Evening star., 1929-12-01
CHICAGO SEES NEED
FOR NEW CRUSADER
Noted BattIer Against Grim
inaI Influence in Government
RetireS to Minor Post.

2y Consolidated Press.
CHICAGO, November 30.-This city
may soon be in the market for a new
crusader to carry on her fight for free
dom from domination by a politico-
criminal alliance
When Frank J. Loesch, 77-year-old
battler against criminal influence in
government, this week stepped down
from his position as special prosecu-
tor. he left big void. No one at pres
ent Is in sight TO fill it. but the city is
secure in the feeling that the work he
did in the 18 months of his service so
changed the state of local affairs that
there is little chance for former con-
ditions to return.
Volunteers at Age of IS.
At 76 Mr.. Loesch, counsel for one of
the countryS leading railroads, wealthy.
at the age when most men are more
than ready to retire, stepped forward
to become president of the Chicago
Crime Commission. 1t was a time
when the forces of miSrule were strong
est. and when they were reaching out
for complete control of government in
Chicago and Illinois.
He entered the fray fearlessly and
with such broadSides of attack that a
good proportion of credit for the pub
lie revolt that occurred in Illinois and
Chicago early in 1923 was credited to
him. Since then he has been acting as
special prosecutor, chasing election
criminals. The last of his cases ended
this week when, at the States request,
charges of murder against Police Lieut.
Phil Carroll and his detective bureau
squad, as well as against several gang
sters, were nolle pressed.
"Al" CapOne Case a Sample.
One of the dramatic incidents in the
long battles that have been occurring
in Chicago'S war against political
crimes occurred when Mr.. LoeSch called
on Scarface Al Capone to see if the
king of gsngsters would not mend his
ways at least so far as election ter
roriSn was concerned. His appeal so
affected Scarface Al that he said to
the prosecutor: III help you, Mr..
Loesch," and evidence since then indi-
Gates that he did. Gang activity at
the polls in Capone territory ceased.
When he began his fight the white
haired prosecutor Immediately ran
against the faverite weapon of domi-
nart forces who objected to any change
in conditions. They refused to appro-
PIRATE needed funds for Investigations
Mr.. Loesch appealed to the people and
soon, had fund of S150,000. Before he
got through this amount was doubled,
DuG Wy IildG lllIlc lIlc COuIItS DOdIu IldQ
changed its mind and paid the bills.
Reviews His Service Period.
In turning over his job to some one
younger, who has the prospect of more
years Of service, Mr.. Loesch said:
For many years before April 16,
1928, when Octavius Granady was mur-
dered on election day, there was no
such thing as an honest election in
many of the citys wards narticularlv
in the river wards. AS a result of the
grand jury Investigations. indictments
and prosecutions, we have had honest
elections since, with ballots counted as
cast
This in itself is a marvellous thing
and to my mind perhaps the outStand-
ing achievement of. the special proSecu-
tons. We started out to break up the
alliance Of criminals and politicians in
Chicago. would not say that we have
accomplished that, but I will say that
ye have greatly weakened the alliance
1.-the plundering of the public is not
going on at the rate it was
We convicted and fined Is hoodlums,
Eller gangsters. before Judge O'Connor.
dozen more were convicted of
stufhng ballot boxes before Judge Tay-
Tor. One was sentenced for intini-
dating voters. Judge Jarecki sent BE-
tween 80 and 40 to Jail. 1855.
Sanitary District Frauds Revealed.
The special grand juries revealed
the sanitary district frauds. cut the
sanitary district pay roll from 4SO0 to
less than 1000 and disclosed that 40
members of the State Legislature were
on the district pay roll. The investiga-
tions and prosecutions smashed the Re-
publican machine We drove Judge