Show N. uZl BOOTLEGGER CHASING MAKES LIFE IN CAPITAL HAZ HAZARDOUS WORK VORK By RODNEY DUTCHER BUTCHER NEA l Service Writer WASHINGTON Aug 12 The 12 The very ery next time you start to say something mean about members of congress o othe or orthe orthe the cabinet stop a moment and think of the strain they are under Think of the great perils they mus must face tace Worst of all dangers and quite In a acla class cla by itself is the condition of in insecurity In- In Insecurity insecurity security resulting from the astounding enthusiasm of ot the District of Colum Colum- Columbia Columbia Columbia bia police force for chasing bootleg bootleg- bootleggers gers These Washington cops know their thel movies Hardly a day passes with with- without without without out a thrilling newspaper account o oa of ofa ofa a wild police automobile chase chas after a bootlegger The police stop at noth noth- nothIng nothing nothIng Ing In their attempts to catch the bootlegger and the bootlegger stops a at nothing In his attempt to get away No one will object to the cops chas chas- chasing chasIng chasing ing and catching bootleggers except regular customers but these wild pur pur- pursuits pursuits pursuits suits on wheels have become positive disquieting if not actually menacing to the ordinary peaceful pe citizen There Then ThenIs Is a very profound and widespread hope In Washington that the cops cop copone one of these days will decide to cap cap- capture capture capture ture bootleggers In their places o ot of business rather than on the main pike SENATOR INVALIDED It may be comedy for tor some folks but it has been no less than tragedy to others And the fact that senators senator and other government officials ar arnot are not immune to danger from reckless shooting and automobile crashes wit with cars going as es high as 60 miles an hour was definitely proven when Senator Senate Frank L. L Greene of Vermont was shot sho In a gun duel between police pollee an and bootleggers near the capitol three thre years ago The wound made him an Invalid for life Since that occasion at least four persons have been shot dead and four fou badly injured In irs the strenuous police efforts to stop transportation of liquor Two other persons have been killed in collisions resulting from bootleg chases chase and at least five live very seriously in In- In Figures for wrecked cars an and hairbreadth escapes from death o or crippling are not available All this In the quiet beautiful cap cap- capital capital ital hal of ot the United States birthplace o ot of prohibition and seat of its enforce enforce- enforcement ment menti The facts stand out In vivid contrast here because the lawless la ele ele- element element dc- dc ment of o the capital is not normally large Many of the speeding bootleggers bootlegger here are colored men who appear to become so terrified at a police chase that they will race r e their cars through districts at top speed with with- without without out regard for Cor life or limb THREE KILLED ThIS YEAR lEAR Such men the records show have at various times crashed into statues trees on the capitol grounds foun foun- fountains fountains fountains and fire trucks to say nothing ate cars So far in 1927 one man has been shot through the head while being bein chased by a rum squad squad his his machine crashing Into a house A boy was similarly shot by a motorcycle police police- policeman man A lieutenant In the fire de department de- de department was killed and three others severely injured when a fire truck was rammed by an automobile pur pur- pursued pursued pursued sued by a liquor squad With three deaths this year the toll of ot the chase grows more and more tragic A Sister of Mercy was killed two years ears ago and a man hurt when then a bootleggers bootlegger's car chased by the police crashed with another auto Another fleeing bootlegger ran over and killed a colored man Scores were Imperiled when a bootleggers bootlegger's car jumped the curbing and careened across the side side- sidewalk sidewalk sidewalk walk at Lincoln park And Innumerable Innumerable innumerable able innocent motorists have ha had their cars damaged or their nerves frazzled by similar All this cannot be blamed on pro pro- despite the attempt of some ets to do so But no one seems to explain why the cops cant can't the bootleggers on foot or orn n their offices |