New-York tribune., 1900-11-19
ALL AVOW THEIR SINCERITY.
CRoKER's COMMITTEE PROTEST THAT
THEY WILL MAKE AN HONEST
CRUSADE.

The individual members of the Anti-Vice Com
| mittee appofnted by Tammany Hall had little
| IN say Yesterday Each one when seen solemn
| ly declared his sincerity in this movement.
| Lewis Nixon and John w. Keller. who appear
to be the leaders in the movement, declared that
no stone would be left unturned, and that vice
would be probed to the bottom. They said thar
the meetings Of the committee would be open.
and that any one at liberty to come in and
hear what was said and to present any evidence
he might have. They added that Bishop Pot
ter Dr. Parkhurst and others who have been
leaders in the movement for the suppression OF
vice would be urged to come forward and sub
nit evidence Bishop Potter has already de-
clared that he will IN no way cooperate with
this committee, whose insncerity is so palpab BILE.
When this was called to the attention OF Mr..
Keller he said that despite this the committee
would go ahead and secure evidence upon its
own hook.
None of Mr. Croker's vice committee dropped
in at the Democratic Club. although John w.
Keller member of the vice committee is presi-
dent of the club The committee will hold
meeting al o'clock this afternoon, in the office
of Lewis Nixon, at No 253 Broadway, to effect
WAYS and means by which to bring about a sup
preston of vice on the East Side. The mem
bers Of the committee did nothing outwardly
yesterday. but it was reported that the commit
man who is thoroughly conversant with the vice
situation on the East Side to get evidence upon
which the committee can begin work as soon
as the first meeting is called. The committee
will elect NJ. Marley PlatZek a member to-day to
fill the vacancy caused by the declnation of John
J. Scannell TO serve John w. Keller yesterday
vehemently denied that the committee appointed
by Tammany Hall was a bluff committee.
II believe honestly said Mr., Keller, that this
committee is on the level. We going first
to stop this East Side abuse. There seems to
be no doubt about the existence of 1t. AS for
the existence of the social evil in the tenement
houses, 1 believe myself that this is exaggerated.
So far / know the committee will go to the
limit to stop the outrages. We will also stop
further nfractions of the law in that part OF
town. How much further the committee will
go will have to be developed but do not see
how it stop short of the absolute suppress
sion of that sort OF vice. This committee is also
interested in proving the existence of gam bling
houses, as we'll that of disorderly houses and
the Haunting of the social evil in the public
streets 1t must be understood. however, that
this committee has no power to subpoena wit
nesses cause arrests The best we can hope
to do is to get the evidence and then force the
legal authorities to take action. If find a
disposition upon the part of any legal authority
to shield any sort Of vice We shall proceed
against that authority. We shall leave nothing
undone to bring about a suppression Of these
fragrant forms of vice"
Colonel Michael C. Murphy, another member
Of the committee. said: I'VE have asked Mr..
Straus and whoever else is interested in any
way in stamping out vice in this city to meet
with Monday. We will take the prelim-
mary steps looking to vigorous action My ad-
vice would be to begin with the most important
thing, and that is the immortality on the East
but this committee will be thorough painstak-
ing and will not falter."
The other members of the committee talked in
the same way.