New-York tribune., 1900-10-03
MAYUNITE AGAINST POLICE
OTHER DENOMINATIONS WILLING TO
AID BISHOP POTTER.

ONE PRESBYTERIAN CLERGYMAN sUG-
cEsTs A METHOD LOOKING TO PERAIA-
NE,NT REFORM IN THE POLICE BOARD.
There seem to be strong indications that the
clergymen Of the Protestant Episcopal Church
need not stand alone in the forthcoming effort
which they viii make TO compel the police of this
city to perform their duty more faithfully in the
suppression Of vice in the East Side tenement
house districts That Bishop Potter and his
clergy can have the cooperation of ministers Of
other denominations, If they want it, admits of
little doubt This has been ascertained both
through personal investigation by Tribune re-
Yorter and by a food of letters sent by men of
nearly all denominations to the Rev. Robert L.
Paddock, Of the Pro-Cathedral in Stanton-st.
who was recently brutally insulted by the police
when he requested that they do their duty in
this respect within his parish.
Mr.. Paddock was quoted yesterday saying
that he had received a great number Of letters
from members Of nearly all denominations and
people of all conditions, wishing him success in
this movement. These encouraged the clergy
man TO add that when Bishop Potter acted IT
would doubtless be with the hearty support of
all classes and all denominations. To a Tribune
reporter James Yeareance, one Of the ruling eld-
ers Of the Presbyterian Church, said yesterday:
You may safely say that the Presbyterians of
and unreservedly with Bishop Potter's clergy in
any effort looking toward a morally clean city
Cooperation along those lines / think advisable
and feasible.
4 PLAN FOR PERMANENT REFORM
The Rev. Matthew Miller. pastor of Zion
Presbyterian Church. in East Forteth-st, was
not only confident that the Presbyterian clergy
would gladly join with those Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the movement, but he sug-
gested a scheme whereby a reform of police
methods might be made permanent. He said:
have watched many valiant and praise
worthy efforts at police reform in this city pro-
duce temporary result and then die away 1
think If the churches could be brought together
into some sort Of organization which could
demand in the name Of the Godfearing people
OF this city representation in the Board OF Ponce
Commissioners some permanent reform might
be accomplished. Why should the political par
ties alone be represented in this Board when
has Infinitely more to DO with morals than WIN MWlln
politics? If the churchmen Of all denominauons
should unite in demand that the Mayor should
appoint one Police Commissioner upon the rec
ommendation Of a united church organization,
he would be bold Mayor who would dare to
ignore that demand. Some change Of the city
charter the State laws might be needful be-
fore such reform could be inaugurated, but ]
think that could easily be accomplished if the
churches united TO demand it.
It might be urged that the Commissioner rep
resenting the churches would have only one
vote in the Board and therefore could accom-
plish little but 1 believe his moral influence
upon his fellow members would count for far
should persist despite his vote he could at least
expose that rascality, and fear of exposure will
do much. wish TO be clearly understood as not
holding the opinion that such a Police Com
missioner should Of necessity be a clergyman
There are plenty Of respected laymen in the
churches who could I'LL the place to perfection
The Baptists would not hold back either. II
their cooperation should be desired by Bishop
Potters clergy. The Rev. Edward S. Holloway
Of the West Thirty-third Street Baptist Church
told a Tribune reporter yesterday that bis sym
pathy was keen for Mr.. Paddock. and that he
Mr.. Holloway. would not ike TO be counted out
If any general movement should be undertaken
by the Baptist churches TO aid Mr. Paddock in
his fight TO protect the young from the con-
tamination OF the vicious
p ATTITUDE OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERGY.
The Roman Catholic clergy always throw their
weight the side Of moral purity, was strik-
ingIy proved recently by the successful efforts
which the Paulist Fathers made to keep the
notorious BILLY" McGlory out Of West Fifty
ninth-st Archbishop Corrigan was IN confer
ence with HIS vicar-general yesterday, and could
not be seen to ascertain his views the police
question but II was reported that he had decid-
ed to direct the Catholic clergyrnen TO do all
they could in checking the spread Of vice, par
ticularly the East Side and in the neighbor-
hood Of the Pro-Cathedral.
Professor Felix Adler Of the Society for Eth
cal Culture, Is president of organization
formed for the express purpose Of suppressing
vice upon the East Side. He has gathered much
evidence Of police corruption, ana VIII call on
Bishop Potter soon and can lend efficient aid.
The workers Of the University Settlements on
the East Side are also keenly alive 70 the posi-
bilities Of this general awakening the clergy
TO the criminal laxity of the polio. James B.
Reynolds is the head worker. He says he and
his associates are only waiting for Bishop Pot
ter to indicate what line Of attack he viii adopt,
and they will be ready TO aid him with almost
unlimited evidence
Inspector Cross and Captain Herihy, who
have precipitated this avalanche Of righteous in
dignation upon the police force by wantonly and
outra geously insulting the Rev Mr.. Paddock,
are reported to be trembling in their shoes hay-
ing been tipped off, from Police Headquarters
that If Bishop Potter presses charges against
them, they viii be reprimsnded and transferred
10 some outlying district of the city as conces-
sion To outraged public opinion Neither OF
them would say a word to reporters yesterday.
Their fate seems settled, for Bishop Potter IS a
man Of great determination, VINO never takes
oar wing ont q.