The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-05-27
Fourth EDITION


new. Robert Watt score. the Authorities
Eer rhsir Apparent Oversight OF This
Grsat Evil.
! Rev. Robert Watt In Scott NJ. Z. Church
Hast night scored the police department
FAnd handled without gloves Wilmington
and Its vices which have been allowed to
remain unsurpassed by that body of
men. The congregation filled the church.
The subject Of the aermon, or other talk,
was Are our Police Authorities Doing all
They can 10 Suppress and punish vica2
\ In beglnniLg his talk Mr. Watt answer
ed the question. III theyiare" said he,
I'VE have the moral city of the globe" He
then took up his subject in full. Tho
lhfst thought to be consi cred lie ARE our
police authorities doing their duty. l
don't believe they ars and think can
present the parts which will prove my
statement"
y The speaker at this point referred to his
Sermon Oh few weeks ago, during which
me made the statement thatth houses OF
shame In the city would number 100 and
~ explanation said he had included all
disorderiy houses In the number. This
had been denied by police com missioner
put The speaker believed that there are at
least three times as many houses of pros
titution as the reports OF the police de.
partment ehow. The department seems
10 be inlnllibie IN their own estimation.
He then related an incident In which
police captain and a lady OF the rescue
band wore connected. The captain said
that In q certain house there was only one
,girl whose life was given to shame, while
The lady who had been engaged In the
rescue work saw four in the same house,
The captain insisted that she must be
mistaken, as the propfletress of tie house
would not dare lie to him.
'1f our authorities are doing all thev
can to suppress vice there are eeyeral
other facts which will dispute their state.
ments- Within stone's throw of the
city hall cigar stores are open all day
sunday and goods sold to any person
who may enter. But / know Of a poor
woman who because having sold a few
articles OF necessity was arrested aud
heavily fined. The authorities could fine
That poor woman. but under their very
noses they see and allow other law break.
ers to 60 unpunlshed.
There are also places on the public
streets OF the city where young men are
tracked by their fathers and caught with
cards In hand, but yet the police authorl.
ties know nothing of these dens There
q were police al the recent ball OF the bar
lenders yet there was nothing done by the
department until the shocking affair had
been proclaimed through the press and
from the pulpit But the strong fact yet
remains.
assured me that the most careful and
thorough canvass of the city had been
made to ascertain the exact number OF
houses OF Ill repute In the cltv nnd that
hhey had discovered them ali. Twenty he
BALD there were but insisted that there
were many people, myself among tho
number. who believe there were more.
Inc police authorities he said al anxious
10 learn the truth and that they would as
sist me In any way in their power,
4 ~
munication In which made two simple
requests. The first was that he furnish
me with the list OF houses and second the
method OF making the canvass. His re.
ply was In substance, nasmuch us l had
bublicly disputed the correctness OF their
Record be must decline to give the de.
pred information. We do not object to
furnishing such list and have always
None so when requested but when cur
records are disputed we fell that specific
oata on this sublebt should be presented.
thermometer, this com IN leeoner assured
me that ne "ould do anything In his pow
81 TO AID an honest investigation, yet
when write him that such an inyestlga-
ROD is being pushed, and that the coop.
eratlon OF the police authorities Ia desired
ne hedges by standing on his dignity and
says they can furnish US no list under
euch circumstances. l have hoped to
prepare and give proof that there are at
least three times as many houses of i'll
Fepute hero as the police report shows.
with or without the co operat ion OF the
authorities we propose TO ventlate this
matter, and II honest. sincere work can got
ut the truth II will soon To fortheom IN lng.
90 not hold the patrolmen responsible
FOR this horrible condition of affairs, for
fhey nre merely servants. The TespCnsi.
piiity must be fixed higher, and higher we
propose to go,
Next Sunday night Mr., Watt will give
additional Information on the subject
which has now set TO work Wllmingtons
moral loving people His talk was as a
prelude to his evening sermon. and, fol
sowing 1t WAS the only euro uud That 10y
Chrietian work which would end in i
glorious victory Tor Christ and his ueOple