The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-11
EATURDAY- NC u. -
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

TOR generations the prison grapevine sys-
L TEN has been the topic Of fiction. drama
and conversation.
For years the system has been recognized
as one Of the greatest whispering Geographic
networks Of the world.
But. in the last few days. newspaper read
ers might wonder II that system has not been
antiquated BY the recent incidents in Marion
county. centering around the slot machine
racket.
The slot machine racket in this county is
built upon the underworld, its whisperings
and the culpability of a citizenry which be-
Hoycs gangsters can be defeated at their own
game
For several days The Times has printed
stories that the slot machine racket had found
new foster parents and that outsiders were
beginning to move into the sacred haven Of
the favored few
II appeared for some time that the slot
machine racketeers might erase their own
crimes by erasing the chiselers But that
failed to happen. Instead things continued to
maintain a serene and complacent attitude on
the surface while new machines by the tens
and tventies we're imported into Marion
county
Suddenly bomb dropped. The racketeers
found they might not be in for such smooth
sailing Prosecutor Herbert f. Wilson told
newspaper men that he would ask Sheriff
Charles BUCK Sumner to clean up the
racket.
The conference with the press occurred
in the prosecutors Office Thursday a scant few
minutes before late edition Of The Times
reached the streets.
Times reporters. following through on the
information given by Mr.. Wilson, started their
own Investigations Thursday night They
found. not to their amazement, however, that
the word had been passed. And when the
word is passed in Marion county thorough
Job is done.
Consequently the sherif's Office could find
no slot machines to conhscate Thursday night.
And. too The Times reporters could find no
machines displayed publicly in the ifty-six
places they visited. many Of which have been
slot machine Ravens for years.
The operators of some Of the joints openly
admitted they had received the word. The
word was to Jerk the machines until the
storm had blown over.
The grapevine system had worked again,
but behind it was the sinister implication that
the machines would be permitted to be in
operation within a few days. And of course, If
that occurs it viii be the grapevine system
which will pass the word to carry on"
That grapevine system doesn't originate by
accident. 1t. like the gambling devices it pro-
tects. has been built up over a period Of years.
Regrettable as it is it is positively true that
the storm always has blown over. Generally
the storm occurred just before primaries or
fall elections. This time it is a midsummer
storm.
Now it becomes the duty Of the law en-
forcement agencies OF Marion county and the
respectable citizens to see that the storm con-
tinues for days. weeks and months.
Citizens Of the county who object to the
uproarious conduct OF many beer places Will
be surprised to find how many of them Will
die out if the slot machine racket is halted
Figures on the racket. compiled by author
tiles show that the profit Of the game is i'm
mense. Some places in this county could not
exist month without slot machine revenue.
and the quickest way to kill gang Vaccination
Is by taking the profit out of 1t.
The Indianapolis Times Will pledge its edi-
torial and news columns to driving out the
devices. The Times also asks that the law en-
forcoment powers and the taxpayers Join in
smash TO the finish.
There is no real reason why it should not
be completed. Politicians and racketeers,
much more important in their own under
handed methods than those who operate and
condone slot machines IN this county. have
been defeated.
Why shouldn't such community service
be completed now?