Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
Chicago Plays Cat and
Mouse With Criminals
BIZ OLIVER SHERWOOD.

CHICAGO, April le-Although striv-
ing strenuously TO sell Chicago to the
world Is model city Of law and order,
local ofdcials still are reticent about
stepping on the individuals who have
given this metropolis . bad name be-
fore the world.
There has been talk in responsible
quarters Of q campaign Of repression
aimed ut those characters whose no.
torious reputation for lawlesness has
become by-word over the country. But
up 20 the present, action In not out of
the conversational stage.
what II needed, all seem to agree, Is a
sensational attack on several of the
high and mighty gangsters who con.
tinue 70 operate completely In the open
with total disregard for the sensibilities
OF reform organizations. But thus far
no attacking force has developed.
Instead it Is revealed that big mergers
are being put through in order to eff
rect operating economies, both In cash
ana lives, so far as the beer and racket
industries are concerned Something Of
the stakes has been indicated by the
Federal Government which has set the
income Of Ralph Capone, who is not an
outstanding big shot In the business, at
sl'ooo,ooo Tor five recent years.
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The Chicago Crime Commission has
evolved scheme which it thinks would
work In. attempting to drive out the
Capones, Morsns and Aiellos provided
law enforcement agencies would CO.
operate. 1t intends to publish q list of
the characters who have been respon-
sible for Chicaso's bad name, and then
to see that these men are harassed with
arrests and finally driven from town."
even II they are released by the Mll-
nlctpal Court" the commission advises.
the effect Of continual arrests and the
expense OF writs and bonds will In the
end clean them out"
But thus far this campaign has only
been suggested. The city would like to
dent OF the Crime Commission and q
member Of President Hoover's law en-
forcement commission, has given the
recipe Tor cleanup. He says:
y
stalk the criminal day and night.
Make him fear the law more than he
does his enemies or his own conscience.
Make the discipline Of prisons Just, but
stern and unyielding. Abolish all cod
ding and sloppy sentimentality In deal
ing with lawbreakers. Let the enforce
ment Of law be relentless and remorse-
less. Dispense mercy only to the man
who has learned his lesson and gives
substantial evidence of his desire to 20
right.
"You don't hear of many robberies in
Delaware where they have the whipping
post, or In Canada or England where
they catch the criminal and punish
him"
In seeking to drive out and to punish
the criminal, the Crime Commission
would make number OF changes in the
machinery Of the law. It proposes that
all bonds shall be denied in felony cases,
and that bond jumping in any case
should be felony. It would provide
adequate punishment for carrying con-
cealed weapons and for possessing
bombs or machine guns. Then TO en-
force the law against the criminals O
separate independent criminal court is
suggested.
There Is tangible evidence that the
Chicago police are getting results in
their hight against the gunner who play
the hold-up profession. Chicago courts,
too. are showing greater effectiveness
and speed in handling cases. But those
notorious characters who probably are
more widely known the world over than
any other Chicago citizens still bear a
strange immunity. So long as they are
IN business, the town faces the posi-
bility Of adverse publicity and stas6z
to lose quickly all that Is gained
through the goodwill campaigns nov
under way.
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