The Italian-American National Union (formerly known as Unione Siciliana ) was a Sicilian-American organization, which controlled much of the Italian vote within the United States during the early twentieth century. It was based in Chicago , Illinois . It was a major source of conflict during Prohibition , as underworld figures fought to control the highly influential organization through a series of puppet presidents largely controlled by the Chicago Outfit . During the 1970s, the organization was probably merged into the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. However, similar groups still exist and have much influence in Italian American communities throughout the United States .
23-589: The organization was founded in 1895 by Sicilian immigrants in Chicago. The name was changed to the Italian-American National Union in 1925 in order to attract Italian-Americans from other regions. The Union was paying out sick benefits and death benefits and had deposited $ 100,000 with the Illinois Department of Insurance . It was restructured as a fraternal life insurance group in 1937. The Union
46-476: A barbershop that same year, allegedly by Northsider Vincent "The Schemer" Drucci . Myth has it that Al Capone had amassed enough power in Chicago to place Antonio Lombardo as head of the Unione Siciliane", but Lombardo was believed to have been chosen by outside Mafia leaders for his abilities as a peacemaker. Lombardo was from eastern Sicily, but he agreed with Supreme President Bernard Barasa to change
69-513: A late 1970s report on the organization, though its fraternal activities included athletic events for youth, as well as marching in Columbus Day parades, providing aid to handicapped children, scholarships for youth and maintaining an Italian Old People's Home. According to the 1930 constitution membership was open to "white men of Italian origin", who believed in a Supreme Being , were of good moral character , of sound health and competent to make
92-547: A living. Membership was decided by blackball. The Union had 39 lodges with 4,000 adult members and over 1,000 in the Juvenile Department. The Union had 40 lodges in 1972 and 31 in 1977, all located in Illinois and Indiana. Membership in 1979 was 5,000. In 1994 it was reported to have 5,000 members in 34 locals. Rituals included private words, tokens, signs, grips and passwords, which were all supposed to be secret. Members of
115-400: A nephew of Antonio D'Andrea, served as supreme president, while active in the former Capone organization led by Frank Nitti . Attorney Joseph Bulger led the association for several years. He was born Giuseppe Imburgio and was close to Tony Accardo . He was killed in a plane accident in 1966. State investigators rooted out its corrupt influences in the 1950s, and its membership declined through
138-471: Is a position within the leadership structure of certain organized crime groups, particularly in Sicilian and Italian-American Mafia crime families . The underboss is second in command to the boss . The underboss is also person-in-charge of all capos and its soldiers . The underboss is sometimes a family member, such as a son, who will take over the family if the boss is sick, killed, or imprisoned. However
161-592: Is the code department of the Illinois state government that regulates various facets of the insurance industries and professions of Illinois. Key insurance industries it regulates include health insurance, auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and life insurance. The department is the umbrella agency that operates the Illinois Health Benefits Exchange (IHBE), a health insurance marketplace that serves as an intermediary between Illinois residents and
184-562: The 1970s. The Unione eventually merged with the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. Illinois Department of Insurance Insurance agency in Illinois Department of Insurance Department overview Jurisdiction Illinois Department executive Ann Gillespie , Acting Director Website idoi .illinois .gov The Illinois Department of Insurance
207-399: The boss free, sometimes the underboss will gain enough power to become the effective head of the organization, and the boss will become a figurehead. An underboss likely has incriminating information about the boss, and so bosses often appoint people close to them to the underboss position for protection. In most families, the underboss arbitrates many disputes. Depending on the seriousness of
230-467: The chapter organization split into several factions (later renamed the "Italo-American National Union"), as various underworld groups struggled for control of the organization. Of these factions, "Bloody" Angelo Genna claimed the presidency following Merlo's death; however, he was murdered the following year by members of the North Side Gang . Genna's successor Samuzzo "Samoots" Amatuna was killed in
253-429: The family. In some crime families, the appointment is for life. If a new boss takes over a family with an existing underboss, that boss may marginalize or even murder the underboss appointed by his predecessor. On the other hand, if a boss is incarcerated, the underboss may become acting boss. As bosses often serve large periods of time in prison, an acting boss will often become the crime family's effective boss. Even with
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#1732852451578276-1561: The health-insurance mandate requirements of the Affordable Care Act . The IHBE operates under the flag of Get Covered Illinois , the name of its navigational website . References [ edit ] ^ "Illinois Blue Book: 2013-2014" (Springfield, Ill.: Illinois Secretary of State, 2006), page 214. External links [ edit ] Official website [REDACTED] v t e Illinois state agencies Code departments Aging Agriculture Central Management Services Children and Family Services Commerce and Economic Opportunity Corrections Emergency Management Employment Security Financial and Professional Regulation Gambling Healthcare and Family Services Human Rights Human Services Insurance Juvenile Justice Labor Lottery Natural Resources Public Health Revenue State Police Transportation Veterans' Affairs Authority control databases [REDACTED] International VIAF National United States Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Illinois_Department_of_Insurance&oldid=1219252127 " Category : State agencies of Illinois Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata Underboss Underboss ( Italian : sottocapo )
299-413: The leadership of Capone rival Joe [Aiello], calling for his withdrawal from office. Lombardo's refusal resulted in his death on September 7, 1928. According to Nick Gentile, however, Aiello was Lombardo's underboss and Capone was given permission by Joseph Masseria (a boss of one of New York's Five Families and soon a "Boss of Bosses") to eliminate both Aiello and Lombardo. Gentile believed that Capone
322-675: The name of Mike Merlo . He had been vacationing in Italy, but he made an emergency return upon hearing of D'Andrea's death. According to Nicola Gentile, he ordered the death of D'Andrea's assassin. For this act, he took control of the Chicago Mafia, and replaced D'Andrea as president of the Unione, as well. His brief term was regarded as a successful one, and he was noted to have kept the criminal organizations of John Torrio and Dean O'Banion from warring with each other. Merlo died of cancer in 1924, and
345-561: The name to the Italo-American National Union to increase awareness that the association was not only for Sicilians. Lombardo held considerable influence in Italian-American communities, including acting as a negotiator between Black Hand kidnappers and victim's families. It is traditionally believed that he was supported by Capone, but many members of the organization opposed his reforms. A faction challenged Lombardo, under
368-594: The position of street boss has somewhat challenged the rank of underboss in the modern era. The position was installed within the Genovese crime family since at least the mid-1960s. It has also been used in the Detroit crime family and the Chicago Outfit . The power of an underboss greatly varies; some are marginal figures, while others are the most powerful individual in the family. Traditionally they run day-to-day affairs of
391-428: The problem, he might consult with the boss. Some conflicts are immediately referred up to the boss. In those cases, the underboss usually sits in and offers his opinion. In either event, the ultimate authority rests with the boss. An underboss receives monetary compensation in various ways. For example, he may be a partner in several rackets and thus get a cut. In addition, several capos may pass their envelopes through
414-570: The society were issued annual passwords, and the Supreme President issued a quadrennial password to members of the Supreme Council. In the early 1900s, the Unione took part in efforts to fight the Black Hand in Chicago. It failed in this endeavor. Later, the presidency of the Unione became a target for political power brokers. Antonio D'Andrea was the Chicago Mafia boss at that time. He
437-481: The underboss, who takes a percentage and passes the remainder to the boss. However he makes his illegal earnings, it is a significant enough amount to make his position one of envy, especially when prestige and the possibility of additional advancement are weighed. Sometimes an underboss will have his own crew. Just like the boss of a family, an underboss may also have a right-hand man. This right-hand man may speak in place of an underboss or carry out additional tasks for
460-486: Was absorbed by the Italian Sons and Daughters of America Fraternal Association in 1991. Lodges were called "Subordinate Lodges" and the highest authority was the "Supreme Council", according to the 1930 constitution which was apparently still in force as late as 1979. In 1928 there was also a board of directors. There was Juvenile Department in the 1920s that organized basketball and football teams, among other sporting activities. The Juvenile Department wasn't mentioned in
483-408: Was an ex-priest who was arrested for counterfeiting in 1902. With the assistance of his family and supporters, he was released from prison after a short time. He worked as a professional translator and later as a court translator. In 1916, he ran for political office, but his criminal past was exposed, which he had kept hidden. To gain additional strength from the local Italian power base, he ran and
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#1732852451578506-461: Was elected president of the Chicago chapter of the Unione in or around 1919. In 1921, he ran against John Powers, who ended up with more Italian support than D'Andrea. There were numerous bombings and killings from followers of both men, and D'Andrea dropped out of the race. Nevertheless, he was shot and mortally wounded in May, 1921. Michele Merlo was a leader in D'Andrea's Mafia organization who went by
529-484: Was responsible for Lombardo's death. Pasqualino "Patsy" Lolordo assumed the presidency for around four months until his own murder by Joe Aiello at his home on January 8, 1929. Aiello claimed the presidency the next day and reportedly held the office for a year and a half until his death by a Chicago Outfit gunman on October 23, 1930. In fact, he may never have held office. The association continued with corrupt influence in its leadership for many years. Phil D'Andrea,
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