The herald., 1896-12-12

esteemed contemporary, and yet
! ought to congratulate him, for believe
to this one agancy he owes his election;
otherwise he would no doubt have been
defeated by 500 majority. l was amazed
at the number of Republicans who de-
clared their purpose to support him be-
cause of those assaults upon him.
didn't help elect Mr.. Snyder, but, he
being elected, is my mayor, and wish
him great success in his administration.
If l could in any way contribute to that
end l would most cheerfully do so. And
because we Parkhurst people as indi-
viduals saw our duty in another direction
l cannot think that you will deem that
sufficient reason to turn upon and rend
our little movement to bring about a
better state of things. The victorious
Herald can well afford to be generous as
we'll as just in its signal triumph.
There is some compensation in any
disappointment we may feel as to the
outcome in the thought that this means
new head to the police department and
thorough investigation into the affairs
of that office and department. And when
the new administration gets down to
business on that line all the facts in pos
session of the Parkhurst society will be
at its service We think we can throw
more light upon the question as to
whether the disease there has been in
competency and venality.
If you look for things to criticise in the
work of the committee or violations of
law in their amateur efforts to procure
evidence l fear you will not look in vain,
for. not having any money for the work.
DR.. Mclean and his committee were
compelled to do nothing or look up the
evidence themselves; nor would they
have known about the horrible orgies of
nudity and lasciviousness had it not
been pointed out to them by paid police
officer whose sworn duty it was to sup
press such disorder. No doubt had he
suppressed it he would have been him
self suppressed by his superiors. but
it is hardly to be supposed that his su-
periors had instructed him to act as con-
ductor to the young men of the town to
such a den of rottenness. A horror of
this business is that while obtaining evil
dence of such practices in New York
it cost DR.. Parkhurst and detectives S5
each, it was volunteered here for so
cents apiece to these police directed evil
dence seekers.
l beg of you, Mr.. Editor, let the Times
do the championing of such police
system and of such violations of law and
decency. Let it revel in its work of ma
ligning those who seek to close such
dens of shame and secure a safer police
supervision; but let not The Herald lend
itself to such infamy. You and your
staff l am sure, do not fear abridgement
of your own privileges and pleasure
should the Parkhurst society succeed in
making such exhibitions impossible in
this beautiful city. Then leave such
work to those who have an interest in
keeping them open. Nor can 1 believe.
in your case, what has been frankly told
by some of the law-breakers. that they
were paying hush money to the press"
and we could not get in on them there"
I say frankly that we want your help.
1t will greatly expedite the success of our
efforts. You ought to be very potential
in influence with this administration,
for you have earned 1t.
l think 1t not worth while to remind
you of what your cowardly contempor-
ary has already found out: That min
listers have no money with which to pros
ecute libel suits. nor can they with pis-
tol, cowhide or baseball club have per-
sonal settlements with their vilifiers;
and. as they are in no position to defend
themselves, they are very suitable VIC
tins for the assaults of towards. The
awful condition of things here in the
way of gambling and other evil and un-
lawful resorts, with the liberation and
assistance they receive from the police
system of the city, initiates against the
mission of every minister of the city.
But most of all. the absolutely inefficient
or corrupt police administration Is hin
dering the betterment of the men and
women we are seeking to save. We
may not-dare not-keep silent in pres
ence of this awful condition. With your
help we can in sixty days make of this
the best police supervision and most law
abiding city of any size on the conti-
nent. Without your assistance our work
will go on, but victory will be very great
ly postponed.
We appeal to you to help us, or, II you
will not help us, then do not help those
who help and apologize for the corrupt
or inefficient police administration. crib
renting. huly-huy dances, bagnio keep
ers and owners of realty who speculate
in crime. And we are not after the poor
slaves of the crib, and the bagnio, and
the unlawful barroom. save as their con-
victions may be an incident in bringing
down the larger game of corrupt or in
efficient officials who stand in with law
breakers either for a share of the swag
or from absolute servility
JOHN A. B. WILSON.
Los Angeles. December g.