The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-23
AS | See It
by GEN. HUGH S. JOHNSON,

CHICAGO. March 23-As tyro columnist,
~ but in an attempt to be an accurate one,
spent the last three days-between writing
speeches and making them-in trying to find out
what people of all walks of life In this my old
stamping ground, are thinking about
Whatever else may be remarked about my
work in NRA. it did bring such wide
variety of public contacts as few men have had
had almost said enjoyed" but it is not the
word. It isn't any fun not to be able to stick
your head out of the door without having some
body recognize you. 1t cramps your style in
many ways especially as not all men are kind.
You become a sort Of curiosity-like a three
/ headed calf But it does bring TO you people
who want to talk about their troubles and if I
am to write anything worth reading, I must try
to hear all this, and, as faithfully as can, re-
port it.
! rs said day or two ago, bankers and busi-
ness men out here are like soldiers in the
trenches about five minutes before H. Hour.
They are frightened, uncertain and honestly
alarmed.
One of the most important groups of farm
representatives in the country came to me and
talked for hours. They don't like the present
policies of the Department of Agriculture and
they seemed to think I could do something
about it.
OF course I can't but I will say ths-which
1 had said to them and have said before. by
not means agree with Henry Wallace on many
things, but there is an honest, studious and
very conscientious official. I would rather take
my chance with a man like that than with sew
eral of the political trimmers in Washington
today.
CONVENIENT is important, but the bulk
" of our government is local. 1 went out in
police squad car last night for two hours cruis-
ing around one of the worst districts in Chi
cago with Capt Andy Barry at the instiga-
ton of my old friend Sergt. Daley.
1t is one of my diversions to do things like
that whenever anybody will take me, and I
have done it in many cities.
1t was a revelation to me. I know something
about the old Chicago. This toughest of districts
was as quiet as tomb. Radio calls kept cominC
into the car every minute. We rushed with
| sirens shrieking to two reported robberes only
to find them fakes and we smashed into gang
which looked as though it were stealing an au-
tomoblie only to find it an error
But the big point with me was that here was
a police captain who was not what we used to
call in the army "waffle-tail," meaning a man
who sat out so much of his time in cane bottom
chairs that an impression of the pattern was
left on the seat of his pants
We went back to the cell house and he talked
to the poor jetsam that had collected there
like father
CAPT. BARRY has II notches on his gun
u gangsters killed in personal encounters
under fire. 1t is getting very unhealthy for mob
sters and gunner in this CITY,
1t may shock the older and more conservative
ideals of law enforcement but men like Barry
and Daley are what this age needs. With mob
Sters they shoot first and inquire afterward This
is known to the gunner. They are race of
towards anyway and this kind of policy is ex-
acty what they need.
The fact is that Chicago is being cleaned up
and when you have said that you have said
| something.
Copyright 1895 by United Feature Syndicate Inc. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
part forbidden