Evening star., 1933-05-22

n tOll 6SlluldlCO 11A IAlAOALo AA0AAA
legitimate business in this
country. have fallen into sudden chaos.
Frightened by sweeping attacks from
Federal and State prosecutors and at
tempting to stave off bankruptcy
threatened by a depression in illegal
liquor traffic, gang leaders are branch
ing into new fields in frenzied effort
to continue the flow OF easy money
into their pockets.
Racket Leaders Changing.
As the rackets change in character,
so the racket leaders are giving way
to new regimes.
The throne Of AL Capone in Chicago
Murray Humphreys.
With the Staying of Larry Fay and
many of his cohorts the conspiracy
TO coerce" business in New York has
been carried on by younger leaders,
typical of whom is former Bantam
weight Champion Charley Phil Rosen-
berg. He has just received a three
year sentence for racketeering tactics
in the Bronx poultry markets.
Attorney General Homer S. Cum
mings has ordered an inquiry into evi-
dence of racketeering in New York's
fish market and trucking industries.
These two businesses and the poultry
and milk dealers are said to be the
chief contributors to the annual bill OF
more than $500, 100000 which the State
Crime Commission estimates this city
pays yearly to gangsters.
Fight on In Chicago.
In Chicago, States Attorney Thomas
j. Courtney is beginning a reform OF
all outlaw" unions in an effort to
eliminate the $18o000,000 which the
Chicago Employers Association esti-
mates will go into the hands of gang
sters Of that city this year.
Federal authorities have moved in
full force into New Jersey to examine
evidence that many 80 beer breweries
are controlled by public enemies"
The situation has reached the at
tention of Congress- with Senator Royal
S. Copeland of New York introducing
resolution before the Commerce Com
mittee to inquire into racketeering in
beer, milk and other fields, recommend
ing legislation to eradicate the evil.
Detroit Inquiry Started.
Detroit has an inquiry under way
following reports that rum runners are
trying to move in on the legal beer
business, but officials report that the
CITY lS HlOlG 1Icc VI SdLSuOiIl 4lllucLlCC
than it has been in six years. Detroit
authorities, among whom was Prose-
cutor Harry S. Toy, gave the racketeer
machine severe setback when they
obtained convictions to break up the
notorious Purple Gang three years ago.
Federal authorities have been and
are achieving results with their four
way attack against public enemies"
for income tax evasion, kidnapping
| crimes, interstate commerce violations
and abuses Of the 80 beer law.
The chief income of racketeers until
this year was derived from illegal traf-
flc in beer and spirits. The Wicker
sham report estimated that gangstTs
were receiving between two and thke
billion dollars year from this souYe
Turn TO Other Fields.
When the depression stopped much
of this illegal liquor income, there
came an increase of reports of racket
eerS in other fields, such as KIDNAPPING
and extortion from industries and CO.
ercion of labor organizations to levy
dues on individual workers.
Prosecutors found themselves against
| terrific problem in attempting to
forestall this new and growing form
of racketeering. With their nobs of
bombers, acid toSsers, strong-a arm slug
gers and machine gunnerS the gang
leaders employed weapons of strikes,
boycotts and violence to frighten their
victims into submission.
State Attorney General John j. Ben
nett made a public appeal for help,
saying. IF I can get the support of
victimized business men feel perfectly
sure we can end the whole business of
racketeering."
In several instances lately victims
have been persuaded to come forward
and give evidence. Harassed by threats
and financially unable to any longer
pay tribute to racketeers, their indig-
nation is overcoming their fear, so that
more and more they are cooperating
with prosecutors.