The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-04
MINISTER'S WILL help
To Organize a Crusade
Against the Pol
icy Dens.
DRs. sCUDDER AND sNODGRAss
Denounce the Evil in Scathing
TermS-A Shame and a Dis
grace 10 the City.

Superintendent Smith is on his way to
Chicago, accompanied by Captain Kelly,
seeking pleasure, but in all probability
had he been able to hear the remarks
made by clergymen throughout the city
concerning his negligence in taking no
action toward the closing up of the three
hundred policy shops which are permit
ted to operate and thrive under his ad.
ministration, he would be in his Office to-
day attending to duties that the public In
general demand of him.
Superintendent Smith should be COM
PEELED to close up these dens," said the
Rev. John L. Scudder; "but like every
other vice that arises in this city, it is en-
couraged rather than strangled by the
police.'
why don't you attack the proprietors
Of these dens?'' asked.
1T is hardly worth an effort" he re-
piled. There is but one way to Sight
such things, and that is with money.
They have money and they place it where
1t does the most good. The suppression
OF policy dens has been tried, but I trust
that THE JERSEY CITY NEWS will bring
the public down around Superintendent
Smiths ears and compel him to do some
thing"
Don't you think that he is directly re-
sponsible for these places being openf"
Il do. most assuredly." replied Mr..
Scudder. "As the head of the Police
Department he controls those things and
he knows, as does everyone else, that If he
had any desire to suppress crime in this
city he could drive every shop out of the
city within forty-eight hours. 1t is dis
grace to the city that such an infaY,ous
business should be allowed to live, ) 1t
ia in kpaninp with avarvthiY,u olgc-'s.., ia
done here"
Don't you think Mayor Stanton, Of
Hoboken, Should be congratulated for
closing up similar dens in that eityw
queried.
81 do, and every man should be thanked
and respected who drives one of these dis
graceful dens out of existence"
A DECENT MAYOR NEEDED.
III we had the proper man for Mayor, a
decent man, there would be no trouble.
Politics in this city are dead, and the peo-
pie should now unite and see If it is not
possible to get a decent man TO run af-
fairs. Let that man be a Democrat, but
decent one, one who will not hesitate to
bring these matters to the notice of the
Police Commissioners and compel that
body to make its employees at least
make some effort to put check upon
the growth of evil.
II know what policy gambling is
and l know that it is one of the worst
forms of vice and gamb bling imaginable.
Homes are ruined by it and men. women
and children are led astray by it, but
facts such as these do not disturb our
police officials; It js an outrage and
disgrace, and it is the inactivity on the
part of sucn high officials as Superintend-
ent Smith in attempting to bring about
the slightest reform that puts the Demo-
cratic party in such bad repute.
why shouldn't the public complain
when it is seen that such dens are scat
terinG their evil influences upon their
childreni Superintendent Smith not
only refuses to notice what people say,
but openly neglects his duties, and per-
mits violations of the law under his very
nose. Why he refuses to act no one
knows, but we all can imagine, and that
such things should continue surprises
me, especially when he will report in a
little while that the Department was
never i'll better condition and never
better equipped to suppress crime
eff the department is well equipped he
should not allow such equipments to be-
come rusty by never putting them in
operation"
Mr. Snudder has tackled the policy
business before. and 1t is quite probable
that he will soon sail into Superintendent
Smith and tell him what he thinks of an
official who is afraid to do his duty when
1t is pointed out to him.
OlhEh CLEhO MEN WILL hELI.
Clergymen throughout the city endorse
| Mr. Scudder's statements and will lend
| helping hand to drive policy dealers out
of business in this city. Clergymen in
| general denounce these dens as destruc-
| tive of morality and intimate that they
will combine their efforts and endeavor
| to compel superintendent Smith to take
| effective action in the matter.
| The Rev. Mr.. Snodgrass of the He'd
| ding NJ. E. Church was also interviewed
| by the reporter
"Don't you believe that these dens
| should be suppressed | asked.
"Of course do" was his reply.
Don't you think Superintendent Smith
should be compelled to close uhem?"
81 do, most assuredly," he continued.
| ''Such dens are public disgrace and the
city would be better off every way if they
were wiped out of existence. 1t seems
| very strange to me that man who has
the power to close such places does
not exercise it. They are run in
violation of the law and the head
| of the Police Department, knowing this
| fact, should lose no time in relieving the
poorer classes from the clutches of the
proprletors of such places.
| II have learned from the columns OF
| The NEWS that several hundred of them
are in operation, and such fact is dis
| graceful. Not only do they harm people,
! but the existence of such dens of in1quity
encourage the commitment or other
| offenses against the law.
I'm my opinion there is no reason why
policy shops should be permitted to con-
| tinue in operation one minute. They
should never have been allowed to open.
| They are q continual menace to the well
| being of society and have no more right
| to existence and protection than mad
| dog has to run the Streets"
| Several other ministers expressed SIM
| ;Ior viauS hnt wished to see what 6tfeCG
the remarks of the Rev. Mr.. Scudder and
Mr.. Snodgrass would have
| Weather Indications.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 1892 w Gather
indications for tweuty-four hours for
Eastern New York. New Jersey. and
Eastern Pennsylvania:-Cleara slightly
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