The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27
EXPERT GRAFTER'S OPINION.
ERefOrm'' Fails because Ia Works
Only as Election Draws Nigh.

Josiah Flynt, in Independent.
Ny knowledge Of reform in New York
was gained some months ago. during a ten
weeks investigation of the police and their
collision with protected crime and vice
Ii was by no means my first introduction
TO the police department-we have been
acquainted for several years-but it was
my maiden experience with a reform move
ment My interest in the experience was
purely a professional one. my duty being
merely 10 make report concerning certain
matters; but II was very instructive TO
work under the auspices that / did. and
number OF new points or view We're re-
|ealed 10 me. The same ex-bank Tobber
VINO helped me later in Philadelphia WAS
also an assistant in the investigation in
New York. When the investigation was
hnished we bad talk about our finding.
ana In the course OF the conversation L said
TO him something like this:
lou have looked over the city pretty
carefully from two absolutely opposite
sides You used TO know tx as an expert
thler and burglar and, as you say. you
helped 10 make it crooked and bad. You
knew II IN Tweed's time. when the situa-
Ilon was considered extremely criminal.
during the last few weeks you have had
a look at IL from new point OF view-yOu
nave peen employed by the reform side.
now tell me frankly what conclusions you
nave come TO, after both experiences as to
ne pest way 10 go TO work and stop public
0 OF policemen, etc, from grating.
=
must have given you some ideas on tins
subject, and our recent work together has
propaDly also suggested things TO you"
Inc ola man heSltated a moment before
replying, and IL was evident that he was
trying 10 formulate a careful answer. He
finally spoke as follows:
The main thing L find fault with is that
reform gets tired out. I've seen il lie down
and go 10 sleep in every city in the United
states. As a rule IL never wakes up tilI
just before election time. Mind you, that
isn't saying that the fellows that go in
Tor reform amt on the level. i know
some OF EN- personally, and they're honest
men. But they are all so busy with their
own private affairs that they amt got any
time 10 fight graft except when there's 4
chance OF beating the fellows that have
My notion OF the right way 10 hurt the
graft is that you've got 10 keep hammering
away at il just as hard between elections
stop grating between elections, and why
should REFORM
But it is very difficult to get the neces-
sary money with which to fight the graft
ers after the refOrmers have suffered a
deIeat IN an election" j replied
mat true, but II don't spoil my no
tion, the old man continued. a lot OF
people say: Let the churches, the news
papers, the charitable societies and the
priests fight the grafters;. It's their job
That's all poppycock Since you and [
have been working together. have we heard
a single CRATER show any fear OF the
churches or the priests? Not on your life.
4 ork, and that young man called Glib
honey, in Philadelphia. Why? Because
these fellows get out and Eight EN- right Ia
their own hang-outs. IL the millionaires OF
New York and Philadelphia would give A
lot of fellows like Jerome and Gibboney
enough money 10 fight the grafters 10 a
standstill, and the grafters knew that the
mllionaireS meant TO keep on with the
battle they'd throw up the sponge. know
ii because I've been CRATER myself, and
also because you and / have heard them
talk during the reform hullaballoo hope
the reformers will get the offices this fall.
both in New York and Philadelphia. but
I'll bet you $50 that tho grafters will have
the offices again after the next election
comes around unless somebody shells out
money on a big enough scale TO scare 'em.
Crooked politicians and office holders are
like professional thieves-they're bold
bulls until they think you're really or their
trail and then they run like scared cats.
You'll never get reform 10 make 'em run
far until you stake il for keeps the way
you stake a national bank or the Standard
Oil Company. Put money into il regularly.
the way you put IL into bonds and stocks;
put wise guys on the track Of the officials
you think are crooked: punish 'em hard
when you've got 'em dead 10 rights, 10
matter whether they're district attorneys
or mayors and you'll clean up New York
and Philadelphia In a very short time.
You'll never clean 'em up. though, just
scrubbing out few dirty spots when cleo
ton time comes and reform happens 10
win. I'm an old thief, my friend, but I've
been honest long enough TO know that
what 1 tell you is straight goods"