizes the seriousness
of the situation he faces, or OF the
danger he and his assistants stand OF
losing their lives. But he Is equally
clear as to his plans.
Wants Severe Penalties.
my job," he said, "is to prosecute
all crime. Swift, sure, severe punish
ment has always been the best deter
rent for crime, and this VIII be the
objective of this Office"
Chlcago, explained MI' o"anSoA,
''iS ideally located for criminals. High
ways and railroads radiate in all direc-
tions. The city is dumping ground
for undersirables.
Chicago covers a great deal of ter
ritcry in comparison to its larger
sister city, New York. Long. straight,
wide streets tend for an easy getaway.
and there are $500 policemen to guard
the city's 100000 inhabitants. New
York has three times that many
police for q population twice as large,
and a smaller territory to cover"
The new holder of the prosecutors
office is 81 years old. He resigned as
Judge of Cook County Circuit Court 10
make the race for States attorney, at
the request of United States Senator
Deneen and oher leaders Of tn faction
intent on defeating the ticket OF Mayor
Thompson and States Attorney
Robert E. Grove.