Evening star., 1933-02-16
CHICAGO STIRRED
BY NEWS OF MAYOR.
Gangmen First Thought to
Blame and Underworld Is
Combed for Clues.
By the Associat ted Press.

CHICAGO, February 16.-Shocked
by the news that its anti-gang crusad-
ing and Worlds Fair" mayor had
been shot down in Miami by would
be assassin. Chicago awaited today the
outcome of Anton J. Cermack's con-
dition with anxiety and hope for his
recovery.
The first reports that the mayor had
been shot by the gunman who failed
to take the life of President-elect
Franklin D. Roosevelt, were followed
by speculation that a gangland plot
might have been responsible, because
Of Cermack's determination to drive all
hoodlums out of Chicago before the
discounted later by officials
And while the mayor lay gravely
wounded in a Miami hospital the DO
lice continued the anti-gang drive or
dered by the mayor some time ago.
Chief Of Detectives William Shoe
maker sent police squads into under
world haunts in search of suspicious
persons.
Two Gunmen Arrested.
The detective chief also ordered the
arrest of Jack Machine Gun" McGurn
reputed gunman for the Capone gang,
and William Three fingered" White.
both Of whom were seized by detectives
last Tuesday, but who were released
shortly before news of the attempted
assassination reached Chicago.
Miami officials were asked by Shoe
maker to arrest Is Chicagoans reported
seen in Florida recently.
States Attorney Thomas ]. Court
ney, however, after a conference with
police, expressed belief that no gang
land motive was responsible.
My only official interest,"" he said
was to learn whether there were any
CMcago gangsters involved. Evidently
there was none"
Chicago's 5s-year-old mayor, who rose
from the lowly position of an immigrant
breaker-boy in an Illinois coal mine to
the mayorship of the country's second
largest city, went to Florida last week
to recuperate from a cold and to confer
with Mr.. Roosevelt and his associates
on political and other matters. Mayor
Cermak Is the Democratic national
committeeman of Illinois.
Ever since his elevation to the mayor
snip from his position as president of
tne County Board of Commissioners of
Cook County there have been unverified
reports that he was the recipient of
death threats, but nevertheless officials
old not believe there was any possibility
that they could have had any connec-
ton with the Miami shooting.
Mayors Daughters Collapse.
The mayors daughters, Mrs. r. v.
Graham and Mrs. Frank j. Jirka. COL
lapSed when the news of the shooting
was received.
DR.. Jirka, the mayors son-in-law and
personal physician and director of the
Illinois department of health. left
Springfield by automobile for Evansville.
Ind, to board a train for Nashville.
Tenn, from whence he planned to 90
by airplane to Miami.
special newspaper editions were
issued, while thousands clamored for the
latest news OF the mayors condition.
Expressions of sympathy came from
all sides, regardless of political afhlia-
tions.
Il hope" said Postmaster Arthur C.
Leuder, that Chicago will not be de-
prived of his leadership during these
troublesome times. Although of an op-
poslte political party, I sympathize
deeply both with Mayor Cermak and
members of his family"
Mr.. Cermak became mayor following
the overwhelming defeat he admins
tered to William (Big BilD Thompson,
his Republican opponent. in 1881, when
Thompsonism" was held by him and
his supporters to be the issue of the
campaign.
His rise from the ranks of a laborer
to his present position was slow.
Brought to America by his family when
a year old, from Kladno, a small town
about SO miles from Prague, in what
was then Bohemia, but now Czecho-
slovakia, he began work years later in a
coal mine at Braidwood, III. His father
was miner before him. When II he
made his way to Chicago, where he
supplemented his country-town educa-
tion by going to night school and work.
ing as wood-hauler Later, he went
into the coal and teaming business,
which led to the establishment of a real
estate project. Meanwhile, he was gain
ing political recognition by his election
to various minor Offices until he finally
heaoed the county board. During his
tight with Thompson for the mayorship
there were those who in opposition to
Cermak sang
Tony, Tony, Where's Your Push
cart At"
He showed them where it was bv be-
ing elected by the largest vote ever re-
ceived by local mayoralty candidate.