In Defence of Chicago

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 11

In Defence of Chicago

A N effort to correct harmful impressions which are obtained by people of most countries from the broadcasting of reports off extensive crime in Chicago and the “terrible’’ conditions prevailing there, was made last week to a “Christchurch Press’’ reporter by Mr R. V. Warrnan, representative in Australia and New Zealand for Montgomery, Ward and Co., a large Chicago firm. “I should like to see corrected the erroneous- impressions of Chicago New 1 Zealand people are getting from the cabled dispatches which deal with the crime wave (and little else), and which appear in the newspapers,’’ said Mr Warrnan. * ‘This so-called crime wave is something that the average resident or business man of 'Chicago has never come in contact with. 1 have lived in the city for five years, and I have never seen any of this sensational gunplay or anything of the sort. What crime there may be is going on in the outlying suburbs, which are inhabited principally by the worst class of aliens, and it represents chiefly feuds or gang wars hot; we cm rival bootlegging factions. One can walk on the streets of Chicago just as safely as one can walk on the London or Paris streets. There* is absolutely no indication anywhere' 1 in the- business or bettor rosielential districts of Chicago of any unlawful violence.

“Tn the cabled news the- word ‘Chicago’ is often featured and displayed' in prominent type- and down in the middle of the article is found the information that the bombing or shooting concerned took place- in someoutlying suburb or other. The* e-vil in this kind of propaganda is existent even in the United States. Residents

Visitor Talks of His City The So-Called Crime Wave

of New York have almost the sameidea of Chicago as the impression that is .being created' out here, all through some of the sensational newspapers.” ;Bv cay of illustration Mr Warrnan said that Mr Samuel Mcrwin, the prominent writer ou business topics, hail undertaken an article on Chicago, for the “Saturday Evening Post.” He had opened by saying that he had been honestly alarmed about going to Chicago, so familiar -was he with the stories of the crime wave there. Upon stepping off the train at the western metropolis he had immediately looked round him with apprehension, and was greatly surprised to find that he was not molested in any way, and that he saw no signs of rioting, bombing or shooting. When he had stayed therefor some time he of course discovered nothing of the kind. His .alrtic/fcp eulogised Chicago, saying that there was only one adjective that could describe it—•'“superb.” After noting what was being done in the way of beautifying the lake-shore and the linking together of Chicago's magnificent boulevards, Ik- had 'predicted that within five or ten years the city would rank as one of the most, beautiful cities in the world. “Chicago is just as safe a place to live in as it is beautiful, ’’ -said Mr Warrnan.

“A further example of the- absurd news that is being cabled to New Zealand newspapers is tin- item which appeared a few days ago about the wolves having been driven down from tin- northern parts of the country by tin- intense cold, reaching the outskirts of Chicago. Wolves could not get within 400 miles of the city.” said Mr Warrnan. “The country north of ■Chicago is so well populated that th

animals could not got very far out of their own woods in the extreme north.

“On niv way to -Christchurch, as these misleading items have appeared, I have found that this news (if one could call it news) is accepted a s truth. One cannot blame the New Zealander for this when it is obvious that these cable dispatches originate in the United States. While travelling through the Dominion' I shall be glad to do what I can to correct these wrong impressions of Chicago.” Referring to the effects o:f pictures and plays dealing with criminal life in Chicago, (Mr Warman ;said that plays were popular in New York which were based on the life of Chicago gunmen. This was another medium apart from the newspapers which was doing a great, deal of harm. “It is an actual fact that when a man from Chicago registers at an hotel in another American city he is immediately made a victim of “chaff” about his home town. He will too asked if he has a gun in his pocket. “When 1 was coming over in the Makura,” continued Mr Warman, ‘'‘as soon as it was learned that I was from Chicago the passengers gave me the .nick-name of ‘Chicago Pete/ When ever 1 joined the different groups in the smoking-room or on the deck 1 was always saluted by having two lingers pointed towards me indicative of revolver?.” With regard to the financial condition of Chicagcy. Mr Warman said that while it might appear to outsiders as serious, and particularly to those whose salaries had been effected, yet it was all nothing more than an emergency which the city would meet as it had met others in the past.