Evening star., 1933-10-29
CRIME WAR STILL
HOLDS T0P|NTEREST
AMONG |LL|NO|SANS
Depredations Spur Law and
Real Enforcement Is Ex-
pected to Result.
BY RUTH WELL DUNCAN.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO October GA quartet of
varied interests gripped the Midwest
this week. Holding the spotlight of
public attention were the battle on
crime, with the odds in favor of the
law; the approach of prohibition re-
peal, centering in Chicago in a pro-
posed Free Beer and Sandwiches day at
q Century of Progress Exposition; the
impending closing of the Worlds Fair
at least for the Winter and possibly
permanently, and uncertainty of the
business future until the Federal none
tary policy shows signs of how it is
going to work out.
Crime has had a checkered career in
this territory in recent days. with
political upheaval in Indiana as the re-
suit of the wholesale escape of despera-
does from the State Penitentiary a few
weeks ago and the epidemic of bank
robberies and raids on police arsenals
following and with an informal con-
ference here between Edward Spike"
ODonnell, underworld interpreter. and
United States Senator Royal S. Cope
land of New York chairman of the
Senate Subcommittee on Racketeering
and Kidnapping.
Recent Program Made.
Spike" gave the information that
more progress had been made locally in
wiping out rackets in recent months
than ever before. The significant thing
Is that the wave of crime has brought
q coordination of city, State and Fed
eral forces in Indiana, which is looked
upon as forerunner Of similar uni
fcation throughout the Lake States and
perhaps nationally.
Public indignation Is at a high pitch
that band of escaped convicts can
roam at will. raiding police stations and
scorning the law. Proposals to armor
police stations in defense against the
Indiana gang has caused the public to
roar.
However. their depredations are serv-
ing as spur to the forces of the law
to unite, and from it is expected to is
sue the most effective era OF law en-
forcement yet seen here. While the
closing of the Worlds Fair has been
POSTPONED to November IL, the effects
already are being anticipated.
Every effort Is being made to hold 1t
again next year, but the financial guar
antee Is yet to come iaclement Weatner
has caused a drop IN attendance. max
ing it lower than at any time since last
June With the closing in less than
two weeks at hand, the city faces
rather somberly the throwing OF an ad-
ditional thousand people out Of work
by the exposition itself, plus all those
in hotels, restaurants and elsewhere
who will lose out because of the de-
crease In business through the absence
of an unusual number Of visitors. A
merry battle goes on about the observ-
ance of November at the fair as
personal Liberty" day. marking the
passing Of prohibition and the return OF
hard liquor.
Responsibility Day."
Temperance forces have forced
change In its name to Personal Re
sponsibility day" whatever that Is. but
Mayor Kelly sponsors the distribution
that day of 1000 barrels of free beer
and a proportionate number OF sand
wiches. Incidentally, the city Is look
ing for big jag on or about November
8. Retail business has been especially
good during the exposition, more so
than in most cities. but now the future
seems more uncertain than elsewhere
because Of the disappearance OF that
factor.