Lucky Silva

Lucky Silva: How would you like to double your gross without a quarter investment?

Legs Diamond: Which operation?

Lucky Silva: All of 'em, all of 'em. Rum running, bootlegging, numbers, narcotics...

Legs Diamond: I know my business. What's yours?

Lucky Silva: Organization. Government. Like the USA, United States of America, 48? What do you think one lousy state would be like operating on its own? Well, the mobs are like the states before some joker come along and drew up a paper and had 'em organize. We get together all the mobs, all the number one mobs: the Dutchman, Waxy, Bugsy Siegel, Bobo Wellman, Capone, north, east, west, south. All of 'em.

Barney Ruditsky: [voiceover narration] Lucky Silva sold Legs Diamond on the advantage of union. The strength - or 'muscle,' as they call it - they would have in joining together. Only one thing Lucky forgot in his pitch: There was no mention of the Mafia being the head. Even the gangsters wouldn't buy dictatorship. So Lucky sold the American plan: government by representation.