The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-08
Swanson, Elected States
Attorney, Determined
to Halt Crime.
FACES GIGANTIC TASK
New Official to Assume Job
With Real knowledge
of Situation.
BY EARL ]. JOHNSON

CHICAGO, Nov. 8.-On the broad
shoulders Of 54-year-old John A.
Swanson has fallen the task Of
dealing with one of the most trou-
blesome crime situations this coun-
try ever has known.
Swanson asked for the job
worked for it, in fact-and his
friends predict that as states at
torney of Cook county (Chicago) he
will succeed in wiping out the crime
blot that has made Chicago notori-
Gus throughout the world.
The new states attorney has been
through one bombing. A pine
apple" was exploded in his home
last April while he was campaign
ing for nomination by the Repub-
Icans against States Attorney Rob-
ert E. Grove, who has held that Of
flee eight years.
He knows gangsters, but not too
intimately. AS judge of the crimi-
nal court, he had ample opportunity
to study them at close hand.
Hits Politics Crime Link
swanson's theory of what's wrong
with this city is that an alliance
exists between crime and politics,
that too many politicians and pub
lie officials put themselves under
obligation to beer runners and
racketeers by accepting campaign
contributions and testimonial din
ners. Swanson hopes to break that
alliance.
In his campaign he charged re-
peatedly that his Democratic OPP
ponent, Criminal Court Judge Will
liam j. Lindsay, was accepting sup
port from "Dingbat" Oberta and
other gang leaders.
Politically, Swanson has the sup
port of the Republican group
headed by United States Senator
Charles S. Deneen, who engineered
the defeat of the Grove Thompson
America first" faction in the bloody
spring primary.
He was recommended for election
by all Chicago newspapers. Unani-
mously they expressed confidence
in his ability to cure the crime
curse that has attached to Chicago
in recent years.
Has Great Power
Under Illinois law, the states at
torney is the chief legal official in
each county. In Chicago, the second
largest city in the country, the
states attorney is without a peer
in the matter of official authority.
That is why the Office usually is
sought so eagerly and once won
so carefully protected by patronage
and influence.
Swanson, a six-footer with a reso-
lutte jaw, blonde hair, and piercing
blue eyes, feels that he is peculiarly
well qualified for the job of chief
executive over the So-called crime
center of the country. He has been
a judge for sixteen years, serving
in the superior, appellate and
criminal courts of Cook county. He
knows Illinois law and he knows
Chicago.
Swanson was born in a house on
the near South side and has lived
in Chicago all his life. He has
watched his city gain its reputation
and he feels that he knows the
answer to the Chicago crime riddle.
He is a graduate of the old Chicago
Law School,
Realizes Size of Task
"a tremendous task confronts us
in restoring to Chicago and Cook
county it's good name as law
abiding community" Swanson says.
"Our streets must be safe not only
for our residents, but for the
stranger, who comes here for COM
mercial reasons or for pleasure.
81 shall not compromise with
crime or criminals, their political
friends or protectors-in or out Of
office"
Swanson takes Office Dec. /.
He hopes to make that date a
sort of judgment day for the ma
chine gunners and beer lords of
Chicago's underworld.