The Washington times., 1932-02-20

Rates as Big News
That's a question that 1 can
not answer. OWney Madden
must be big news-or the staid
New York Times would never
have placed the yarn in a
prominent position on the front
sheet. Just why he is big news,
. I am not in a position to state.
All I can say is-there he is.
I am probably going to Of
fend a great many people by
writing this story. That's some
thing I cannot help. All my
columnar life, in this space, I
have been offending people.
Sometimes it's pleasure. Other
times, it's a bore. That's the
chance you take when you're
writing a column. And if you
don't take chances, what's the
use of living?
There are very few secret de-
tails concerning the life of
OWney Madden. Some IA years
back he was convicted Of a
crime and sent to prison for 10
to 20 years. I was introduced
to him shortly after his release.
At odd times we talked to-
gether-and the more we talked
the better I liked this man.
Resents Attention
What carried Owney Madden
into the limelight? What made
him a perfect target for the
press? What focused the atten-
ton of New Yorkers upon LIS
activities? These are other ques-
tions I would rather have an
swered by some one else. All I
know is that it happened, and
that it will continue to hap
pen as long as the man lives.
Totally unlike Jack Diamond
and so many others of the lat
ter's ilk, Owney Madden re-
Sented this attention.
why do they pick on me?"
he once asked me. What have
I done and what am I doing?
Let them give those boys all
the publicity they want. BuU I
am doing nothing. Why me?"
I tried to explain.
"OWney," offered, "you are a
tabled man. Regardless of
what you do or how you do it,
you are now pictured as gang
leader. I don't care if all you
do is lead a choir and sing in a
Sunday school, you must get
publicity.
axe 1t and Smile
"Once you get yourself into
the newspaper morgueS as a
bad man, you'll have to suffer
the consequences. If they
make you the worst bad man
in all America, that's your mis-
fortune. The only thing you
can do is take it with a grin.
Is that hard, or easy?"
He grinned.
"It's easy he replied.
And I liked him more than
ever.
Ask me why I would rather
sit with Owney Madden at a
dinner table than with all the
Stiff-fronted society birds in
America and I will give you a
very simple answer. Owney is
interesting.
When I talk with him, talk
of life. There are no con be-
ginnings or endings with this
man. He gives you an impress
sion. and he gives it to you
straight from the shoulder. He
hasn't the slightest idea of the
proper way to beat around the
bush. And even if he had,
he wouldn't do it.
Another thing I like about
Owney is the fact that he veers
away from dangerous topics.
If he ever wanted to-and it's
a million to one he never would
The could tell plenty of things
that would turn the city, the
newspaper and the political
government upside down. But
he will not do it.
Charitable Man
Consider, then, this man.
After being released from jail
he is sent into the world and
told to earn his own living. AS
I have written many times, this
is one of civilizations most
hideous jests-because there is
but one ex-convict in hundred
who is able to find a decent
job without being bounded day
after day. However,
Owney Madden was one of
h l.