VIOLENCE AT ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 5

VIOLENCE AT ELECTIONS

PRIMARIES AT CHICAGO

TERRORISM BY GANGSTERS

PRECINCT CAPTAIN SHOT

HUNDRED ARRESTS MADE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Rea. 7.30 p.m. Chicago,. April 12. The Illinois primary elections were marked by the usual violence at Chicago to-day. Forty thousand police pollwatchers were concentrated to prevent fraud, organised terrorism and intimidation of voters. One serious shooting, at least one kidnapping and innumerable brawls and fist fights resulted in over 100 known gangsters and hoodlums being arrested. Although the electorate selected a full list for State and Congressional offices, both Republican and Democratic, principal interest centred on the local offices of Chicago, where factional favouritism resulted in violence.

Incomplete returns indicated that the Republican incumbent for the State Attorneyship for Cook County, in which Chicago is situated, Mr. John Swanson, has been re-nominated. His opponent at the general elections will be Mr. Thomas Courtney, Democratic nominee.

A feature of the primaries was the greatly increased Democratic vote, which is regarded as another repudiation of the Hoover administration. The “wets” apparently gained in both parties. A shooting casualty was the Republican precinct captain, who was caught in a crossfire of revolver shots between the Democratic precinct captain and five gangsters who were attacking him. He is not expected to live. Four gangsters, impersonating police, kidnapped the Republican precinct captain and stole 2000 dollars of election campaign funds. They threw the precinct captain into a coalyard. Repeated reports of threatened kidnapping and intimidation of voters by gangsters brandishing revolvers kept the police busy. They were also active dispersing groups of “floaters” from various polling places.