The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-04-07
RELIGIOUS.

Pulpit Review Of Current Events by Rev. Thos.
Dixon, Jr., for Sunday, March %, 1891.
THE POWER OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN
CTTIES-THE MAFIA OF NRW YORK.
Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., pastor of
Twenty-third street Baptist Church,
preceded his sermon, this morning, at
Association Hall, by the following Re-
view of Current Events:
The triumphs Of organized crime in
New Orleans, which led up to the re-
cent terrible tragedy, present to every
American city food for most serious
thought. 1t is time other cities asked
themselves the question, Whittier are
we drifting? While it is true that New
Orleans is a peculiar city, it is not so
peculiar but that practically the same
problems will ultimately in some form
present themselves for solution to every
ether great center of life in America.
Is not the power of organized crime
eve the life, peace and progress of the
community increasing with alarming
strides In I'll centers of populatiOn9
Bring this question home to the metrOp-
ellis, and what do we find the status of
the case? Is not New York drifting to-
ward crisis such as that which con-
frOnted New Orleans' Is not organized
crime becoming more and more defiant
and daring2 Is it not becoming more
and more difficult to execute criminal
law? Are not our criminal courts in
this city falling more and more into
universal contempt Is it not now next
toan impossibility to enforce a criminal
statute against any man who has either
money or a "pull?"
Look around you at the innumerable
evidences of the triumphant power Of
the criminal classes of the community
and the contemplate farce of legal
procedures.
You see at least five thousand saloons
openly engaged in violating the laws of
theso-called SoVeign State ofNew York.
The District Attorney knows it. The
Judges know it. The police know it.
The grand jury know it-have known
it sc long they have grown tired Of
presenting thousands of indictments,
to which the District Attorney does not
give a passing thought. It is next to
impossible to convict a saloon keeper
In New York for anything. He knows
how to use his money to keep on the
good side of the police. He knows how
to use his political influence to make
and unmake the powers that be-.
Last Sunday morning I walked from
this hall, after preaching, up Fourth
Avenue, and, passing a saloon, saw a
man come out of the front door wiping
the liquor from his moustache. On
the other curbstone stood a big police
man, looking straight across at that
man, as he opened that saloon door
and walked out. He saw him wipe his
lips with satisfaction and walk away.
Did he proceed to investigate? Hardly.
He twirled his billy and leisurely
strolled in another direction. How did
he know but that it was ice water or
milk the man had been drinking2 Of
course !! He knew who stood behind
that bar. The price had been paid. He
was in no danger of disturbance. His
politics were orthodox.
Is the influence of money in our
courts increasing or decreasing? Do
the criminals of to-day find a field for
the use of funds in the courts Of New
York? Ask the Doodle Aldermen, who
have returned from exile in Canada,
now that the newspapers have ceased
to press the case against them. They