New-York tribune., 1902-05-05
BLACKMAIL OF PEDLERS.
RESULT OF .NR. REYNOLDS'S
INQUIRY.
POLICE AND A SECRET ORGANIZATION
EACH GETTING A RAKE OFF"
FROM THE PUSHCART MEN.

the
fact gained from the Investigations James B.
Reynolds, Mayor Lows secretary, has just COM
pleted Of the pushcart situation in the Ghetto.
This investigation. carried secretly for many
weeks, has revealed a condition OF affairs un-
suspected even by the reform government. Not
merely have the investigators discovered in
cGltestible evidences of police corruption but
they have also shown that back of the push
cart is association as powerful as that
OF the liquor dealers, which each pushcart
must belong If he would escape perse-
cution. to which he pays a weekly stipend: an
organization which meets weekly and exercises
a watchful control over the trade. But not
merely must the pushcart pay % cents
weekly 20 the association; besides this there is
the protection fee for the police. This too. is
a fixed sum. licensed pushcart pedler,
who desires to occupy a stand on Grand or Hes
ter-sts the best locations, must pay ; cents q
week If unlicensed-that is if he is doing bust
ness iHegauy-10 cents is demanded for police
protection This sum is paid weekly to a col
1ectOr. The sum seems insignificant, and yet
over $500 was received from this source alone
during the holidays a year ago.
The investigation which Mr. Reynolds has
carried on has been done through the Citizens
Union district organization Of which he is
leader. Men have been employed 10 watch the
different stands and to shadow the police. and
day.
TRICK TRIED ON MR. WILCOX
The origin OF the investigation is Of particu-
tar interest as IL illustrates the way in which
apparently innocent means are employed as
basis for blackmaf. Some months ago. far in
advance OF the holidays, q man called on Park
Commissioner Wilcox and represented himself
rs officer IN the pushcart mems organization
Il have come to you" said the stranger. ''to
ask you what policy viii be observed toward the
pedlers who sell IN the parks. This privilege is
usually accorded to the Hebrews during the
season"
After some conversation the Commissioner
Seemed to be convinced Of the mans good faith
Wont you just give me a paper, signed by
yourself. so that ] convince my people
everything will be all right" asked the stranger
Then, noticing the hesitation in the Commits
fioners face. he added: IF you have any doubt
about me just ask Mr.. Reynolds. He knows I
am all right"
"Oh, does hep" said the Commissioner. Then
he excused himself, and, going into the next
room, called up Mr.. Reynolds and asked about
the man, explaining the circumstances.
"Oh, yes" was the answer, i know the gen.
tleman. I can't calculate exactly how much he
would be able 70 collect on the strength OF such
a letter. but it would mean a handy sum to
him"
of the mans visit was TO secure a letter on the
strength Of which he could later collect black
mail as the alleged representative of the admin
fstration.
This incident aroused Mr. Reynolds to the
dangers TO be expected during the holiday sea-
son. The pushcart pedlers had from time i'm
memorial paid their price for their privileges,
and IL soon became apparent that an effort
would be made 10 collect this year. According
ly, placed in Hester-st. to follow the
movements of the police and the pedlers. This
watcher wandered in and out among the push
cart pedlers. native Of the district under
standing the language and the customs Of the
pedlers. he soon began 10 hear the whispers Of
the system. to collect words and phrases that
led him TO believe that there existed an organ
iZed system Of cash payment for protection. He
saw the carts Of certain pedlers driven away
from stands in Hester-st by the police who
permitted others to stand in their places. From
some of the friends he made he found that those
driven away We're the pedlers who had not
Joined the association de organization" as il
IS called.
BLACKMAILERS BECAME SUSPICIOUS.
Slowly he came to hear the talk about the col
7ector. Certain individuals were pointed out to
him the agents whom the weekly fee of
five ten cents paid. He had made good
progress in his investigation when in some
fashion suspicion was directed toward him. and
all OF sudden he was Stunned. This took place
about week before the holiday season began.
Then a curious incident occurred. Blackmail
suddenly ceased-that is, in Hester-s st. Day after
day the watcher Went up and down Hester-st
but not sign Of a collector was seen. Other
watchers returned with the story Hester
st yielded $500 during the holidays alone last
year. This year II WAS diVidendless region.
The collectors who had been busy the year be-
fore admitted that they had heard Of a cent
being collected this year.
This applied to Hester-st. The significant fact
that block two further up.
ST, there collection galore. Here the 10
cents collected for the police. the p cents
for the association, and in addition there was
the pushcart pedler stood. For some time IL
had been wondered why the oldtime hard feel
ing between the Grand-st. merchant and the
pedler had ceased. Then came the appeal Of the
pushcart, pedlers TO the Mayor When they
marched down in a body 10 the CITY Hall cer-
tain ambassadors Of the storekeepers appeared
TO plead their cause also. Gradually II lea ked
out that there was -'rakeoh" for the store
keepers also.
But at the end OF the holidays there was an
other surprising occurrence The Grand-st ned
1ers who had paid all their assessments and
prospered were suddenly attacked by the notice
On Saturday the attack made. the carts
were scattered and the surprised and indignant
pushcart peolers were put 10 fight. police
who asked what the cause of the dis
turbance was replied:
There's some collecting goin' on here some
where Somebody's gettin' money and n aIn't
me. kinder thought IL / drove them off Some
one might squeal on the collector" This little
simply confirmed his previous observations
MR.. REYNOLDS SATISFIED.
The Investigation has not been a cursory one
Affidavits have been collected and yesterday
afternoon Mr. Reynolds received a final report
from his investigators. This report was one
which was eminentiy satisfactory Concerning