The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-23
AS | See 1t
BY GEN. HUGH S. JOHNSON

CHICAGO, March 23.-As a tyro columnist,
~ but nj an attempt to be an accurate one,
I have spent the last three days-between
writing speeches and making then-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 me such a wide
variety Of public contacts as few men have
had. had almost said enjoyed" but it is
not the word. 1t isn't any fun not to be able
to stick your head out Of the door without
having somebody recognize you. 1t cramps
your style in many ways especially as not all
men are kind. You become a hort of curl
ou5ity-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, 1 must try to hear all this
and as faithfully as I can, report it.
AS I said day or two ago. bankers and
business 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 7 can't but will say this
which I had said to them and have said be-
AOAC. ny llO AIedIlS agree WIN henry w al
lace on many things, but there is an honest,
studious and a very conscientious official I
would rather take my chance with a man like
that than with several Of the political trim
mers in Washington today.
GOVERNMENT is important but the bulk
~ of our government is local. I went out in
police squad car last night for two hours cruis-
around one of the worst districts in Chicago
with Capt. Andy Barry at the instigaticn of nv
old friend Sedgt. Daley.
1t is one of my diversions to do things like
that wheneverd anybody will take me and I have
done it in many cities.
1t was a revelation to me. I know something
tbout the old Chicago. This toughest of districts
was as as a tomb. Radio calls kept coming into
the car every minute. We rushed with sirens
shrieking to two reported robberies only to find
them fakes and we smashed into a gang which
looked as though il were stealing an automobile
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 jetsom that had collected there
like father.
~APT. BARRY has II notcheS on his gun
~ gansterS killed in personal encounters under
fire. 1t is getting very unhealthy for mobsters
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-
actly what they need.
The fact is that Chicago is being cleaned up
and when you have said that you have said
something.
Copyright, 1885 by United Feature Syndicate, Inc All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole
in part forbidden.