New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-09
BYRNES'S NEW STATEMENT.
HE REPLIES TO DIR. PARKHU RST.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE DEFENDS
HIMSELF AND HIS DEPARTMENT.


Parkhurst which published In the morning
newspapers lie gave copies OF the reply to reporters
late I'm the afternoon. and said that he had decided
not 20 make public. for time at least, the letters
and conversations Of which he spoke on Tuesday
night Many persons had sent complaints to him
REGARDING the Matchmaking operations Of agents OF
Dr. Parkhurst's society since the arrest OF Gardner
he said. The complaints made BY llquordealerS
propretors OF dl,or1erly houses and other persons
who had felt obliged pay the agents for alleged
protection. Mr.. Byrncs's answer to DR.. Parkhurst
Is follows:
We, I have read over very carefully the statements
tnad4 by DR. parkhurst and far 1 could perhaps
expect, they corrobcratc whot have said about MN
and his methods have 10 thank Dr. P'rkhurS' iof
making the Issue he raised last sharp and clear
had given HIM credit leiore, 1. now a,1eafN wrong
IT, from public utter0nces platform ana IN ''e
pulpit for being in thu field to help suppress vice anu
erinse. That what HIS society was oreHiIcu 'o''
and what his predecessor laborcd for DR. Parkhars says
natly that IS his He IL not trying 70 suppress
gambling 20 rcprsss the social evil lie = IN the "ed
attack the police. As say, that Is nc" u'i''r,
His predecessor. DR.. Howard Grossly whom no one wiz
lack OF sincerity or honest purpose eiu "o
pr Parkhurst himself will have served his c,y
and his generation well. other opportunities oV'H
ends and ne found occasion more than once ." pubic"
thank the police FOR the help they had rendered MN III
rraching them. d. Paikhufst Is 10 be commenced o'
thus STATING his po.ition without reserve IL Is easy
for mo now 20 understand why he has never askcd my
help offered help me- thing whch mas he'e' o'o'
IL not aliri ne IL an enemy
lilo assu,nes attitude without having ever put 'e
sineetv Of the police their Willingness do the thing
which he says doing viz; The suppression o'
crime 70 the tcs AMI upon the bare evidence mat cfe
exists that It not been Suppressed That Is true.
The evidence is there. Dr. Pakhurst has found IT, ana
any ONO who Will seek It long enough and pprsisthty
enough in the midnight hours. when good citizens Aou'u
be ,n bed G1ll find 1t.
Dr. parkhurst abroad this summer ana sa"
something cf life in cities Of Europe l am ''iu
IL no nrcra,cd to say that sought IL ther ana oiu
not nnd IL: that harder TO nnd there than IN New
York, II his obs rvato0s are sadly at vaFiagce WIN
those OF travellers. whose testimony Is 10 'ne ee'
tina. New.York cleaner, purr city thon even "osc
toregn communities syhcre in the special form 10
word which his attacks are directed Is uehoefseN
licensed for parpcss Of keeping it within restraint
There is NO doubt about this. No woman need iar H.
suit in Ncw.Yorks man need fear CANCER 10
his morals here unless h. Is ont looking for IT,
But. says DR.. Pakhust. the law spccihealN enorpes
tho police duty q supprcSsinS g'nohR' PoS
tuition and OF disorder That Is also "ue'
And the police are doiag what they can. since mo
middle Of April when became superintendent OF romeo
that is. in months and hah-thc ponce nav
under my orders Iaided and closed 4io houses o )"
fomc end arrested 572 who inmates oil th'm'
tiryour rambling and 2SG prisoners and Thirty
two policy shops and 40 prisoners Perhaps we could nave
done better with the assistance Dr. I0rkhursts society
and his special knowledge Of these dcns. Very likely
We have not had that assistance. The evidence OF
crime which his agency collected they ucd for their own
purposes. What those purposes sometimes We're was
shown in the arrest Of his CHIEF detective the Other day
foi blackmail and exortion. Dr. Parkhurst may sui
Believe his innocence. do not.
-Four hundred houses OF i'll fame raded In seven
months! there many less in the city Have
others take their places Possibly The p"cc
did their in these houses and nfestng tef
There their powers ended. Some OF tho wonh
were fined some to jail SOME DISCHARGED TO 20 ous
again in the world to living: d. ParhhuTst mas
lived In world long enough to know how uncharaoe
IL ca toward this class Of sinners how little II has
MaStN
before the seized in edUlty. lie knows no"
IL those whom he processes 10 ply Leu me
ask Parkhurst question OF conscience; HOW many
OF them has given shelter; how q them has MS
society taken from the street. driven by
public sentiment he processes t, represent 10 earn
their liyirgl By just he has removed from
the Of starvation he has reduced the
sum Of evil 1t IS the only way, ana IL Is not open 70
the police. 1t Is open Christian charity. IL It fails
IT, that and the police, is responsible for the
continuance OF the evil.
will enter discussion OF the wearisome prob
lem. 1t IS old original sin. But since Dr. Park
hurst has made his position clcnr It is fair that 1
should do the same the police theoretically, there
radical ways deal with prostitution One
suppress IT, other % license it, Practically.
there IS only one way. Suppressed it can never be-
Even DR.. I~rkhurst will claim that though he In.
slsts that the police shall do it, License IT, we will
not. There remains only middle course-a compromise
course Dr. Parkhurst chooses. 1t is just that and
nothing elsa compromise the public conscience
that knows It's guilt did the crowd that brought
the the Saviour and sneakc1 away on
when He babe him who sinless the first stone
Tint is - thrust the EVIL fax possible
OF sight hide It from public view where It cannot
rupt the morals OF growing youth. That is all
police do, and that they doing the best
OF their ability. is the only way that IS open
II PsrShurst better any citizen set
O citizens show better, viii aid
in making that more thorough by. any evidence
In their possession, shall gladly do all that lies In
power help him or them. Even then shah only be
nrnn he Drob
Il in the least unless finally and absolutely dispose
OF the arrested In such way that they
will Ind their way back to the streets Nav. more
Dr. Parkhurst may call 1t subtcru9e. but know It.
and every policeman cold experience that in
proportion made suppress the evil
the only available path, increases in vrulence be-
cause OF the future spoke Of supply the and
only check The brelking up Of Of i-iamc simply
results scattering Of their inmates through
nent and apartment houses. whete they do Infinitely
more harm than before, because Of their immediate
contact with the growing youth and thc example OF
easy living they set That example IS danger that
"a TOO dearly bought at almost any price.
BY that do that have made up my mind
to let houses OF fame in this city alone hereafter
any MOI. than in past shall continue 10 do exactly
what have Cone-to keep the evil out Q: the sight of
Dr. Parkhur>ts young Pensioners, II cann0 keep II
out Of his. otter all he has said about me- VIII
agree 10 help Doctor suppress such houses against
which he has or procure the evidence TO the utmost
OF my ability. always been willing to do this
he has never been willing should have the oIqor
eunlty
Perhaps Dr. Parkhurst IS Of the difficulties
that path OF policeman IN getting the evidence
which he claims to obtain readiy. the nature Of the
evidence the courts demand Of policeman More likely
be s. and will again accuse ne OF sinking responsibility
vhen / tell him that a policeman who successfully obtained
o. evidence needed dismissed by tho BoaN OF Police
for his pains on the charge Of immoral conduct. IL ia
true that acwad rcinsta,cd BY the courts on the
technical ground he obeyins the orders OF his
.sperlor, hip that did fnd The was married.
unfortunately for him and his vile sued next o tivoree
Hardly encouraging that for the decent domestic men,
hers OF the force who spite OF all which Dr. Parkhuts
charges or suspects are In the very vast majority.
The doctor chooses 70 charge with trying TO shift
responsibility from my shoulders over upon his VIII
be charitable. Dr. Parkhufst does not know no. or he
would charge. No one has ever laid thot
20 my doors before Justly unjutly. There Il dis