The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-19
THE PAYOFF BEGINS

EXPERTS on the problem of crime some
~ of them of the most pronounced wet
sffiliation and prejudices, have predicted that
the end of prohibition will be followed by
criminal orgy without precedent in American
history.
The kidnapping epidemic seems to be
forerunner confirming this prophecy-which
in no way partakes Of dry argument. Most
of those who feel that we face an unprecedent-
ed crime wave believe that repeal is necessary
and that we must take our chances on the
crime matter.
The basis for q future crime orgy has been
Complementary laid by the Developments of
the last twenty years. 1t is a law of social
psychology. formulated by Gabriel Tarde and
others years ago, that the socially inferior tend
to ape the socially superior.
The latter cspitulated pretty thoroughly to
the prevailing something for-nothing" psy-
chology of the era Of speculative finance
capitalism. FIreebooting in railroads, banks,
utilities, receiverships, and other high-honed
racketeering becomes shockingly frequent
1t was inevitable that sooner or later, we
would succeed In "Americanizing" the small
fry-especially the foreign small fry Their
ancestors if they lived in this country usually
had made an honest living conducting shoe
shining parlors, clothes-cleaning establish
ments fruit stands, restaurants and the like,
or at hard labor on roads, streets, and rail-
roads.
The younger generation looked with envy,
not at the bowed backs and wrinkled brows
of their parents, but rather at the achieve
ments of the American buccaneers who had
made away with their millions, with little OF
NO service to society. If our usurers of high
estate could get theirs, why should anybody
drown himself in perspiration?
About the time this something for nothing
psychology was filtering through the skulls of
the small fry, along came the noble expert
ment. This was natural" for the budding
racketeers. Nothing could have been con-
Sciously designed which could have suited their
purposes more perfectly.
Public opinion in many sections of the
country very definitely was against prohibition
and not few regarded the bootleggers as cru
saders for the old American liberties.
Prohibition promoted other rackets-the hi
jacking racket among the wet outlaws, rackets
in foods, milk, transportation, building con-
struction and the like Ali were relatively safe,
since the legal profession, already ethicaly
impaired through its affiliations with the
reputable raoketeers in speculative finance, was
only too eager to defend the lesser racketeers
for value received.
The depression further stimulated the
growth of racketeering, since it threw out of
work millions who otherwise might have pre-
ferred to earn an honest living. From these
millions it was easy to recruit the few thou
sands needed as the underlings of the master
minds of the racket world.
Revelations of the doingS of our financial
moguls only strengthened the conviction of
the racketeering element that they should get
theirs, get it quick, and get it good and plenty
The idea that when prohibition is ended
the boys who have made millions in Illicit
selling of booze meekly and contritely will turn
TO backing shoes and singing hash is down.
right silly. They will apply the technique they
have mastered to the dope ring, kidnapping,
bank robberies, hi-jacking of legitimate liquor
supplies and the like
They will find crafty lawyers all too willing