SECRET SIX

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21539, 11 January 1932, Page 12

SECRET SIX

THEIR WAR ON CRIME CHICAGO MOVEMENT. Chicago's “private war” on crime is exciting keen interest in,New York and other cities where racketeering has become a civic menace (writes Ramond 1 Morley, professor of Public Law at Columbia University, and' research director of the New York State Commission on the Administration of Justice, in the New York Times). If any considerable proportion of the people of Chicago really want Alphonse Capone blotted out of their daily budget of human interest, they must be filled with disappointment these days as they look down long vistas of complicated legal entanglements. The most optimistic view now is that the war against Capone’s forces must continue until late in 1932, perhaps later, that .victory is by no means certain, and that the solace of peace without victory is impossible. Capone was indicted early in June for evading the payment of income taxes and for conspiring with 68 others to violate the Prohibition Act. His plea of guilty to these indictments were the occasion of loud rejoicing; .but when the time came for him to be sentenced his lawyer pointed out to Judge Wilkerson that the pleas of guilty had been made after conferences with the United States District Attorney, and with the understanding that recommendations as to punishment would be made to the court. When Judge Wilkerson declared, “ It is time for somebody to impress upon this defendant that it is utterly impossible to bargain with a Federal court,” Capone tjioved hastily to re-establish the status quo ante. On June 31 his motion to withdraw his plea of guilty to income tax evasion was granted; on September 8 the motion to withdraw the plea of guilty to conspiracy was also granted, and a flew trial was held. NO MORE MONEY.

The external manifestations of these prosecutions were the work of public authorities, notably Federal officials. It is, however, not clear to those outside ot Chicago how much of the basic work and the driving power, of the prosecution dre due to private initiative. Capone himself has pointed to this fact in what enterprising journalism called his “ swan song.” While it. is qnite obvious that this composition is full, of extravagances, it stands as an excellent testimonial To the importance of such private activities as the Secret Six. Capone said, in commenting on his original pleas of guilty: “ The Secret Six have licked the rackets. They’ve licked me. They’ve made it so there’s no money in the game any more.” This private war on gangsters-is indeed one of . the most interesting features of present-day Chicago. Three important organisations are engaged in this work: The-Secret Six, the Employers’ Association, and the Chicago Crime Commission. To those outside of Chicago, the Secret Six seem like a band of sinister “public reckoners.” Actually they are hardheaded business men, members of the Chicago Association of .Commerce. They are the directing, body of a committee of 36, the Citizens’ Committee on the Prevention and Punishment of Crime of the Chicago .Association of Commerce. Moreover, the Secret Six are not strietlysecret. Their names are known to the public; but the journeymen operatives of the organisation, “ ten or more ” men; are not only, it is hoped, unknown to the underworld, but unknown to each other; hence, perhaps, the explanation of the name of the Secret Six. WORK TOGETHER.

The group, headed by Colonel Robert Ishairi Randolph, began to function last winter. Directed by an expert investigator, Alexander G. Jamie (a former employee of the Federal Government), the operatives collect against criminals in co-operation with public officials, the Chicago Crime Commission, and the Employers’ Association. The suppression of racketeering, of professional crime, such as bombing ( and bank robbing, of gambling and organised vice, and of Communism is their objective. To thi s end they send out detectives, not only in Chicago but to many parts of the country, for ,it, is one df their fundamental ideas that since the master gangsters work on a national scale, efforts .to combat them must be similarly broad in scope., ’ V ' Co-operation .by such an organisation with public authorities in the gathering of evidence ijs by no means difficult. Police and prosecutors are almost invariably delighted to receive outside assistance if thereby they can relieve themselves of work and responsibility. It is impossible to indicate tbe extent to which this co-operation has gone, but it. is probable that there has been more with Federal authorities than with those, of city and State. The Secret Six may possibly have a most useful future. If,, as Capone reproachfully says, it has “ licked ” him, it may exterminate some of the lower forms of gang life. On the other hand, there is real danger, according to Colonel Randolph, that the destruction of Capone’s power will plunge the underworld of Chicago into internecine war; this, in fact, is the contention of the wily. Capone himself, . ■ Again, earnest .and efficient work on the part of. the. Secret Six may act as a spur ;to apathetic . and inept public officials. But the force of shining example is usually wasted on those for whom it is meant. Unices miracles happen, it is more than likely that the officials will “co-operate” with a vengeance and turn over their tasks to an increasing extent to the Secret six. Finally, it is possible that the Secret Six may educate the ,public > by giving it some sense of a mysterious power bringing malefactors to justice, though there may be some question whether, in this connection, their work is as valuable as that of the Chicago Crime Commission' ~ ’