The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-13
Sowing for the Whirlwind

3 Announcement that the New York State League
Of Women Voters has decided to join the W. G. T. u
In a drive for state prohibition law comes coinci-
dent with the charge that racketeers already coll
Letting some $200O0oo0O from New York City alone
This proclaimed union of forces to work for state
dry act affords striking support for the contention
that mankind is incapable OF learning by expert
ence.
In spite Of much popular mythology to this effect
the notorious awlessness in Chicago not due to any
unique conditions in that metropolitan center Chi
cago is not Inherently lawless than Philadelphia
OF Boston It is not inhabited by a special type of
human beings peculiarly susceptible to unparalleled
temptation to crime.
The recent record of lawless behavior In Chicago
b primarily a product OF prohibition and especially
Of the state prohibition act Of Illinois. Chicago is
the largest civic center in which the police are
PEELED legally to assist the federal authorities in
affecting alcoholic drought. That under state pro-
htbiton similar conditions will develop a smaller
scale in lesser cities is well illustrated by the expert
ence of Philadelphia. ~
In Chicago it is necessary for bootleggers and liquor
rackeeers to corrupt the police to carry their acv-
tiles Once the metropolitan police are bought off
thoroughly by group of specially protected inter-
ests their Generalization all along the line Is newt
eble
y Abolition OF state enforcement in Chicago would
do to clear up lawlessness there than all the
rebellion against the Thompson machine and the
Murmurings against Judges and district attorneys
The relatively good record to safety of life and
property in New York City and Baltimore in recent
years is probably due to the absence of state
enforcement act than to any other single factor New
York City offers much more fertile potential field
Tor extensive criminal activity than Chicago It is
larger, wealtier heterogeneous and additionally
much more wicked. 1t is even charged upon good
authority and plenty of statistical evidence that the
ackets actually yield New York today than in
Chicago.
a Racketeertng in New York has produced fewer
murders and less violence than in Chicago because
It has been associated with relatively Iaw-abidng
and peaceful pursuits Let state enforcement act
invite and expedite liquor racketeering and New York
would become the prize racketeering city of the
world, with all that the liquor racket implies In the
way OF boodshed and bombing.
Add to this the wholesale corruption OF the police
which would be attempted under state enforcement
act and Chicago would stand out as model coulmu-
nifty compared to conditions which would develop on
Manhattan island
y The partisans of state dry law are concerned
grayely because some thousands of New Workers,
drawn from the better classes for the most part are
free to stray from the streets and voluntarily enter
numerous speakeases of their own free Will
To the prohibition type of mind this is worse than
it would Be II no New Yorker was able to 90 forth
upon the streets with any assurance Of safety OF life
and person. Therefore. they propose to attempt to
,aera at ths cost of safstx