The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-03-08


save his life. Perhaps in the solemn
moments OF introspection. he had
reached the conclusion that his life
was not worth saving. What Is Al
Capone doing with his remaining
years? What more could Lepke do?
Lepke was a product Of a social
and political system which can
exist only among free people. In a
totalitarian country, he would be-
come the law. He represented not
so much the evasion OF the law as
that vast area where the law does
not apply at all He became the
king OF the marginal region. He
stepped in to control industries in
which neither the labor union nor
the finance.capitalist were able to
produce stability Lepke produced
1t by murder and its attendant
crimes. He became. the master OF
employer and labor leader.
The same energy and competence
devoted TO constructive activities
would have produced in Louis Blu
chatter an honorable and successful
personality. He might have been
one OF Americas leading lawyers.
His associates in crime referred to
him as the Judge" His life Of
crime was in a sense constructive:
He found crime disoreanized and
anarchlstic; he made II into a mon
opolistic agency obedient TO his
will. His murders were always pur-
poseful. II is a curiosity OF this
queer life that his end began with
an accidental murder that is. one
that he had not ordered to be COM
mitted just that way. There is no
explaining the psychology Of genius.
The question might well he asked
why Lepke did not go straight when
he matured into good clothes, good
books and good golf clubs. The an
swer to that is that his crooked
world would no more let him 20
straight than he would permit his
gangsters TO. 90 straight. Their
lives were intertwined in a mesh Of
secrets which. If disclosed could
only lead to death. The gangster
who goes straight is a potential
squealer. And squealers must die
It is the code.
Lepke differs from Dillinger and
Capone in that he was, more than
anything else. a crime broker. He
sold crime and paid off criminals.
His principal customers were en-
ployers. labor leaders and polti-
clans. Some OF his customers be.
came so involved in his affairs
that, in time, he owned them much
as someone owns a "piece' OF
prizefighter He could sell their
services and he could guarantee
tavors. The criminals who are get
ting off easy in this Lepke cpl.
sode are his customers. their law.
yers, and the political go-betweens.
Lepke might have sent dozens OF
them to suicide or the electric chair.
He chose to die rather than to
squeal.
In spite OF the fact that the Lepke
story cannot be proved. II is fairly
well known. His customers are
known. Their political partners are
! known. The fingers of law and JUS
tice point TO the criminals and they
will pay, as he has paid, for murder
will out no matter how respectable
the murderer becomes. no matter
what public office he may hold. no
matter how -eampetently he has
| covered himself with favorable pub
licity The ghost OF Lepke will walk
and 1t will walk in the public
prints.
II is often said that public Off.
Gals should remain in office for pro
longed periods because Of the ex-
perience gained on the actual job.
The danger OF prolonged continuity
lies in the barnacles that fasteH
themselves upon the ship OF state.
This is true in every form and type
OF government. Such criminals as
Lepke exist only with the consent
and Connivance of public officials.
They are, in fact, privileged charac-
tiers who are permitted the run OF
the road by politicians who divide
the profits with them Lepke was a
public figure: his name was well.
known; his activities were boosted
and discussed freely and openly by
the admirers OF the daring as we'll
as by the tortured. Yet. he never
had to bother about the law until