Show Extortion an Industry B being the tIro chief C purpose so to which the Mann white sl slavo alvo o act has haa been directed s since nce Its enactment it Is not surprising sur sur- that an organized gang of oC clever criminals should tl find tl its provisions a fruitful fruitful fruit fruit- ful source of profit Individual cases casos of or blackmail have havo been frequent ever tho profitable PO possibilities of or tho the law became apparent but the arrest of the Chicago coterie exposes the tho greatest and most elaborate elaborate elaborate rate scheme yet recorded to make mako extortion an established industry rh lh Tho evil ovll tho the Mann Monn law was enacted to destroy destro had grown brown to threatening proportions proportions proportions although It Is doubtful whether much of ot the excitement over alleged white slavery had substantial basis Sporadic Instances of or ortho tho the actual sale of oC women and tho the compulsory sory or r entrance of oC young oung girls Into a n. life of Infamy had arisen and been exposed The rhe l federal authorities found themselves handicapped handi handI- capped c by inadequate legislation and the Mann law was enacted with the best of or In in- in Unhappily Its principal result has been to give tho unscrupulous an additional weapon by which they could livo on their wits At no time have havo legitimate prosecutions been mado macic under tho the Mann act that could not have o hee been heen handled as aJ efficiently b by local legislation Sordid stories that should havo gone bone no iio further than the police court have 6 dragged their slimy lengths through federal tribunals to no good purpose on one caso case has hns actually reach reached the courts scores have havo been threatened or begun t to bo abandoned abandoned aban aban- after some come frightened man with more monc money than courage has paid liberally to escape an exposure that Is Iii moro more terrifying j to o the hO Innocent than the tho guilty I lY m J f. f m |