Evening star., 1928-03-28
Terrorism and Politics.


criminslitv takes the form OF an out
break of dynamitins. With the homes
Of Senator Charles S, DeHeen and Cir
cult Judge John A. Swanson as OBJ
jecucs, These ouuages. which for
tunaiely did comparatively little DAM
age and caused no casualties, are at
trlbuted to political motives.
On the 10th OF April a primary viii be
held in Cook County There are two
factions seeking control one is head
&C by GOV, Small and Mayor Thomp-
son and the other by Senator Deneen.
Intense bitterness prevails. The stakes
in the case are rich, involving about
half billion dollars worth OF patron
age in the county. For some weeks
past dynsmiters have been busy. twen-
ty-one bombngs having occurred since
the FIRST OF January, During 1927 no
less than one hundred and twelve Of
these explosions took place. The dyna-
miters apparently have not played ia
vorites. Several members Of the mayors
official family have been the objects
Of these incendiary attentions, and now
two of the anti-admmis,ration leaders.
Senator Deneen and Judge Swanson,
have suffered
An extraordinary feature Of the latest
bombing is the frank statement by
States Attorney Grove 10 this effect
Il am satisfied that these two bomb
ings arc the result Of a conspiracy on
the part Of few Dcneen leaders TO
win the primary election April 10:
bombings have become recognized
method OF creating public sympathy
and increasing the now Of revenues for
reform or political purposes"
This charge Of conspiracy is an ex-
ceedingly grave one, especially as 1t is
indorsed by Mayor Thompson, who says
he thinks that Bob Grove has the
right slant on what .is going on"
Twelve Thompson-Crow leaders have
joined in offering rewards totaline
SOS 900 for information leading 10 the
arrest and conviction Of the dynamiters
The explosion at his home took place
while Senator Deneen was travelling
back TO Washington after having at
tended the funeral Of Diamond Joe"
opposite. who vas one OF the most ag-
I gTessive Deneen workers in the city and
a candidate to succeed himself as Re-
publican committeeman from the twen-
tg-ffth ward Esposito was shot &c
death last week by assassins who way
laid him as he vas about to enter his
home The murder is believed 10 have
been part Of the primary campaign
Of terrorism.
This situation is shocking reflection
upon American civilization. The Sec
ond largest city in the United States
is the scene Of lawlessness that has no
parallel in the worlds history Dyns-
nitings are commonplaces. Murders are
I 50 common as 10 attract little attention
unless the victims are public charec-
/ ters Gangs are active In all forms OF
7 crime. Two powerful political factions
I IN q struggle Tor aScenuency eEch4nge
frank accusations of connivance with
and use Of these criminal bands for
terrorism. Each side accuses the other
Of the basest Of motives In seeking po-
/ Iitical control
Only small fraction Of the citizens
( Of Chicago are involved in these intense
/ party conflicts The others are the real
/ victims They suffer from the malad-
4 ninatrstion # political bosses. They
: pay enormously high taxes 70 maintain
extYayagant organizations and they re-
/ ceiye only q show ~ protection from
the depredations Of thc organized GRIM
! inai forces On i1e 10Th Of April they
/ VIII 20 70 the polls ard vote although
even this exercise cf the right Of ci'!.
zenship and This discharge of duty IS
/ attended by deadly peril.