The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-06
PARKHURST'S VIEWS
In Relation to the Political Corruption
of New York City.
Governor Flower Criticised For We
toing the Bill For Expenses of
Investigating.
Bv The Associated Press.

NEW YORK. June o.-Rev. DR.. Charles
Parkhurst. who left for Europe this
morning ON his vacation. was interviewed
last night in regard to the Lexow com
mittee and the result of the work carried
on by the society Of which he Is the
leader. DR.. Parkhurst said;
I'm considering these matters. IL must
be remembered that the police de-
partment Is not our point of attack.
The pslioe departments is merely the
gastric center. where the food of
Tammany Hall Is digested. 1t is the
stomach into which the material en-
tcrs. which goes to build up that organ
ization. Tammany Hall is our real point
of assault, not the police but that which
is back Of the police. that to which the
police contribute, that which is kept alive
by the corrupt practices of the police,
and of some of the departments.
Tn every way the situation today Is
highly gratifying. i have never felt so
cheerful on the subject as / do now.
There are many elements that go to make
up this qualification. In the first place, we
have an investigating committee that is
Investigating There was much doubt of
this for a time. As j said to Senator
Lexow this morning, while / never ques-
toned the integrity of the committee,
did doubt whether the senate would stand
back of them and permit them to ferret
out the facts.
''This has all been demonstrated now.
The committee Is exceedingly satisfactory.
IL is eminently impartial: il investigates;
IL does not prosecute any one or work TO
prove any given facts It is not partisan.
nv. -
Goals, McClave. was a Repu blican. and
the thoroughness with which they inter
rogsted him is guarantee OF its fairness.
Governor Flower Criticised.
''In regard to the financial part of the
work we have no longer need TO worry.
All the money we need will be forthcom-
ing. or course. the veto of Governor
Flower OF the bill appropristing moneys
for the committees work was a disagree
able surprise TO us, but it has had the
effect of calling out money from other
sources. IL is queer. but every one of our
defeats has strengthened us in the end.
We have never met an obstacle which has
not ultimately proved a stepping stone to
something better.
ITO 20 so far back as the Gardner case.
He was very obnoxious to the police, and
they turned him down. This led us to
strengthen our detective force, and it in
now one of which any organization might
we'll be proud. 1t has done. and Is doing,
admirable work. Then there was the
question Of attorneys-whether Mr.. Golf
was the right man for the work. He had
not the reputation of half dozen Others
whose names were mentioned But from
the outset he was thoroughly acquainted
with the whole matter; he apprehended
the difficulties In the way; he knew what
he must meet Since he began have
not heard q single voice discrediting him.
In any way"
''How do you consider that New York
now stands in point OF morality and de-
cenoy ~ compared with it's condition
when you began your workp was asked.
THAT is not the question" rejoined DIR.
Parkhurst. The closing Of the dives is
not our object. or course we object to
these people opening up dens Of vice any
where and everywhere they like. But
what We are trying TO break up is the
criminal collusion Of the police with these
people. And we shall break IL up.
I'VE have known of this collusion for
year and half, and we have suspected it
for two years. Eighteen months ago
people would come TO Inc and say; You
must not use my name In this matter, but
1 want to tell you certain facts People
whom knew and in whom had full con.
fidence did this. They told me then
under vows of solemn secrecy. Today
they are ready to go on the stand and
testify to the facts they then hardly
dared TO breathe. So far has public
opinion changed toward our work"