Discussion 5 - Explain the environment that led to the emergence of the "political machine." How and why did the "political machine" contribute to the rise and growth of organized crime? ... (IMPORTANT!) Please utilize 1 reference to the power point presentation if applicable, OR 1 outside reference. Also, 1 reference from textbook excerpts (attached). Total: 2 references. Discussion is to be in APA Format Initial Discussion posts must be at least 120 words. Quotes and references must have appropriate attribution. Include “in-text” APA Citations, including page numbers. Tudor must be APA Orientated. I am a long-term customer. Do not train new employees on my time. Aditi Sharma did a great job on my prior discussions in this class. Requested, If possible. Textbook Citation: Lyman, M. D., & Potter, G. (2018). Organized Crime (7th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9780134831763 Textbook excerpts with page numbers: Page 86: The Political Machine (1830–1919) Urban politics became the route for Irish immigrants to follow to attain local power and upward mobility. In most cases, the local politician was closely affiliated with corner taverns and often some aspects of criminality. Tavern operators frequently doubled as local politicians (machine politician), and the tavern owner and his followers easily influenced the tavern's customers. This became especially important in the large cities, where local government was fragmented into wards, each of which was sectioned into precincts. It was common then for politicians, with the help of local gangs and other supporters, to deliver a lopsided vote on election day to ensure the dominance of Democrats. In exchange for their help in securing votes, the machine politician reciprocated by finding these supporters jobs, housing, and assistance from government agencies in the district. The only thing asked in return was a vote, enabling politicians to become increasingly powerful and wealthy. Page 87: At the turn of the century, Tammany Hall, which began as a fraternal organization, became synonymous with New York City's corrupt political machine. The Pendergast Political Machine Just as Irish organized criminals used the political machine in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, other gangsters made good use of it in other U.S. cities. Although researchers suggest that the era of the political machine technically ended in 1919, variations of it continued to proliferate across the United States for more than a decade after. In Kansas City, the Pendergast political machine dominated politics for more than five decades; this illustrates the power and effectiveness of the political machine in local government. Thomas Joseph Pendergast operated a typical political machine that ultimately became famous as one of the most powerful, corrupt, and violent in U.S. history. He was one of the few political bosses who participated in meetings during the 1920s and 1930s in which organized crime planned Prohibition and gambling strategies. Tom's older brother James Pendergast developed the machine around the turn of the century. After his death in 1910, the younger Pendergast, with the help of gang bosses Johnny Lazia, Jake "Cutcherheadoff" Weissman, and City Manager Tom McElroy, transformed Kansas City into a nationally recognized center of vice. The machine operated by requiring virtually every tavern and saloon in the city to pay tribute to Lazia's and Weissman's minions, who would, in turn, pay off the police and provide a handsome percentage of the spoils to Pendergast himself. Page 88: Tom Pendergast was the boss of Kansas City's powerful and corrupt political machine in the 1930s. Lazia and Weissman controlled vice in Kansas City; no illegal rackets operated without their permission. In turn, they welcomed almost every mid-western thug and murderer to Kansas City, which later became known as the "crime corridor" of the 1930s. The welcome came with a proviso: Outsiders could always find refuge in Kansas City, but could not engage in criminal activities there. All criminal rackets, including gambling and liquor operations, were the province of Weissman's and Lazia's own people. Unlike their vulgar counterparts—Al Capone in Chicago, “Lucky” Luciano in New York, and Ed Fleisher of the Purple Gang in Detroit—the Kansas City crime bosses were sophisticated, charming, and mild mannered. Lazia, for example, dressed like a banker, had impeccable manners, was very soft spoken, and almost never cursed. Page 89: To ensure the promptness of liquor deliveries and the weekly kickbacks on gambling, prostitution, and liquor, Weissman and Lazia employed an army of henchmen. Their power rested in Pendergast's ability to control local politics by using strong-arm squads to ensure that any election turned out to be a victory for him and his cronies. In 1933, the bloodiest crime event of the decade, the Union Station Massacre, occurred in Kansas City. It was a gory event personally orchestrated by Lazia to free bank robber and killer Frank "Jelly” Nash from the custody of FBI agents, who were transporting him to federal prison. The massacre brought Kansas City into national focus as a slaughterhouse safe for no one. The news of the massacre shook the Pendergast machine as the political boss realized that one of his crime boss allies was no longer able to maintain a low public profile. In addition to encouraging local reform politicians to act against Lazia, Pendergast marked him for elimination. As a result, bootlegging and tax evasion charges were brought against Lazia in 1933. Shortly after Lazia's criminal conviction for tax evasion in 1934, he was machine-gunned down in the street. It was suspected that he might become an informer against the political machine's boss, Pendergast. In the late 1930s, the government began to crack down on crime in Kansas City, partly as a result of the blatantly fraudulent 1936 election. An FBI investigation ordered by federal judge Albert L. Reeves revealed evidence of stuffed ballot boxes, voter intimidation, vote theft, and erasures of votes from ballots in that election. At last, the Pendergast machine was doomed, with the criminal convictions of 256 Pendergast followers charged with vote fraud. Pendergast himself was convicted in 1939 on charges of tax evasion and died in 1945. As a result, the Pendergast machine fell into extinction. Page 91: The Chicago Mob Prohibition and the political machine in Chicago came together to create one of the most notorious criminal organizations in U.S. history. The political machine was in control of Chicago as well as New York City and Kansas City. Turn-of-the-century machine bosses such as William "Big Bill" Thompson and Mont Tennes changed the history of Chicago forever by creating and fostering a spoils system in which corruption was the common way of conducting daily business. However, it was newcomer Al Capone who caused Chicago to be epitomized as one of the most ruthless and crime- ridden towns in the nation. Al Capone (1899-1947) Al Capone's white hat, scarred pudgy face, and complacent sneer became part of the quintessential caricature of a gangster. Although some thought that Capone was born in Naples, he was actually born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899. Although he never got past the fourth grade, Capone learned all he ever needed to know by running the streets between Gowanus Canal and the harbor in a street gang known as the Five Pointers.Page 93: