Evening star., 1901-11-18
II
Croker Trying to Mend His Political
Fences.
SOCIETY MAKING WAR ON Vice
A Movement to-. Secure a Local
Sutu
= Option Law.
WORK ON HALL OF RECORDS
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ship Of the democratic party, position
attained by him when he dictated policies
in the last state convention. He Is now
perfecting an agreement by which he hopes
to bind together the Mclaughlin organiza-
ton, Tammany Hall and those upstate
democratic remnants; that remain loyal to
former Senator Murphy. Hugh McLaugll-
| lin has not yet recovered from the shock
occasioned by the disaster that overlook
| his machine election day, but his bitterness
| toward Tammany is decreasing. Had he
| succeeded in carrying his county ticket, 1t
| is probable that Mclaughlin would have
cut loose from Croker. But fellow feel
| ing has made him less unkind. At the
| Democratic Club it is said that Croker has
| signified his willingness to let Mclaughlin
name the next candidate for governor,
| promising to make no protest even If called
| upon to support Bird s. Coler. This show
! of meekness, it is further said, has made
| it possible to bring about promise Of a
| working agreement between the Brooklyn
and New York democrats. Former Senator
| Murphy will give approval to the program.
| His consent was obtained at the Hoffman
| House the other day. Murphy will be able
| to swing the delegates from Rensselaer,, his
| home county, and he can control several
other small delegations. Westchester is
| thought to be loyal to Tammany. A battle
will be fought for control in Erie county,
with William F. Sheehan leading the Hill!
| forces.
War on Vice.
The Society for the Prevention of Crime,
| an organization which has in it Rev. DR..
| Charles H Parkhurst and Frank Moss, has
begun a campaign against vice along lines
heretofore never attempted. The new bat
tie is to be waged against forms of vice
which exist in this city at the present time
in aDhr-1-npip Stat h,1t WI oh
threaten to grow and polute the entire
community. The change In the policy of
the society has just been effected at a
meeting of its executive committee, COM
posed Of DR.. Parkhurst, Frank Moss,
Thaddeus D. Kennes0n and Frank Lugar.
Plans were made to begin immediate ac-
| ton. Dr. Parkhurst called the attention
of the committee to the fact that the mem
ten that, as the name of the society indi-
Gated, it should not only array itself
against forms of vice already existing in
the city, but march boldly into the enemy's
own country and stamp out other FORMS
If possible, upon the moment of their con-
ceptfon. AS in the past, Frank Moss will
be DR.. Parkhursts right t-hand man in car
rylng out the new policy. Exposures of
vice in. this city made during the recent
campaign convinced members Of the socie-
| ty that the time had come to strike.
"We believe" said Mr.. Lugar, "that the
public and the new city, officials are ready
to cooperate with us. Although we have
been contemplating this line Of action for
some time, We have been unable to take
tration which retires from Office on Janu-
airy 1 would not aid u.s.. It was evident to
us that until the co1lnSion between those in
| authority and the criminal class was wiped
out 1t was useless to do more than bs tie
with existing crime. After the beginning
of the new year we are confident Of having
the cooperation of city and state officials
from the police sergeant to Governor
Odell.''
Dr. Parkhurst would not say just how
he contemplates conducting the campaign
or what particular form Of vice he will
strike at first "It would not be a wise
policy said he. "to give our enemies an
inkling of our plans. Besides, this society
never makes public what it is going to do"
Local Option Bill.
A tentative sketch Of a bill to give local
option to New York city on the Sunday
opening question is being prepared by GER
tain men who took part in bringing about
the fusion of the anti-Tammany forces.
The general features Of the bill it is un-
derstood, meet with the approval of Gov
ernor Odell. 1t is also of such charac-
ter that the upstate republicans, it Is be-
lieved, can support it. without mourning the
dlsapproval of their constituents. Substan-
tally 1t will provide that at the elections
at which assemblymen are voted for the
citizens of cities of the first class may vote
yes or no on the question of permit
ting the saloons to open during certain
hours on Sunday. 1t is a matter for con-
slderation whether option in the matter
should be granted to assembly districts or
to local improvement districts. In the opin-
ion of some of those who have the matter
In hand the local Improvement district
would be more satisfactory unit than the
assembly district. Whether or not the
sale of spirituous liquors on Sunday should
be subject to option is undetermined The
bill will provide severe penalties for the
n 1rin
ing prohibited hours. Some Of the leaders
of the fusion movement, it was learned.
have been In communication with certain
republicans of influence up the state re-
gardng the matter The republican leaders
nave been made to see that unless the leg
islature does something to permit home
rule for the greater city, Mr.. Lows ad-
ministration will be handicapped. The
point was emphasized that the fusionists
have done their part In defeating Tam
many. and that 1t now remains for the up-
state. state republicans to make permanent the
results of the victory A. number of the
upstate leaders, It is said, see the force of
that view, and will do what they can con-
sistently, to bring about home rule for
new YORK city on the excise question.
Work ON Hall of Records.
The work on the $5,OOO.OO0 hall of rec
ords building is being held up in rather
peculiar manner. Tammany's pet archi-
tects, Horgan & Slattery, who were rail-
roaded INTO the e'Supertntendency OF the con-
struction Of the building. after the death of
John R. Thomas, TIE architect, have struck
a snag which MAJ make It impossible for
them to go ahead and pocket the fat fees.
Horgan & Slattery thnse far have been un
able to assume charge of the work for the
reason that Miss Hortehse Thomas. execu-
trix of her fathers WIFI, has refused to
turn over his plans ID them. Meantime, the
contractor, John Pierce. has been proceed
ing with the work ib{dagh the guidance of
blue prints in his HSssession, The Thomas
estate holds that .has the right under
the contract awataed to Mr.. Thomas to
designate the archffset Who shall carry the
work 20 completion and it is believed that
Mr., Pierce will bsnAbfs to struggle along
with his blue prints niftil the present city
be made to .rehukfEs Ks 1N1Sor Van wyck for
before the dead mag &aA in his grave. John
R, Thomas. who vas selected in the ad-
minstration of MaTot Strong to draw the
plans for the hall OF records, fell dead on
August % last year, and Mayor Van Wyck
convened the sinking fund commission
about the time the coroner was told of the
death. Then the mayor forced through a
resolution appointing Horgan & Siattery SUI
pervising architects Of the unfinished build
Ing, against the protests Of Controller CO.