Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-12
Capone Believed Weakening
When He Seeks Compromise

While Al Capone Is looked upon as =
victor over his riyal gangsters in
Chicago, his proposal for . compromise
with the forces Of law, insoIent though
IL may be, is considered . sign Of waning
power. This opinion, voiced by many
who comment upon his recent promise
to give up the labor racket" Is coupled
with demands for stronger measures
in dealing with gangs. Some even urge
using armed forces.
ut is encouraging" thinks the Louis
vile Courier Journal, "to learn that
Capone acknowledges that the law at
last interposes an obstacle to his COM
plete domination Of Chicago politics. "
The New London Day feels that there
sis hope for Chicago" recalling that
heretofore Capone obviously enjoyed
immunity in all his rackets," but
evidently he is being troubled just
enough to satisfy himself with half a
Loaf; and predicting that "the police.
discovering his troubles, may one day
even make that half-loaf distasteful to
the racketesr." The Minneapolis Star
advises that s'the authorities should
capitalize, without delay, on the limited
weakness"
"Al's offer probably means that he Is
tired of paying for protection" suggests
the Baltimore Sun, with the comment
ON Chicago conditions: 1.-THE worst OF
it is, nothing that has happened in
Chicago lately justifles one in de-
nouncing Capone for insulting the city.
It would also be rash to predict that
Chicago will even affect to feel In
suited by this cool proposition to sur
render civil authority in exchange for
an immunity already enjoyed. 1t would
be gratifying If AL Capone's amazing
brass should start a movement to put
Chicago on sound Unsuitable basis.
But nothing of the sort is likely to hap
pen."
"The trouble Is" in the judgment of
the st. Paul Pioneer Press, that the
underworld often is tnterlocked with
law-enforcement authority, so that it
is hard to say where the one leaves on
and the other begins. The greater
enemies of society are not the Capones
but the corrupt officials and dishonest
politicians who make the CaponeS pos
Sible." The Miami Daily News suspects
that "the only difference between this
deal and innumerahle others he has
made with public officials is that this
one failed and wasrevealed." The Daven-
port Democrat agrees that organized
crime has been closely hooked lip with
Standard, although declaring that the
courts "stinging rebuke is the one en-
couraging part of this extraordinary
affair."" holds that sit emphasizes the
helplessness of the law-at least in
Chicago-as against those who are
organized to trample upon it."
HE feels that he has risen above the
law" concludes the st. Louis Times,
while the New York World states:
Chicago must dsal with its gunner
with the weapons of the law, or paint
out the I win upon the shield of wood,
not steel, and inscribe in its place, 7
can't" The Danbury Evening News
adds: Chicago, to date, has answered
only I can't and is living up to those
weasel words"
For brazen effrontery." says the
Roanoke Times, "Capone's offer caps
the climax, and it is to Judge Nc
Goorty,s credit that he promptly de-
clined it and informed Capone's ennis
sary that he would not bargain with the
gangster Officially branded as pub
Tic enemy Capone must not be allowed
to dictate terms to the law. If he Is
bigger than the organized forces OF
society, he viii triumph and continue
his IawIeSs career. But that is un-
thinkable. There is only one possible
answer that Chicago can make to Ca
pone's insolent offer, and that Is a stern
and emphatic No."
The issue presented, in the opinion Of
the Asheville Times .'is far more i'm.
portant to the preservation of American
in titutions than any issue In the politi-
cal campaign just closed" Tie Akron
Beacpn~ Journal records "ths Nations
Theodore BSoseyelt 70 give efieek and