The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-30
THE BUSINESS MEMS MEETING AT THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
TO PLACE THE RESPONSIBILITY
it Belongs for the State of At
fairs-A Committed of Fifteen APP
pointed-A Letter From Bishop Pot
ter-Abram 5. Hewitt Says Mayor
VanWyck Is Responsible for the Com
ditions Criticism of Tammanv,s
Fight Against Vice.

New York, November PA gather
ling of business men resulted from the
call for a conference at the chamber of
commerce today. The features of the
meeting were the practical retirement
of Bishop Potter from the front rank
of the movement; al address by Abram
s. Hewitt, in which he aid thai the
responsibility for the present condition
of affairs in New York city rested on
of the following resolution:
Resolved. That a committee of if
teen be appointed for the purpose of at
tempting to bring to account those re-
Isponsible for the present condition of
affairs"
Bishop Potter in a letter explaining
his absence from the meeting, wrote
as follows:
Il shall not be able, owing to a trus-
tee meeting, to attend the meeting Of
the chamber today, nor, 1 think, 1 ought
to add, should 1 do so if L were free.
THE aim of such a meeting should
be primarily to unity the force on the
side of law, decency and the protection
~ III 'NcH Ai AZ pot
in such an effort IN ecclesiastic is not
the best instrument. The clergy may
fltly exercise the prophetic office of
irouslng, warning, e~ntreating, but in
ISocial and political movements their
best service will be in the ranks, where,
las in times Of stress and siege, they
may patrol, mount guard, keep watch,
but leave to others the task of general
ship.
LAS to this, in the present emergency,
I am quite clear, New York wants a
strong committee of three or five trust
ed laymen to coordinate forces, SEN
timent, purpose; and then, if we can
maintain the present awakened sense
of danger, the rest will almost accom-
Iplish itself"
Charles Stewart Smith presided over
the meeting. Apram s.. Hewitt. in the
course of an address, frequently inter-
rupted by applause, said:
1.-THE limit OF public abuse has been
Preached. Some of the men on the
fTammany committee are entitled 20
our sympathy. but more to our COM
m~lseration. If they do their duty they
strike a fatal blow at Tammany, and
if they do not they lose their standing
in the community. If there had been
any sincerity on Mr.. Cookers part the
committee YOU never have been ap-
pointed.
THE responsibility for the conditions
here today belongs primarily to the po-
lice. In the last analysis, if things go
wrong, the responsibility rests with the
mayor
Mr.. Hewitt told how he treated i'm
morality when he was mayor.
Il sent for Chief of Police Murray"
he said, and told him that if he could
mot close up evil resorts ito ait least COW
Ter them up. l told him the places must
be closed. l asked Chief Murray if he
were a rich man. He said he was
worth $500, 600 and never had any bust
mess blu that of policeman. I asked him
where he got it. He said he had friends
i'm Wall street who gave him opportuni-
tiles.
Il had the president of the police
hoard call on me and asked him about
the corruption. He told me to let it
Ialone-Td only stir up a hornets nest
and blast my political future. He told
me the truth about that.
While l was mayor for two years,
New York was a respectable city, ex-
Iternally at least. l had no power but
the sentiment of the people behind me-"
Rev. DR.. Paddock, representing BfSh-
lop Potter, said:
II know of men and women on the
least sid who have one to the police
with their complaints only to be told
to get out of the district if they did
mot like conditions there. l know of
lmen and women who have been driven
from their homes and businesses by
those self same conditions. They have
been threatened with persecution if they
lshould dare to come to the pro-cathe-
idral and submit their complaints"
The meeting was adjourned to re-as-
Isemble at the call OF the chairman, who
Twill appoint the cimmittee of fifteen
later.