The Commission and the New Order
The death of Don Maranzano, who had briefly ascended to the position of "Boss of Bosses" after winning the war, was made public as June passed and July began.
There was no need to investigate who had assassinated him.
"Boss, Mr. Luciano has sent an invitation."
Charles Luciano.
If it wasn't him—the man who earned the nickname "Lucky" after being kidnapped and surviving last year—there was no one else in New York with the guts and the capability to assassinate the Boss of Bosses.
And I didn't even need to read the contents of the invitation he sent to know what it was about.
"Lee, have you read this?"
"Not yet, Boss."
"He says to come to New York so we can hold that Commission you told me about."
With those words, my father-in-law handed me the invitation and looked at me.
"It’s better if you go."
"Shouldn't you be the one to go, Boss?"
"The New York boys aren't coming to Chicago, and there's no reason for me to go all the way there to handle tedious business, is there? Besides, this plan was yours to begin with."
Hmm, as expected of my father-in-law.
I had to go to New York anyway because of the RCA issue, so it actually worked out well.
"Understood, Boss. I will go and secure a definitive agreement regarding our organization's territory."
"You’d better be careful, Lee. You never know what those five will do when they get together."
"It’s fine, Boss. They’ll likely be too busy fighting among themselves."
Unlike us, who had already secured Chicago, they had to divide New York into five pieces. Even at this very moment, they were likely engaged in invisible warfare to grab even an inch more of territory.
That was why, for the Chicago Outfit, which was far removed from that squabble, it was actually a good thing.
"Good, that’s more like you! Hahaha."
"Then, I will be on my way, Boss."
I bid my father-in-law farewell and left the suite at the Lexington Hotel. Since we’d been here for quite a while, it felt like it was about time to move our headquarters. After all, I had acquired new hotel shares when we merged the banks last time.
"Consigliere?"
It was then that I ran into Gook and Ahern on the lobby floor.
"Are you both here to see the Boss?"
"We have something to discuss regarding SGO."
Since Ahern came along, it must be a legal matter. It was unavoidable, as there were many legal hurdles to dodge in the private security business.
And...
"Then, could you come to me once you're finished?"
"Is it about the New York business?"
"I have too many people looking for me."
Being too popular is a problem in itself.
If New York was the heart of the United States, the land of capitalism, then Manhattan was the heart of New York. The fact that this island, filled with gray skyscrapers piercing the sky and occupied by those who manipulated the nation's finance, might collapse was synonymous with the heart of this country stopping.
The only slight problem was that the heart might stop within this year.
"Did both of them agree to the negotiations?"
"Yes, Consigliere. It seems they had already discussed it between the two companies, as the RCA headquarters sent a reply asking to meet together."
"Good, I can finish it all at once."
I nodded at Gook’s explanation and entered the Woolworth Building, where the RCA headquarters was located. RCA, a tech company with many patents related to radio waves and a media company owning major radio outlets like NBC, occupied several floors of the building. We headed to the conference room on the 36th floor.
As soon as we entered, I saw two men looking at me with uncomfortable expressions, accompanied by what appeared to be their legal teams.
"Are you the one? The person who wants RCA’s shares?"
I nodded at the words of the man who appeared to be from General Electric.
"I am Lee Jun, the president of SCC."
"I am Gerard Swope of General Electric."
"I am Henry Boardman of Westinghouse."
The actual owners of RCA, holding 51% of its shares. If not for the threat of the federal government’s hammer, these people, who had effectively monopolized the U.S. wireless communications industry, would likely never have sat before me. Of course, the same would have been true even if I hadn't made a move.
"First, as a major shareholder and director of Foreman Bank, I have something to deliver to you."
With those words, I placed two stacks of documents on the table. They were copies of loan recall notices from Foreman Bank to both companies.
"Foreman Bank wishes for General Electric and Westinghouse to repay their loans within one week."
"Why? Our companies are still holding up well despite last year’s crash. There is no reason to recall loans so urgently..."
"I believe that was a story from before the antitrust lawsuit was filed. Since you are on the verge of losing your de facto monopoly status, isn't it natural to reassess your ability to repay loans?"
Once the federal government moved, defeat was effectively guaranteed, and if that happened, they would have to give up their shares in RCA. At that moment, the stock prices of these companies would surely crash through the floor and into the basement. Since the stock had already fallen more than 10% just from the news of the lawsuit, it wouldn't get any better than that.
Thanks to that, their available cash must have dried up, and I’d bet a significant portion of their current shares were already held as collateral.
"Of course, if you put down the burdens you are carrying, all problems will be solved."
"Burdens, you say?"
"RCA shares."
Once caught in an antitrust lawsuit, they would eventually have to put their shares on the market. And their financial situation wouldn't be good enough to hold out until the lawsuit ended.
"As I mentioned before, I want to buy all of the RCA shares held by both companies with cash, immediately."
In such a situation, what would happen if someone appeared who could provide a massive amount of cash right away?
"I’ll tell you in advance: if you are thinking of waiting until the stock price rises, you’d better give up. The stock price will only fall further for the time being, not rise."
"Is that something someone who came to negotiate should say?"
"I was merely stating the facts."
Truth is always painful, after all.
"This very moment is the best opportunity for you to sell your shares at the highest price. If you don't make a decision now, you might regret it deeply."
After all, there’s always a basement under the floor, and a mantle under the basement.
A few days later.
The place where Luciano invited me and the other four New York families was the Commodore Hotel, connected to Grand Central Terminal. The number of people sitting around the round table in the hotel conference room was six, including me.
Luciano, Profaci, Mangano, Lucchese, Bonanno.
Charles Luciano, who sat at the head of the table among the bosses of the five families that ruled New York, raised his cognac glass.
"Brothers, the era of blood is over."
Mr. Luciano’s voice was quite calm, but he couldn't hide the tremor of excitement in it. His words continued.
"We no longer need to kill each other in an outdated way and perish together. The time has come for the six families gathered here to take the lead and expand our business to a national scale through consensus. Therefore, today, I propose the creation of a Commission for that new order."
After finishing his words, Luciano looked at me and smiled.
"Of course, the owner of this idea is Chicago."
"Thank you for saying so, Mr. Luciano. Though we must not forget the hard work of the five families who strove to create this peace."
If he passes the ball to me, I have to pass it back, right?
I paused for a moment and scanned the New York bosses sitting at the round table one by one. Soon, I opened my mouth.
"And, I have a proposal to maintain this peace for a long time. Although Mr. Luciano has likely already heard about it."
"Mr. Lee, are you planning to bring that up right now?"
"Because if I don't bring it up now, there won't be another chance."
If I didn't drive a wedge now, just as the Commission was being formed, our organization’s influence would diminish significantly. If that happened, we might not be able to maintain the rights we deserved in the West.
"Peace ultimately comes from strength. To maintain order in the underworld, you need strength to match it. So that you can make the other party realize that at any moment, they could have their breath cut off."
"What are you talking about right now?"
I smiled at the question of Vincenzo Mangano, the boss of the Mangano family, later to be called the Gambino family.
"I am saying that we need an organization to protect the syndicate that will be moved by this Commission. An organization created to sanction those who threaten the syndicate, moving only by the will of the Commission. The name... 'Executive Committee' sounds about right."
As I continued, I felt the gazes of the four bosses, excluding the troubled-looking Luciano, focusing on me. I continued.
"And, the Chicago Outfit will handle the practical work for the maintenance of that Executive Committee."
A proposal to protect our territory.
"Are you saying Mr. Capone will become our boss now?"
"I have no interest in such things. The same goes for the interests in the East, including New York. Chicago only wants one thing: the West."
"If that’s the case, just holding one seat on the Commission would be..."
"And, among the five families excluding Chicago, who do you think could be entrusted with this role?"
"..."
At my words, the New York bosses looked at each other and remained silent. I continued.
"Literally, the Chicago Outfit will only be involved in the operation of this organization. The direction of the organization’s muzzle will always follow the will of the Commission. That is all Chicago wants."
A muzzle to keep the hunting dogs called families from running wild. That was enough to protect Chicago’s interests.
"Of course, if there is anyone here who opposes this, I cannot force it through. However, please understand that if that happens, Chicago will have no choice but to be suspicious of the peace Mr. Luciano speaks of."
Having finished my words, I looked at Luciano. I had passed the ball; now it was New York’s job to make the decision. Depending on that decision, the path Chicago would take in the future would also be determined.
"There are too many things we need to discuss here to fight over something like this. As Mr. Lee said, it is strange to want peace but not create a way to protect it."
And.
"Our Luciano family agrees with this motion, but what are the opinions of the others?"
"...I agree."
"I agree. However, the operation of the Executive Committee must be transparent so that all members of the Commission can know."
"Same here."
"I shall agree."
The moment they decided to agree, Chicago had gained the West.