The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-06
New York tn. Di-reputnbIe city.


New York. the DisreputabIe city.
For the last ten years Mr.. Josiah
Flynt. whose name is now becoming
we'll known to students of sociology
has been investigating the ways OF what
he calls the Under World '-otherwise
the world of crooks hoboes. and
guns" He has done this not after the
manner of professional social econo-
mist. but in the guise of citizen OF the
Under World" and his Investigations
have aroused so little suspicion that
even now he is not known to that world
as college graduate and a writer for
the magazines. but retains his assumed
character of hobo. He has naturally
discovered numerous facts which are
not recorded by the average sociologist,
and some of these are Incorporated in
an article in 'McClures Magazine for
April, under the title, York A Dis
honest City" This article contains
statements about the police and detec-
tive force of New York, and its munich
pal government, which are absolutely
true; which everyone who has lived for
six months in the city knows to be true;
and which, because of their revelation
of certain discreditable facts. have
proved extremely unpalatable to the
people responsible for those facts. On
the strength of their displeasure they
have had the assurance to issue sub
poena to call Mr.. Flynt TO account for
telling the truth about them.
The material Of Mr.. Flynts article
is not wholly new, some of it having
been used in a more indirect fashion in
the authors former works, Powers
That Prey and "Tramping With
Tramps" He has never made any Sc
cret of his discoveries concerning the
New York Police Department, nor has
he been at all hesitant in telling his
readers how that organization is re-
garded by the guns" and ''hoboes"
whom it is supposed to keep in order.
The material of which he has made this
casual and indirect use is now gathered
into a special article on the subject.
containing much other information not
before given to the public. In view of
the fact that he is not a member of
the Committee of Five, or of Fifteen.
or of any other reform organization.
but is an independent investigator, with
no stake in the matter. the work of Mr..
Flynt has peculiar value. The open
ing paragraph OF his article, although it
contains revelation which is likely
TO startle the average reader. is really
not half as curious as the conclusion to
which it leads. Mr.. Flynt says:
IL.
City, or York, the Under World prefers
TO call il, is a who used TO he one of the
Powers that Prey. His photograph a known
thief may still be seen in Chicago and he is
recognized 10y il, from time to time when
travelling Powers that Rule visit New York
He IL generally tc be found about eleven O'Clock
at night in uptown haunts. where he 'rubbers'
around. makes pinch occasionally, keeps track
of newcomers in the haunts. ana takes in as
much scale his position allows. From the
Lonbroso point Of view, he would hardly be
picked out for 'ex-gun.' He il intelligent
has good manners, and might pass in the street
for ordinary 81 affairs. With those who
are able to call the turn on him he talks and
acts Il his history were known since
he left the cradle. Until convinced that the
turn be called him, he is likely to be
suspicious aud uncommnnicative.
Il met him under circumstances which gave
him the right to suppose that his record was
known to me- but he determined to feel
me out. if he could before taking too much for
granted. One of the first questions ] put to him
49,
We've got the guns pretty wall on the run
he replied. looked at him and smiled lie
looked at me in return. and finally also smiled.
" i mean, he said. changing his tone, that
they're leaving town TO go to the different
Sorts Understand don't youy
II nodded my bead. and the conversation DRIFT
cd of into discussion in regard to the present
system by which the guns watched over
in the metropolis. and soon after we separated
The man was evidently not comfortable in my
cOmpany-he knew almost nothing about me
and did 10 dptaiu him Further
more he said that he had to make plant
in hotel for ali night, and he in a hurry.
Il have referred to him. and more particularly
10 his remark about having the guns the run,
because he is representative Of the present police
regime in New York City. / do not mean for an
instant that the entire police force is COM
posed OF ex-guns; the man that ! know may
lie the only one although the Under World says
not; but he is typical in that lie wanted to make
He believe that the police Of New York really
have the guns OF the city under their control,
and are successfully protecting the citizens from
them lie knows. his superiors know, and the
guns themselves know that New York is. for
all practical purposes open to graiters
it has been at any time during the last years,
and il is because the Powers that Rule try to
bluf the public into thinking that they
doing their utmost to keep the town shut, when
they are not, that the Under World calls New
York dishonest city"
1t will be noticed that the plquancy Of
this mans writing consists partly in
the very frank Interpretation which he
is able to give Of the opinions enter
tanned by the people OF the Under
World regarding the people who are
supposed to be their rulers. Their ideas
on this subject, of course. are not off,
cially Of any value, but practically they
are considerably significant, for If a
chief OF police really has the thief on
the run, the thief is liable to know it,
The fact that the prominent person in
question is an "ex-gun," while ii may
shock the average reader, is not half as
unfortunate as the fact that while os-
tensibly protecting the city, he and his
colleagues are doing nothing of the
kind. The old proverb runs, 'set thief
TO catch thief but obviously that VIII
be Of no use if the thief only pretends
10 do his work, and in reality takes pay
from his employer and his supposed en-
envy at the same time.
Dir. Flynt states without qualification
that the New York Police Department
does precisely this. and that not all Of
those who do it have the excuse Of be-
ing ex-members OF the criminal frater-
nifty. He says:
mo one smiles more broadly than the gun
ghen Of the Powers that Rule goes before |
Grand Jury Assembly Investigating Com
Ifittee and ssys that he has no personal knowl- |
edge Of certain joints and no one il better
informed than the gun Of how much the Front
Office could tell II il wanted 10. lie docs not
bane the Powers that Rule for Leeufno THAR