The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-16
TO CRUSH OUT VICE FOR THE OPEN DOOR
The Power of Tammany In
voked Against 1t.
Croker Declares His Hands Clean and Inaugur-
ates Movement to Suppress Crime
in the East Side.
(By the Associated Press. }


New York. Nov 15.--Thc executive com
mittee of Tammany Hall held a meeting
tonight ut which Richard Croker bade
all the leaders good bye and took = hand
in starting o movement to rid the city OF
vice. In little speech the Tammany
leader said he was going to Europe for
health not pleasure and introduced lsdor
Strauss, president OF the Educational
Alliance. as man who was acquainted
with the condition of things on the East
Side, adding: Il hopo you will give at
tentiye hearing TO his statements OF the
condition OF vice that exists there. and
that after you have heard what he has
to say you will use your every effort TO
correct those evils as far as lies in your
power"
Mr.. Strauss said he had met Mr. Croker
at dinner accidentally and had talked with
him for two hours over the conditions in
the East Side. and Mr. Croker had asked
him to talk TO the executive committee Of
Tammany Hall. and then addressing the
committee, Mr. Strauss told OF what was
needed on tho East Side to suppress
crime He soid that he. as a Democrat,
had frequently had cast up TO him the
statement that Tammany Hall receives
the greater part OF its revenue from peo-
pie in these evil conditions of life and
that no good can be accomplished unless
the power of Tammany Hall is destroyed.
Mr.. Strauss had repeated this 10 Mr..
Croker. and the later asked him to come
before the committee with the statement.
and had promised his aid. Lewis Nixon,
then by resolution. had a committee OF
five appointcd TO investigate the moral
conditions OF the city, and TO receive and
suggest remedies for the corrections OF
abuses"
Mr.. Nixon was made the chairman and
the other members are George G. Clausen,
President OF the Park Board; Colonel
Michael c. Murphy. President of the
Health Board, John j. Scannell Fire Com
missioner. and John W. Kelar, Charities
Commissioner.
Mr.. Croker then arose and said:
Il have nothing To add to what has
been said to you by Mr.. Strauss because
lie is familiar with the matters on which
he has spoken to you hope that this
entire committee will give it's fun
strength towards helping him and his
work. We should heartily endorse his re-
marks and aid him in the work Of crush
ing cut this awful crime. And right here
! want 10 reiterate what | said three
weeks ago TO you, and that is that not
onc dollar comes into my possession from
landlords Of pool rooms and houses of i'll
fame, and II anyone of you gentlemen are
collecting from any Of these people, you
had better get out of the organization.
II has no uge for Won YOu are Il dis
Grace To IT, The organization can't and
won't stand for any such thing
The meeting broke up in confusion be-
cause % the attitude OF Coroner Ftz-
patrick. who denied that there were any
disreputablc houses in his district. He
said that " there was vice there IL was
in tenement houses and could not be con-
trolled To this Mr.. Croker excltedly re-
piled that the Coroner did not know what
could be done until some effort was made.