Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-10
WETNESS OF CITIES
IS REAL PROBLEM
Alliance of BootIeggers and
Politicians Seen Dry
Law Difficulty.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
The number of other millionaires
created by violation of the prohibition
law is amazing. In one case, for in
stance, which involved six bootleggerS,
we found that in three years they had
evaded paying taxes and had built up
such fortunes of magnitude that they
owed the Government the following
amounts in taxes: One of them owed
81 800, 000-that is, the tax. not the
money he made; another owed $3.50 900
in taxes, another $4l5.000, another
$4,000. the others $4,000 and $685.
900. respectively.
Evidence in the big four" con-
spiracy case at Savannah, Ca, revealed
the fact that in three years ring
leader OF the bootleg industry derived
such profits from the Importation OF
liquor and other illegal operations that
he was reasSeSSed for income taxes in
the sum of 81 ,25429. Another
owed 1901 ,8l609. Lesser fry in the
organization had lodged taxes ranging
from $245,00O to $4,000.
BootIeggers and Politicians.
Because Of all this ready money and
the great value of the city vote in cleo
tween bootleggers and corrupt politi-
clans.
With the liquor operations are often
combined other big city gratis" For
instance. the United States attorney at
Chicago recently called my attention
to some accounts seized in the Chicago
Heights raid These records consti-
tlIted the bookkeeping of income from
slot machines only, and not from pro-
fibition violations. The revenue over
a period of three years, according to
S725, 900 q year for these machines
This represented the result of slot
machine operations in an area where
there reside not more than 100000
people, a small suburban city in the
southern part of Cook County. The
record sheets that were seized showed
in detail the revenue from each ma
chine and the division Of the profits
among the five racketeers who con-
trolled this form of lawlessness.
Still Hope.
The district attorney, Mr.. johnson
said to me, II have often wondered
what the total figures might be, since
there are about 100000 people in
this county, including Chicago, II
every 100000 population produced ac-
cordingly." We can only guess the ag-
gregate profits from all the racketS
in and near Chicago. but based on the
spoils from slot machine operations
alone. the total in years time, in
Guiding revenue from bootlegging, the
operation of disorderly houses, and pro-
tected gambling establishments, woulc
amount to $25 900 900 or more a year.
With possible profits Of such enor-
NOUS proportions it will be seen why
the job of prohibition enforcement ii
one of such magnitude. And the fac
that those tempted to engage in boot.
Logging and allied activities know very
we'll that even If apprehended the con-
gestion Of court calendars probably vii
give them many months to temporizt
and use political pul or in the end OPP
portunity to plead e4ilty and be "re-
warded' with fine of only few hun
bred dollars or a term of only three OF
six months in jail. explains why the
forces of lawleSSnesS never lack for re-
cruits. 3d..
But the chances for law enforcement
In the big cities are far from hopeless.
Such men as Mr.. johnson. the United
States district attorney at Chicago, and
Roscoe Patterson. former United States
attorney in Kansas City, Mo, and now
Senator from that State, and Hayetf1
two carloads 1881 Of city and county
grafterS to Atlanta, have proved that
where there is determination to enforce
the law, coupled with legal ability and
high personal integrity. prohibition can
be enforced like any other law to curb
the operations of the criminal element
of society.
Quick Money.
The prohibition law has not given
birth to any new element Of lawlessness.
1t simply has attracted those who would
in any event try to beat the law" in
some racket designed to make big money
quick. The proof of this lies in the
fact that the names Of Al Capone and
others Of his gang run through cases
involving ell of the many rackets. The
same men who are involved in Chicago
in the trade union rackets-by which
legitimate business or organizations are
forced to pay tribute or have their
places blown up and their employees
slugged-are at the heads or in the
ranks OF the big liquor rings and in
volved as well in the slot machine graft
and the election fraud cases. The type
of men who descend in a swiftly moving
automobile on the garage which is the
headquarters Of rival liquor gang and
exterminate them with a machine gun
is the same as those who kidnap the
poll watchers of the opposition party on
election day, take them to deserted