The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-26
4 TEMPEST Nv 4 DEMTJOHN.


during the winter and spring. Alter Mayor
Ely action removing the old Board Of Police
Commissioner had been approved 10y the Gov
ernor aflnirs Mt tho City Hall settled into dead
lock between the Mayor and the Council. Tho
latter controlled by Tammany and hostile 20
the new Democratic movement represented Ivy
the Mayor. rejected name after name selected
by Mr.. Ely and sent to the Aldermen for con-
nrmation. II was impossible to complete Il now
Board Of Commissioners. and the Supcrintend-
ent. Inspectors, and Captains were lott to act
upon their own responsibility.
The Legislature met in January, but faiod TO
give the city any immediate relief. The 1ucs-
ton had assumed euch political Importance.
and the influences brought to boar on each side
were so evenly balanced that Senators and As
semblymcn feared to commit themselves. With
hearings after hearings, majority reports ON
one day becoming minority reports on the next.
and debate after debate on bills Amendments.
and new charters. the session dragged along
toward its end without decisive legislation.
Meanwhile the situation In New York became
alarming. The police. acting either from n
sense Of duty or from motives OF self -interest.
continued the policy Of random raids. hut
fast as they closed liquor shops aud arrested
liquor sellers. new shops were boldly opened
without licenses or certificates and where one
bars sprang into existence Rum WINS openly
sold from wagons driven about the streets. and
at the peanut stands on Broadway. Drunken
ness increased two hundred per cent. and with
drunkenness crime. Frequent encounters oc-
CURED between the police anu the liquor sell
ers. Some heads were broken and "A great
many bottles smashed; and finally. on the 9th
Of May. a tragic event in Printing House square
attracted the attention OF the whole country
and led To- vigorous measures for the abatement
Of nm abuse that had assumed appalling pro-
portions
About noon on that day the Captain Of the
Fourth Precinct incensed by series Of cdi-
torial articles in the Tribune attacking the police
for raidine the Tall Tower gin mill and de-
nouncing them at the same time for not closing
every other bar in the city. sent platoon OF po-
licemcn 10 suppress that establishment. The
officers met with n spirited resistance on the
part OF the Tall Tower employees. Mr.. kostcr
was everywhere Mr. Bial performed prodigies
of valor In spite Of their free use Of clubs the
police were driven back r. the street and Sec
ond platoon was semitic reinforce them
NJ ssrs. Roster & Bal then appealed 10 the
Mayor for prote 'iion against the police. The
Mayor autographed to Albany and the Governor
ordered out the Twelfth Regiment. Thus. for
the first time In the history of New York the uo-
ll'f bl Ivy anu lilf iIAtit 81 liit Nltl were
brought into direct conflict Printing lusc
square became the srone Of M unpre tedontcd
encounter. In the firing which ensued five po-
licemeu and one soldier were killed. h,sid,s an
inollensiyc citizen standing at the corner OF the
Post ONCE and hoothlack who had climbed up
10 the legs of Franklins statue and was cheer
ing both sides with impartial enthusiasm. Mr..
Whtcaw Reid. who WIS Just entering the T'ib-
me building. in full evening dress. was serious
~ wounded in the heel by a stray bullet.
This melancholy affair brought matters 20
crisis. The Union League Club held meeting
that same night. voted TO close IT. bar. and
adopted a resolution endorsing Mr. William L.
Dodge ~ a candidate for poiioc Commissioner.
The Hrdh refused TO print the advertisements
4 restaurants where wines or beers were sold.
\ great mass meeting was called for the neat
Friday evening in the Academy OF Music To-
discuss radical Temperance measures and the
venerable Neal Dow was summoned from the
East TO explain tn" practical workings of the
Main" Law. The Assembly suecumbed TO local
oilhlon' ana informally hotlhcd the cltizHns Of
N'w York tNht Whatever might De their de-
''.'"n' " "ou'" ~ ra'lH"u al A'uahy'
urhse crown ol earnest Interested mon
hH'd IN" Academy ID every part lh" h'V' pr
crosby opened WIN prayer MI W "li"law h'id
sat IN conspicuous position on ID" stage ms
cTu''n anu nls 'Nl'"''u i'"' 'N'lllhs universal
interest as '''""' m. NJ 'He I"H'es' MI N1'-
nam L. h'ut" presumed
IL soon became apparent 'ha' me temper OF
inc m''Nhs was strongly IN laNor oil l"dic"l
Temperance reform Neal Dow was greeted
WIN TREMENDOUS app'"us' as ne came forward
70 the front oil the platform ami stood erect aud
hrm IN MS "lu age adNorathE the cause -
when ne hai d'N"t'i WHO'D Nietlme. lhere
Was h' hrru' ne H"4u' 10 picture inc evils when