New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-30
4 QUESTION OF INFLTENCE.

We hope the Kings County Grand Jury will
continue to give attention to the Franklin Svn-
dictate swinde. Yesterday 1t turned in the
right direction when by unanimous vote II
censured the Brooklyn police for laxness In fail.
Ing TO prevent the escape Of the men who had
been so long allowed 10 dupe fools and dis
tribute some Of the proceeds among clever
knayes 1t Is not enough that Miller's share in
this Franklin Syndicate business be nrobed
IT Is rumored that he had hackers Of influence
IL is evident that he had virtual partners who
understood perfectly that the operation was an
unsound one and bound to result In collapse in
which many would be losers Nevertheless tbcv
were willing to join in and help it along and
get the other peoples money transferred to their
pockets under the fiction Of profits" which they
knew were not earned and could not be earned
Doubtless honest and Ignorant people
did more than get their money back, but there
were other persons who were neither STUPID
nor ignorant Investing in the syndicate. They
are proper objects for the District Attorneys
scrutiny. The man who takes stolen goods.
knowing that they cannot but be stolen is no
better than the thief.
The circumstances Of Miller's escape ineyita-
bly, lead TO suspicion that he enjoyed the favor
of the police. and that perhaps the police en-.
5oyed the Investing" privileges OF his syndi-
cate In its dividend" paying days. Nor is there
anything in the history of the police of this
city which makes it easy 10 resist Judgement OF
that suspicion in the mind. The force has been
time and again the proved protector of vice and
crime. Police captains and inspectors reduced
blackmal TO a system and made their places
so lucrative that large brides had to be
paid to secure them. To-day the poolrooms
flourish, and on such a scale that nobody has
any doubt that the arrangement for protection
Is made close TO the fountain of municipal au-
'thority. II the pooroom kings and the policy
kings can buy liberation for their business
what Is there improbable in smart adventurer
buying protection for an investment swlndle?
1t would not require bribery. Oh no. 1t did
not even require division Of percentages or
the formation Of partnership such as we are
familiar with in the conduct Of bonding. real
estate sales and fireproofng business What
could be more innocent than deposit Of money
In speculative enterprise by members OF n
governing class who make no effort TO conceal
their character OF spectators and gamblers?
And what more innocent than drawing 'qnter-
est on the deposits? If anything went wrong
the transaction would look Just like taking
flyer in Wall Street.
No other explanation OF the case accounts for
the failure of the police long ago to act against
this palpably fraudulent enterprise Somebody
in authority was Intentionally blind or incom-
petent TO a degree which approaches to crime
Then, when action was finally taken, sorue hody
manifested almost inconceivable carelessness. or
worse The tale Of how Miller, under sur
VIGILANCE and with the whole Police Department
alive to his case. walked away from a string
of detectives ought to take high rank among
yarns that are supposed TO be peculiarly suited
to marines. We hope District Attorney Steele