Evening star., 1928-12-08

1IOl1 GdECJ
didn't like policemen or who bore a
racial grudge against the English
With ThompSon'S election came the
wide-open town. Speak-eaSieS appeared
by the thousand; gambling dives grew
SO numerous competition so keen, that
solicitors were sent forth on the high
ways looking for the gullible; vice denS
bloSSomed throughout the city.
The gangsters and the racketeers
grew inSolent with power. Yes, Thomp-
son was mayor.
Robert e. Grove was States attorney.
During his eight years in that Office,
although hundreds had died before the
guns of gangland, no gang murderer
vas ever convicted-not even when
William H. McSwiggin, an assistant
States attorney, met leaden death
at the hands Of machine-gun gangsters.
Charles E. Graydon was sheriff, ap-
pointed through Grove on the death of
the sheriff ELECT.
Small administration Scored.
Len Small was governor of the State
Small, when State treasurer, entered
into an agreement with Chicago pack
ers, lending them State funds through
what has been called "a veSt-pocket
bank" Criminal action brought against
him proved unsucceSsful-two men went
to jail later for tampering with the
jury-but civil action forced him to
return $500, 900 to the State.
The disbursement of pardons and
paroles during the Small adminiStra-
eon had been f1ercely criticized.
A complacent Legislature, hardening
of Thompson, Small and Grove, had
passed law increasing by $100,000,000
Chicago'S bonding power. More Swag
for; professional politicians was the view
of the newspapers and the citizens who
fought it.
The same Legislature had obediently
passed a law forbidding the appoint
ment of special States attorneys, even
in instances where the regularly elected
States attorney had diSqualifying in
tereSt in the grand jury inquiry or the
criminal action. The law was pushed
through in behalf of Grove.
Grove, Small and Graydon we're again
seeking Office. Running with them was
Frank L. Smith. Smith for the second
time was asking the seat in the United
States Senate refused him by that body
when it was charged that most OF
Smiths campaign funds came from
public untilitieS over which Smith had
control as chairman of Gov. SmallS
State Commerce Commission.
These and their cohorts, under the
banner of America First" went into
the Republican primary. At their head
marched Thompson, asking approval of
q Sal, 100000 municipal bond issue,
nearly half of the recently increased
bending power. For sinews of war the
faEtion had the State patronage, the
city patronage and most of the patron
age from Cook County, in which Chi
cSgo is situated.
Fighting them at the primary were
the followers of United States Senator
Charles S. Deneen, few in number and
fewer in jobs.
But the April primary came and the
beaten decisively-Crowe by 100000
Small by 100000, Smith by 244,00o
Graydon by 1000, and the bond issue
by 10000. The Grove Thompson
county machine Salvaged but half
dozen nominations, and one of these by
the death of the Deneen entry.
The people had risen.
On the night of January 26 bombs
rocked the homes of ThompSon's South
Side leaders, City Controller Charles
SitZmorris and DR.. William H. Reid
Official explanations were vague. But
from the underworld came a persistent
report that South Side gamblers hac
paid hard cash for a favor" that the
flavor was not granted nor theil
money returned.
The city was startled, but more star
tling events were in store. "DiamonC
joe" Esposito, picturesque figure
loved for his charities, was an Italian
leader on the West Side, allied will
Senator Deneen. Joseph P. Savage
close political and personal friend o
Groves, was sent into the dist It t.
organize it for America First" over
lures were made to Esposito, but Espo
sito refused to leave Deneen.
Deneen Leader Murdered.
The night of March 81, three week
before the primary, Esposito was leav
ing a meeting he had called in behal
of the Deneen candidates. AS h
walked to his home an automobil
swooped to the curb, two sawed-o1
shotgunS thundered, and Esposit
ceased to be political threat t
America First" and became a bullet
torn corpse. The Thompson -co1trolle'