The Washington times., 1930-10-15

The mayor wasn't Y bad sort.
He was no OutandOut thie1.
He had WTiEgied up through
the tortnOus trails q local pOll-
tics, playing with those who
could do him some good. The
little organizers grouped to-
gether clusters 0R voters who
didn't care much about eco
nomics or patriotism, but who
wanted protection OF some
kind-tO peddle or to sell to the
city or to bootleg or to hang
out swinging signs agairSt city
ordinanceS-or to foster racial.
religious or neiBhborhOOd inter
eStS.
A higher group organized the
organizers to get standing as
jobberS Of votes, and above
them was the pext class, which
concentrated the jobbers and
stockholders. and who whOlesAled
precincts and wards through
control OF the balance Of power
in them. They chose the
mayor, and he paid off through
them back down the line.
Strictly United States system.
The mayor gave the town q
pretty fair administration. Civic
pCogress kept moving. New
boulevards meant work for
thousands Of the faithful, and
inside information about COM
ing improvements meant enrich
ing the hiEher-ups through 0p-
tioning adjacent corners and
Leases.
Gangs Were Big Business :,
The gangs had to be recog-
nized. The gangsterS muscled
In whether or no, and it was
better and far more profitable
to have them in solid outfits.
where they could be dealt with
through leaders, than to have
the guerrIlas spEinging up On
their own everywhere, all the
time. That method would have
meant even more lawIeSSnesS
and no return at all. Gangs
were big business, and, like all
big business, had their vices,
but in the end usually realized
that certain limits had to be
drawn. As long az they re-
rnained in their own reServa.
tionS and made speakeaSy-
keepers and Ein-makers and
beer-runnerS and gamblers and
slaves kick in and stay put,
they were rather q help than
Q problem.
Seldom were they brought to
book. But this time an even
higher power. the newspapers,
had forced the condition. It
seemed: ike another scandalous
and slaughteC0us intergang
war, which would make the
town notorious around the
world again. Therefore the
15TSSC1lC COuO. O..
Pclack Annie had been
brought in. Tue chief Of police,
himself, had called for her.
When he moved the mayor
had spoken. At the first ink.
ling Of 50 picturesque q pinch
the boys had called their city
editors, and photographers
were swarnling about the big
graftan6granite structure IN
the soul Of the city. No sheet
had yet shot a snap of poaack
Annie. This was q moment.
EhOtOgrapheCs All Set :
They were cOagulated In the
anberOOm Of the chiefs office,
looking for the Hailaionth tiEne at
the framed photographs of past
heads of the department, most
nf fhexn in their graves where
they could ign0re what was said
about them. The secretary had
told them Il wouldn't be long
now. Annie was TO be brought
up the back eAGva6Or--a diSttnc-
ton given to but few. l
A buzzer raSped The Secre-
tary beckoned, and the men who
meet so many interesting people
f1ocked in to meet another one.
The chief. a big heater cooked
upward between his jaws, sat
gTinninR behind his desk. The
Mayor suuatted q few feet
away. Between them, composed
and nOnchAlant. relaxed PolRck
Annie.
The photographers sgt their
tripods, aimed their boxes and
hustled with their flashliSht
powder.
Were set now - EeAdy?"
called MeSSenheim, dean Of the
camera men.
"Ist 'er CO." cried Ellis Honor.
and . dozen puffS and q dozen
flames helched from as many
pans held high.
Meld For Investigation
Can we have her alone
standing aEp2" asked MeSSen-
helm.