Show Local Politics At the Bottom Of By Br BRUCE CATTON A nationwide drive to rid the c country ot of racketeers and gangsters will be launched by the tho national administration ad- ad administration ministration according to dispatches dis- dis p patches from Washington just as s soon oon as congress finishes action on p pending ending bills These laws will give the federal government n new ew power to step Into local situations situa- situa t ions and deal with crooks who have n not ot so tar far been within reach ot of federal fedra fed fed- e eral ra laws Significantly enough It Is stated at the capital that federal agents will bo be enabled to strike directly at gangsters now shielded by crooked politicians or city officials It will be a fine fino thing If the federal authorities author author- I ties actually do this and it will be even finer if by doing so they force torce us to realize what the real trouble with our pollee nolice system has been Nothing could be much odder than the tho way In which we berate the Inefficiency ill In- efficiency of our police In dealing with organized crime while we simultaneously si- si put up with the kind of municipal politics politico which makes such inefficiency inevitable How is the ordinary city police force administered anyhow Well Vell the voters in their wisdom elect a as I mayor John Doe who is known to tc bo be hand in glove with tho most Unsavory unsavory un- un savory political gang In town Mayor Doe appoints Lieutenant I chief of police pollee Chief Imme Imme- promotes all the officers who favored John Does Doe's election and demotes de de- motes those who did not knows he be will stay chic chiel r of police only as long as he keeps keep I Ion on the good side sido ot of Mayor Doe and one of Mayor Maor Does Docs chief chic i allies is the tho powered high lawyer whose clients include the biggest racketeers In town Furthermore Mayor Doe Is busy selling special I favors to sonic some of the towns town's b st citizens so the general atmosphere is hardly conducive to strict hon bon esty As a result keeps his trap shut does as hes he's told and makes hay while the sun shines A couple of years later some Borne other politician beats Mayor Doe Doc a new chief is appointed and the same routine Is followed with a new set Bet of names Now this is the sort of thing that thatIs Is put up with in the great ajor- ajor ity of our cities The wonder Is that the racketeers and gangsters haven't walked off orf bodil bodily with most of our city halls It If this federal campaign makes us realize that the war on crime ultimately ulti- ulti stands or falls by local political po- po HUcal conditions it will be worth all lu costs |