The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-06-03
Graft and Gangsters
BY HARRY CANNES
Tammany Halls Method of Grating
BY BURCK

Sharp words passed back and forth, and Walker
wanted to know whom Nesin represented II
represent the unemployed of New York." re-
piled NeSin in a clear firm voice, and you
represent the Tammany grafters the Judges
who buy their jobs to evict unemployed and
their families!" For this as we'll as for de-
manding unemployment relief, Nesin and the
rest OF the delegation were mercileSsy beaten
by dozens of police in front of Mayor Walker
at the order of Mayor Walker In the hall
stood the Reverend Norman Thomas, socialist,
silently giving his tacit approval as he later
stated because Nesin had no business calling
Walker and the Tammany henchmen grafters
Norman Thomas of the socialist party has
gone so far as to praise Mayor Walkers I'M
employment program-that is, the policy of
blackjacks and breadlines for the jobless as
and sluggers for their leaders
Jimmy Can't Be a CRATER"
Haywood Broun, another leading light of the
socialist party, their prize Congressional candi-
date in the 1880 elections, outspoken enemy of
the Negro masses in the United States defends
Walker (Which is defending the brains and the
chief CRATER of the New York Tammany graft
ing machine) with almost passionate fervor
Il like Jimmy Walker" BrOun announced
to the world in his putrid column published
daily in the New York World Telegram. ITO
me his charm seems genuine To he is a
kindly person. Reporters who cover City Hall
assure me of their belief in his personal hon
esty. The evidence they submit is circum-
stantial but simple. Jimmy can't be CRATER
they explain"
Co. Mr.. Walker, and all your ilk says Broun
and the socialists, graft on with the blessing
and defense of the leading lights in the social
list party. All defenders of capitalism will pro-
tect you
Never before in the long history of graft in
New York City had anybody dared to stand
before the city grafters and tell them to their
faces what they really are
Months after Nesin branded Walker as
CRATER the capitalist papers began to buzz with
stories about graft, about investigation" of the
Walker government. They did not have to wait.
nor did they have to begin with Walker. Graft
is built into the foundations of the New York
City capitalist government; it will be rooted out
only when the capitalist foundations go down
with it. Investigations" only give the graft
ers a respectable veneer.
1t is not necessary to go back TO the DAYS
OF Tweed, Murphy, Croker and Kelley famous
grafters OF old, when the major portion of the
city funds went out in graft. Those we're the
crude days. The modern grafters have learned
better. The total graft in the six years from
1865 to 1871 was about $2OOOOOOoO Though it
was considered huge in those days, it is mere
pittance to what goes into the pockets of the
New York boss politicians every year now
Into the Banks.
Under the Walker-Smith regime in Tammany
Hall, New York, graft reached not only into
the whole political machine but right into the
banks When sharp struggle developed in
the Tammany organization between the Smith
Roosevelt faction and the Walker clique cries
for investigation of city corruption" became so
loud, inspired by the Smith Roosevelt clique
with support of the Republican grafters, that
In March, 1881, Mayor Walker was forced to
leave for the Pacific Coast in hurry
Previously, the newspapers were publishing
exposes of a new form of grating devised by
the New York Police Department. Not content
with collecting graft on prostitution, they
speeded up the process by framing up innocent
girls and former prostitutes Special stool
pigeons were hired for this purpose Most no
torious was Chile Acuna. Hundreds of thou
sands of dollars we're wrung out Of these girls
on the threat of Jail sentence on fake evidence
The special attorney investigating" this form
of graft was Isadore j. Kresel, who had him
self INDUCED in wholesale swindling in the Bank
of the United States which crashed in Deem
Der Of 1880
Two of the girls who told about the Frame
ups were murdered. Vivian Gordon, one who
was closely connected with politicians and gang.