New-York tribune., 1901-01-15
AFTER SUPPRESSION WHAT?
VICE PROBLEM DISCUSSED BY BISHOP
POTTER AND OTHERS BEFORE
THE BROOKLYN GET To-
GETHER CLUB.

Both of the factors in the regeneration of New
York, which has begun were represented last
night at the meeting of the Get Together Club at
the Hotel ST. George, Brooklyn, where after
light dinner the remainder of the evening was
spent by two hundred more enthusiastic young
men in a discussion Of the vice problem
William H. Baldwin, jr.. chairman of the Commit
tee of Fifteen, spoke of the first steps, the sup
preston of vice. the cleaning OF the Streets as
he put it. Bishop Potter spoke OF the cleansing
and right direction of the spring of human con-
duct the education of the civic conscience and in
stilling Of right motives and ideals in the
Both speakers touched upon the magnitude OF the
problem and the apparent futility of spasmodic
effort, but at the same time expressed the belief
that the present movement which would
be allowed 10 wane until it's purpose had been
accomplshed-even If it should take years.
Bishop Henry C. Potter presided Referring TO
written expression of opinion which had been
taken. regarding the admission OF women to future
meetings of the club he opened by saying
NO matter what YOU may do here tonight.
the time will come when the counsels of both
sexes will be considered especially In sociological
and moral problems
Bishop Potter's first utterance upon the subject
of the evening, which was The Anti-vce Crusade:
After Suppression-What showed that he had
little hope of suppression until the more funda-
mental regeneration OF the public conscience and
the transformation of conditions had been accom-
plished He said:
II had framed the subject for tonight l should
Crusade: Before suppressionGWhat?' - for I con-
less: Tess: gentlemen have only the smallest expecta
tlons or mere suppression have met profound
ineredulity OF the power OF any mechanism In
anything to teach. is achieved by touching the
springs OF human conduct. To merely drive any
physician should treat an eruption by applying
something which should drive it into the cfrcula-
The Bishop then referred to account in an even
ing paper Of the conclusion of the bakers strike and
OF the cry OF some one in Hester-st crowd when
the union bread label referred to- What we
want is label of morality for tenement
houses" Although that might be fanciful said the
Bishop the cry of hope. The people that
represented in that crowd were those who
should be stirred up. Until you have got down
among them" he said, you cannot accomplish
much''
President Baldwin of the Long Island Railroad
and the chairman of the Committee OF Fifteen
spoke the committee. Its Origin, Scope and
Purpose" He frequently interrupted by ap
pause and by eXclamations of Hear "Heari'
from Bishop Potter and the others. He spoke of
the serious evils on the East Side where ignorance
is rife and said he did start in the quest with
any malice. but with the deepest sense of pity for
those who suffering These poor people. he
said have the immediate suffering. but the whole
body polite is suffering. He did approach the
subject from the point of partsanship. he said.
and he believed any possible suspicion OF partisan
ship would mean ruin The day that 1t appears
of the members OF the committee will resign
he said. He deprecated any sensatonalism, and
said his purpose Is to proceed in most cold,
careful pertinacous. persistent 10 stop the
trade in vice to stop pulling in TO change the
conditions Our duty, the duty of commit
tee" he said. us to clean the streets to In
struct in virtue to usurp Bishop Potter's work
Our duty is let the sunlight in. that when he
and others plant the seeds there may be some
chance for the seeds to grow" or the need of
persistence he said,
The vast public in New-York has high and noble
aims. But the great difficulty in the past has been
that the people get tired of these movements
Now, We have got to stay and work and work, and
will do IT in the next-or the next, Now have
started must accomplish end. Nothing can
intervene TO stop l feel that New-York is about
upon It's greatest period of morality. feel
that the leaders know how TO avoid error and
when they move it will be in a proper and reason
able
Bishop Potter was obliged to leave after Mr. Bald
wins speech. and Robert c. Ogden. of Wanama-
He first introduced Henry George, jr, whose topic
"Who Are the Crminals?" He made Single
Tax speech
DR.. Josiah Strong. director OF the New-Yorl Mu-
scum of Social Econo ny. spoke Visual Educa-
tion in Cvics": Milo r. Maltbie Editor OF "Munci--
pal Affairs" upon Municipal Ideals Realized" and
J. n. Bogert State organizer of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, upon What Labor Wants."