The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-18
CRUSADE ON VICE
IN new YORK CITY.
BISHOP POTTER WRITES A LETTER
DESOUNCING POLICE METHODS.
Charges the Authorities With
Shielding Crine and Insulting
Those who Enter protest-Mayor
Orders . oearching Investiga ation.

NEW YORK, Nov 17-Bishop Henry c.
Potter. OF the Protestant Episcopal dio-
ceso of New York. has sent a letter to
Mayor Van wyck in reference to vice In
this CITY, and especially on the east side
This letter In the one promised some
weeks ago. when the bishop publicly an
nounced that one of his rectors had been
grossly insuted by the commanding offi-
cials Of certain police station. and that
he proposed to take up the matter In
manner which tho heads of the police
force should feel
Bishop Potter first calls attent on to the
work that is being done at the pro-
cathedral, 1870 Stanton street, In endeavor-
ing to improve the condition or the poor
of the east side tenement district. In
which II is located, and says II has been
recognized as an important factor in pro-
noting the virtue and good order of the
community in which II ministers, He
goes on 10 tell how when the clergymen
called at the police station of the pre-
cinct to complain OF the notorious condi-
tion OF affairs. one of them was told by
the police captain that he lied, and that
when, disheartened by such an expert
ence. the clergyman carried his COM
nlaint 10 higher authority In the police
he was met with insolent derlsion The
bishop continues;
Bishop Potter's Charges.
81 NOT. Il neg 10 say. VI
the fact that the existence Of vice IN q
great city Is practically an inevitable e n
ditfou of the lffe Of such a community
] am not demanding that vice snaii DC
STAMPED out by the police or any other
civil authority This Is n task which
would demand for Its achievement. a race
OF angels. and not Of men Eut ! APP
proach you. sir, to protest with all my
power against a condition OF things "
which vice is not only tolerated. Dht
shielded and encouraged bN those Whqse
swarm duty II Is TO repreSs and dlscouraGe
!, and in the name OF the unsullied
youth aud innocence OF young girls anu
their mothers, who. though living unue.
conditions often OF privaton ana the nard
strHgyia for a livelihood. have In them
every instinct OF virtue and purity tnat
are The ornaments of any sc-caiied n
tlewomen in tho Land. aa,s. ana oslers p, wv wv
york | protest As my people nave
CHARGED me to do, against the hanllua
insult, the persistent menace. ,hs uuIs- ~
,arshlv dealing contacts. to which, day by
49, Serausa Of the base completely OF
,hs noiice af New York with the lowest
forms Of vice and crimes, they are SUD
'eSsl 'SArs in the name of these little ones.
thesc weak and defenseiess htue ones.
christian and Hebrew alike, OF many
aces and tongues. hut or homes MhFrs
.sNd "a feared and His law rcvercd and
Inc virtue and decency honored ana eh-
cmnliiied. l call upon you, sf' 70 save saNe
these people. who are ,Srrs IN rroyn q nvtng
.k.4M
Ss,i Sstilinx. deadly, damuing. 70 which
he criminal supsneness u the constitnted
es,,,h~,sties set for the defense OF dsceney
.s Aus.s.s. ',,~,s order. threatens 70 doom them.
~'IS Tshep Potter, in coneluslon SAYS he
mas no methods 10 suggest Tor the nettrr-
10 ~ the conditions, these are IN the
ss,s W. - ~ the rnavor He says his letter is
,n seeordance with instructions "a on
him Nv the convention OF the hiasco!ssI !sI
church OF this hects@ ,s ai,u - ~
matter In the mayor : hAha$'
Mayor Van Wyck's Reply
x,.,.or Van wyck az once replied TO the
,,tsbSn nv a letter IN which he says ne
Saa passed the bishops eommuniss3,a.ioh 70
,Ss ,aa s5sfrict attorney and then adds;
'ne me, ..;Sh here TO assure You that l VIII
exert every power which Ia ne e is~ ~ ,,say IS
given to right the wrongs ana 70 90 a"rs w.,
Mi1n ma 10 seeure a hearty and eftic ent
Cooperation by the police depar R sIisi,' NH ~
a,,s. ~ yioiations OF law and decency
a pa ga