New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-29
PLATZEK PROMISES SURPRISE.
TAAlNANY COMMITTEES REPORT TO-MOR-
ROW WILL BE STARTLING. HE SAYS


II. Marley Platzek. speaking for Richard Gro
ker's hand Of vice crusaders yesterday, became
exceedingly grave and earnest. Nj. P!atzek is
about the only ulsTnber Of this quintet that does
rot realize what { Joke this crusade on Tam
| uany's part is He talks as seriously as 4
judge, and there wasn't The flicker Of an eye
brow Or the ltremble Of a lip 10 tell that he re-
garded il as humorous. He prefaced his re-
marks with the declaration that the With Dis
rrict, which Martin Engels territory. is clean
and pure Mr.. Platzek continued:
Thare IS not d:sorderIy woman living in a
respectable tenement house in the With Dis
trlct. We got al the evidence necessary, and
took the proper action through the police. An
of7cer Is stationed in front Of every dtsorderly
mousse N the district, and every one who enters
Il Is warned OF lis character
This fell t-ippingly from the tongue as if the
sbsurd!ty Of II was not screamingly funny.
Some people might be inclined TO ask why the
police dp not raid the places instead Of acting
as danger signals. After this statement Mr..
/ PlatZek continued:
Then I any one enters they must take the
consequences We shall not attempt to antag-
oA-ze any other committee that may Try to
aio US, because we want all the evidence we can
get Our work has not been hipdered by the
TelusaIs We have met I cannot say what We
shall do IN regard TO the Chamber of Commerce
until have read the speeches and see who is
on the committee. 7 will have a talk with the
other members Of the committee soon. and we
Wall make report on work by Friday. We
have done practical thing in practical way.
We are not theorists. We are planning a move
that will surprise some but we are not ready to
announce II yet
This last was said with an air of mystery.
Mr.. Platzek said that he had not been in COM
munication with Richard Croker by cable.
When asked why, if Tammany could improve
the situation so soon, il could not have pre-
vented vice from becoming so bold. Mr.. PIatzek
answered soIemnly. I am a lawyer. I know
nothing about practical politics. I came into
this fight honestly, and I am dealing with a
condition as find il. I have no theories as 10
how the conditions came about"
MI PIatzek also solernnly issued warning
TO the Chamber Of Commerce Committee which
is 10 Work for the suppression OF vice. Let
them beware OF politics. said Mr.. Platzel, with
a stately majesty. If they want to make a
great moral crusade against vice in this city
/ am with them, ana every good citizen is with
them The moment they go in for politics how
ever l am against them. and the crusade will
fall TO the ground
Mr.. Platzek didn't stop 10 say whether the
mere fact that he would be against them would
De the sole cause for the blight Of the crusade
or whether other things would enter into it. but
continued: No politics! No politics! That
should be the slogan. Do you think that the
meeting VIII develop into q political movement -
asked Mr.. Placzek, anxiousIy.
The man questioned made this reply: Mr.,
Hewitt traced the responsibility for existing
conditions 10 the Mayor"
III won't DO" went on Mr. Platzek there
should be no politics in the movement"
How can the desired reforms be accorplis he'd
without getung rid OF the city authorities under
whom vice fourishes?"
Oh there are ways. sure there are
ways" Mr.. Platzek repeated
What are the ways?" he was asked
We haven't reached that point in our investi-
cations. Mr.. Plat2ek rejoined. Il am not offer
ing remedies. We must get at the facts first
There is politics in vice And besides most
Of the police captain are Republicans. They are
as responsible as the Democratic captains so
what is the use OF fighting vice on party lines ."