Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-05
EvictinE the Vicious.

The power of the city government of New
York to purify the slums and particularly
the "red-light district was demonstrated
yesterday, when, in obedience to the orders
of the police. the proprietors and managers
OF the low resorts in that district moved
out by scores. The scene is described
dramatic. 1t was savage indictment of
Tammany Hall. The evils which were
abated by the exodus of yesterday have
existed for many months. in some places
fo~ many years. unmolested A distinct
bargain prevailed between the conductors
of these resorts and the police. whereby
the former were immune from molestation
as long as they paid for protection. Until
the word was given from high place that
the evil must be abated, this bargain was
scrupulously kept by the police authorities
When the voice of the big boss broke
silence, after one defeat and in the shadow
of greater political menace. there was
hustling for reform. At first the vicious
classes were loath to believe that the COM
mand could be sincere They had heard
many times that the municipal authorities
were about to raid them, but they accepted
the tip with wink and made sure Of the
next regular payment. When the city be-
came wide-open after the stringcncy caused
by the LeXow agitation and later by Police
Commissioner Roosevelt's determination to
enforce the laws, this feeling Of security
was strengthened and the dive keepers were
confident that there would be no disturb
arce Of the mutually profitable understand
ing between them and the police.
Their amazement when police captain
actually had the nerve to GUST them from
their places. therefore. may be imagined.
What were the police good for If not to be
bribed? Why should mayor shrink before
the Indictment of a mere bishop? Had not
the big boss uttered words Of moral sugges-
ton before and whispered the pass word in
the next breath?
And now they are out, the ''red-light dis
trict Is closed. and the city is wondering
here the reform will end. 1t ought not to
end until Tammany. the organization that
could have done this years ago and did
Lot has been forever crushed political
factor in New York. 1t should not stop
with one neighborhood from which the
outcasts may merely move into another
but it should proceed until it has covered
every quarter of the town, until decency
has been established the rule, from
which the law toierates no departure 1t
should not pause to wonder what has be-
, come of the wretched people who moved
yesterday out of the East Side slums be-
cause comparative morality is to be the
rule there hereafter. 1t should not hesi-
tate merely because some of these Of
tenders may be merely driven from one
city 10 another.
1t should proceed relentlessly. to make
New York clean. and to demonstrate that
there is no place in all the metropolis for
luwbreakers, or evil doors, or bribers. or
corruptionists OF gamblers, or thieves, or
thugs, long as the law exists to punish
them and the force is at hand to apprehend
them. Each city must solve it's own prob
lens of this character and when all cities
learn this lesson and proceed fearlessly to
solve the problems. the standard of morality
and right living will rise and continue to
rise in every quarter.