Tales from the Morgue: The Mafia in Tucson

Rep. Udall Sees Move By Mafia

Criminals Restless In Tucson, He Says

By AL BRADSHAW, JR.

Rep. Morris K. Udall said last night that organized crime bosses may no longer be content to use Tucson as a haven for legitimate investments.

Udall, a Democrat campaigning for re-election to Congress in Arizona's Dist. 2, made far-reaching suggestions in a major address to update the attack on crime and urged the citizenry to become concerned about what is going on in Tucson.

He told the Tucson Appliance Merchandisers Assn. he has doubts about an underworld drive to legalize gambling in Arizona. But the congressman added that "bombings and other activities suggest that organized crime leaders may no longer be content to simply have Tucson a haven for the otherwise legitimate use of illegitimate money from elsewhere."

Udall was given an FBI briefing on Mafia activities by J. Edgar Hoover Sept. 20. At that time Udall wired the Arizona Daily Star as follows:

". . . FBI director Hoover tells me intelligence sources revealed an 'increasing number of racket figures in Tucson, Arizona,' and therefore, earlier this year the FBI decided to commit additional manpower to organized crime investigations in the area. . ."

At its current level, organized crime here "is not a significant factor yet in industrial development efforts," Udall said. He warned, however, that it should not be allowed to spiral into a so-called Stage Two.

He said that would bring widespread narcotics distribution, bookmaking, organized pressures and extortions upon businessmen in financial danger, gambling, prostitution "and all the rest."

Udall said that when this stage is attempted "it is vital and crucial and indispensable" that the political power structure be penetrated and that the crime ring receive protection from elected and appointed public officials.

"As far as anyone can see, this has had no success here," he said.

The Democrat said the local fight against the underground must be continued, and he called upon the press to dig into organized crime. "One thing crime can't stand is the spotlight of disclosure," he added.

Praising the local press, radio and television owners and staff as "incorruptible," Udall urged them to continue to "turn over the rocks under which the underworld creatures live. If you do it long enough, they may crawl away."

He called upon the police department, sheriff's patrol, judges and prosecutors to continue their vigilance. "In some cities," he warned, "they already have a few judges in their pockets."

Udall suggests:

─ The City Council and Board of Supervisors at "whatever the cost" devote the necessary resources to tracking suspects and delving into organized crime activities.

─ Creation or continuance of special organized crime divisions of the police department and sheriff's office with "adequate financing."

─ A special deputy county attorney with a staff to spend full time, if necessary, in probing the underworld here.

─ Full support of the newly-created crime commission and assurance it will have the proper staffing and resources.

Udall recommends that the next legislative session review Arizona laws to see if they can be strengthened to combat organized crime, implement a permanent grand jury provision along with immunity grants for state's witnesses, and broadening of the investigative powers of the attorney general and district attorneys.

Udall questioned whether "we have gone too far" in making land trusts secret and thereby created difficulties for law enforcement officials to ferret out information on land ownership by syndicate members. He noted that land ownership in this country has always been open, public information and suggested this might be an appropriate area for legislative study.

The congressman said the underworld is not necessarily monopolized by any single ethnic group. He said all national ethnic groups are involved and added:

"I am asking you to do all in your power to prevent a great injustice from being done. Because a few Italian people have been accused of being criminal, does not give anyone the right to stigmatize all Americans of Italian descent."

Upon conclusion, Udall offered reassurance:

"There is no need to despair . . . Already vigilance of the community has prevented the quiet kind of takeover which has happened in other places.

"The war won't be won in one battle, but it will and can be won by continuing alertness of people like you."