I have only one semi-decent "Real-Life Mafia" book that chronicles the history, but I've seen at least a half a dozen documentaries, etc., on the Mafia and/or Al Capone. But none of those sources has ever satisfactorily explained why Capone was never welcomed with open arms by the "mainstream" Mafia families (esp. in NY). In fact, it seems they pretty much ignored him and even "dissed" him. Even Puzo illustrates it fictionally in The Godfather novel. Certainly Al had enough muscle to compel others to respect him, and he sure wasn't without some connections and power (or else he would've never been able to rule Chicago). What do you comrades believe is the reason?

Yes it's one of those things really and definately raises good discussion. I've only got opinion on it based on numerous facts and sources that i've read and heard. Beyond Chicago the view on the city was that of ruthless gangsters. Animals really. Capone was one of them and of Neopolitan descent and didn't run things in the way the Sicilians did. Although they liked to do business with him and stay on his right side. The whole episode with Bugs Moran the Irish gangster and the fueding within the city was looked down upon by the other familes around the country - mainly New York. No reasoning at all. That's my idea on the table anyway. There must be much mroe behind it though.

The Capones were considered to be short-sighted in their plans, and more interested in fighting for territory than the overall profitablity. In addition, Capone was a publicity seeker that enjoyed the attention and that is not the way the mafia does things.

He brought a lot of attention to himself with the level of violence in Chicago and that was eventually his downfall. In a way, Capone was similar to Sonny with his short temper, and ruthless pursuit of revenge at the expense of business. A great street fighter, but not a great leader.

After Capone, the Chicago mob became much more accepted. Giancana was at the Appalachin meeting in 1957, so they weren't excluded the way Vito excluded them from his meeting with the other leaders.

Capone was dissed for two main reasons. First, he could not keep order in his empire. His outfit, although the biggest by far, was never able to stamp out the competition or even conclude a peace treaty that lasted. Chicago became the most violent city in the US for Prohibition-related crimes.
Second, Capone was a publicity hound whose antics aroused resentment among law enforcement and called attention to the fact that bootleggers and rum-runners (who were otherwise tolerated by the public because they supplied the public with booze) were really criminals after all. The famous 1929 gangster convention in Atlantic City was called by Longie Zwillman, Meyer Lansky and Charlie Luciano in part to push Capone out of the spotlight. Following the meeting, Capone arranged to be arrested in Philadelphia on a gun charge. He was given a one-year sentence in a PA prison, the better to let things cool off in Chicago and elsewhere.

Excellent points, gentlemen! I suppose the reasons are pretty obvious upon second glance. Maybe it's because they're so obvious that I felt there had to be more. Anyway, thanks, Turi, Don Marco, and Turnbull. All of it makes pefect sense.

Another point that hasn't been mentioned:

Capone didn't really discriminate against race, he would do business with practically anybody supposedly...

New York frowned upon this heavily because they were like the strictly Sicilian/Italian secrect society... yet there were guys like Capone mixing with other races...

-Lucky

Most of the people in business with him were Italian (except his business manager Jake Guzik). They weren't necessarily Sicilian, but Italian. The city of Chicago is, by nature, more diverse than New York was. Large sections of the city were controlled by non-Italians - especially the north side of the city where the Irish were in control. This is where the O'Bannion and later Moran gang were located. It is also the part of town that Hymie Weiss is from (real name Earl Wajciechowski).

A lot of the Chicago gangsters had different names. Machine Gun Jack McGurn, who worked for Capone, is really Vincert Gebardi.

I agree, Capone was too short-sighted and he hungered for the fame.

Capone was an outlaw gangster. Though he ran his family in Chi-Town with an iron fist, he was looked down upon by the Mustache Petes. Too old fashioned in their ways. It forced Capone to brandish an 'I don't give a F*UCK' attitude. Oh yeah, Capone loved the spotlight too. A little like me.