The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-22
NO R WITH ODELL
SENATOR PLATT DECLARES HIS
VIEWS ON POLICE LEGISLATION.
Governor Oden Holds Different Ones,
but There WIFE BE No Discord Aris-
ing from This Condition.

NEW YORK, March Ex-senator Thomas
c. Platt tonight gave out the following
statement concerning police legislation:
Some newspapers are trying to make a
quarrel between Governor Odell and my
self. They will not succeed. While have
decided views about police legislation, the
Governor is an honest and capable man,
whose only desire is to do what he believes
TO be best, and no difference of opinion
about any question of policy can disturb
the relations which have existed between
us for so many years. AS so much has
been said about police legislation. 1t seems
to me proper that L should state my own
position. The laws against gambling, dis
orderly resorts, sales of liquor under pro-
hibited conditions and other laws for the
suppression of vice in the city of New
York are not enforced by the police. The
police appear to be protecting the law
breakers. Such protection can only be
explained on the theory that money is being
paid therefor by iawbreakers. The con-
ditions have become so bad that citizens
have been forced to organize a committee
TO do the work which ought TO be done by
the police. This is employing It's
own detectives. The necessity for such a
and the protection OF vice ana
CRIME by the police have been conclusively
demonstrated to my mind by the success
full raids upon gambling houses and pool
rooms recently made by the district attor-
ney and the committee. 1t is evident that
such illegal resorts as gambling houses and
DOOlEOOI0S CdIlflOl eAlSl Unless Their loCdlAOn
and the facilities which they offer are gen.
orally known, and the claim made by the
high police officials that hey are unable
to suppress illegal resorts which are known
to the driver of every cab is obviously alb
surd.
The police legislation enacted at the
present session of the Legislature was
thought by some to be an adequate remedy
for the evils then existing. The only effect
OF this legislation seems to have been TO
increase the malign ineficiency of the po-
lice force as an agency for the encourage
ment of crime and the collection of money
from criminals. / do not understand that
the Governor takes issue with me upon any
of the facts above stated. / understand
that he does not desire to propose addi-
tional police legislation for the city of New
York during the present session OF the Leg
islature because the promotion by him OF
any new legislation at this session would
place him In a more or less antagonistic
position to the views expressed by him in
his first message to the Legislature, and
because If the citizens of New York city
do not like police blackmail their best rem
edy is to be found not by an appeal to the
Legislature, but at the polls.
THE Governor considers these objections
to additional police legislation at this ses-
sion of the Legislature sound. / do not.
This is the only difference between us. In
the near future there probably will be a
conference of some leaders of the Repub-
lican party. [ have confidence in the wis
dom of these leaders. l have no interest
in this matter except to advance what
seems to me for the public good. l have
no pride of opinion with respect to this
conclusion which may be reached at such
q conference, and assume that the Gov
ernor will not be entirely uninfiuenced by
the views of the leaders OF his party