Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-21
Mr.. Golf Talks of the Publication
Process in New York.
WORK OF LEXOW COMMITTEE
How Public Decency Was Prodded
and Aroused.
THE FUTURE COURS E

LexoW investigating committee, and the
recorder-elect Of New York city, has been
in Washington. and he had not asked a
policeman one question. Mr.. Con Is taxing
a rest from his long and wearying duties,
and 1t is to be presumed that he has es-
chewed the guardians Of the peace with
severity. Perhaps the local police are
grateful for this inattertion. 1t is certain
that the New York police would have been
doubly so had Mr.. Goff pursued this course
toward them months ago. Mr.. Goff and his
law partner, Mr. Pollock, reached Wash
ington Monday. morning, and established
themselves at the Shoreham. They had just
come from Richmond, Va, which they in
cluded in their tour Of recrea ton, that was
begun Immediately after the election Their
presence here was therefore Of no signifi-
canoe whatever, except as it demonstrated
Mr. Gof's good Judgment in the selec ton
of place for rest. Last evening Star
reporter was granted an interview with Mr..
Goff, which, lasting for an hour, gave the
celebrated police-prodder Of Gotham a
chance to give expression to many very en-
tertainng views.
Mr.. Goff is man somewhat above me-
dium height, slender and very fair. His
head is almost white, but his light-brown
beard Is yet untouched by the hand of
| time. He has a somewhat forid complex
ion. characteristic perhaps of his Irish an
cestry, and at times there is the least pos
sible turn of a delicious brogue to be noted
at the end of some of his words, faint re-
mnder that Is most apparent when he gives
full rein to his thoughts and speaks fluent
ly and without reserve. But this Is not
often, for he uses his words with great
care, ard speaks with considerable delib-
GRAFTON. He has the appearance of q very
modest man, and his tremendous success
both In the court room and at the polls,
has not in the least affected this quality.
In speaking he almost wholly avoided
| ,af. a,naAc 20 hie- .A-ly l..
more directly upon the general principles
and problems of the investigation of which
he was the executive officer. With COM
mendable prudence and tact Mr.. Goff avoid
cd certain personal matters to which the
reporter would have led him, and he quite
evaded the query as to whether the New
York experience would lead him to sup
pose that Washington might possibly af-
ford field for similar inquiry.
The Grent Problem.
ut was, as you may imagine" he said
- tremendous task that confronted US
when We started cthe investigation. We
knew positively that the police department
of New York, a most magnificent organiza-
tioD as regards its own strength was sys-
tematically blackmailing all classes of citi-
zens. That tremendous power had seized
upon the community until it had obtained
complete possession. There were two dis
tinct elements that prevented, at the be-
ginning, fair start and handicapped us
in our efforts to get reliable testimony
These were, first, the fear, and second the
apathy, of the citizens. As a subhead
might mention their self-interest though
this would probably be classed as a form
OF fear. You must not suppose that the
police corruption affected only the criminal
classes Of New York; it ran through every
branch or business, every scale of society,
every class Of individuals. So l am going
to speak particularly of the prosperous
merchants and the men of affairs, for it
was TO them, OF course, that We looked for
our reliable witnesses.
Il speak within the bounds Of my knowl-
edge when l say that there was not a bus
mess man in New York city who had not
1eit the power OF police blackmail. There
were perhaps very few instances where
honorable men had refused to give their
tithes of illegal tax to the police but al
most without exception these men were
forced out of business. You can easily see
how this was. Merchants doin, large bus
1ness and handling great quantities of
goods would naturally seek to use the side
walks for storage, and throw skids across
the pavements to make quick deliveries
and this was the excuse for police extor-
ton. The man who refused to give had
the sole satisfaction of seeing his next
door neighbor enjoy that privilege and
thrive in business. Should he persist in his
refusal he would inevitably see his busi-
ness decline year after year and that Of his
rival increase, until he would be forced to
retire.
No Glass Was Spared.
"One peculiar feature Of the blackmail
was that 1t spared no one class, however
obscure their calling. 1 have particularly
in mind the saimakers, who are among
the most upright and sturdly honest peo-
pie of New York. They are mostly retired
sea captains commanders of the old clip
per ships, who have been forced out of
business by the introduction of steam or
their sons. Out of their great sail lofts on
the waterfront streets they have been In
the habit of hanging high above the side
walk spars with canvas signs. These men
were approached by the police and forced
to pay. They knew 1t was dishonest and
demurred at first, but one or two of them
gave way to the importunings and threats
of the police, until at last they were all
obliged to contribute to the fund Of cor
ruption. Not one of these honest men
dared to open his mouth and complain.
Urged to Go Higher.
80 the question was, what classes should
we apply to and appeal to in our crusade.
We were urged at times and most impor-
tuEely to go higher and nail the RESPONSE
bility to the source of authority. On this
question we held most earnest consulta-
lions and we finally decided that it would
not be wise or efli:acious to do so. Our
duty was to arouse the conscience of the
people of New York. which had long been
observation-disclosures killed The common
people, the voters, the people who most
reed to be aroused by different methods.
They were to have the ill effects of police
corruption brought to their hearts. The
spectacle of little boy sitting all night
on the doorstep of a police station crying
bitterly for his father, who had been un-
Justly arrested and brutally beaten by the
police meant more to these people than
the demonstration that the captain had
paid large money for his promotion or that
the commissioner, perhaps, had been brib-
ed. The common folks would not notice
such matters, but they would notice the
tyranny of the police over the apple wo-
man, over the peanut roaster the boot
black, the newsboy, the keeper of q small
soda water stand, the owners of little res
taurants-a great class of honest citizens
striving, struggling for a living. The men
at the clubs, the more idle classes of the
population, drinking over the fancy bars Of
the uptown hotels and restaurants, din
ing at the cafes. might possibly be inter-
ested in the exposure of the high official,
but 1t would not shock them, 1T would not
rouse in them such a feeling of personal
resentment as would lead them to 60 to
the polls, and. by their votes. aid in crush
ing the power which these things signified
Not n Matter of Politics.
"Yet this was not political question at
Do1