Was Silva working for the Mob?

Was it implied that Silva (Eli Wallach) was employed as manager by the Mafia? He was Sicilian, which would otherwise seem an odd choice for manager, given the xenophobia voiced in the film and which is still rampant in the Deep South sixty years later. His employers were called "The Syndicate" (often a pseudonym for the Mafia). Also the Syndicate seems to have put all their local competitors out of business in double quick time, which is impressive considering the tightly-knit local network of businessmen, judges and police, who were quite prepared to interpret the law to suit themselves and, in Archie's case at least, call in muscle to remove opposition.