The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-09

en- outside the regular houses of prostitu-
ton. There are scores of these room
ers' and it was evidently the idea that
all should pay. Gardner is very close to
Mayor Ames, being assistant in the
doctors private Third street office, &C
cording to the city directory. He wears a
police star but is not on the police pay
roll, his salary, If any, being paid from
DR.. Ames privy purse. Shortly after the
first of the year Gardner was relieved
from duty as collector but continued to
wear his star and to draw salary from
somewhere. He boosted at this time that
they didn't dare to let him out altogether
because he knew too much. It may be to
Gardeners interest to tell all he knows
If the grand jury will permit him to do so.
Since Gardner was deposed as collec-
tor the monthly tribute 'has been placed
by each contributor in an envelope,
marked simply with certain number.
The packet has then been handed over the
counter Of Washington avenue store
operated by man who has received vari-
Gus marks of favor from the administra-
ton both for himself and for his brother.
The official announcement of the change
In the method Of collecting is reported to
have been made to the women by a.
brother Of this Washington avenue man.
On his rounds of the "roomers" he is
understood to have been accompanied by
two city detectives who vouched for him
as speaking with authority. The income
from this source alone at Sis month per
contributor would be at least $4,000 a
year for the collector were he allowed
to keep it all. .@-
There is also reported to have been a
graft instituted when the keepers of
houses of prostitution were put on a
basis of fines every other month instead
of each month. 49,
These 'grafts''-the "big mitt." the
"roomers" and the houses-are the lead
ing ones which are peculiar to this ad-
ministration which has all the others of
It's immediate predecessors. There have
| been, Of course, large gratis worked
for short time, as for instance for
"privileges" during state fair week, but
the main game-that of organization pay
ing steadily to organization-has been as
outlined above. Individually certain plain
clothes men are known to have done
things indicating that they either "stood
inp@ with the pickpockets and other crooks
before the latter went to work or "shook
them down" afterward. AS a matter of
fact it is well established that no crook
or organization of crooks can operate long
in any city without the connivance of the
police.
Corruption Overreached Itself.
The gravest element of danger to those
who have been accepting hush money or
extorting blackmail lies in the varied
character and general cussedness'' of
those who have paid. AS general thing
representatives of the permanent sport
ing element" Of Minneapolis expect to
pay the city administration or somebody
named by the administration for the privi-
lege Of operating. This permanent Gle
ment possesses a well developed sense Of
honor according to It's lights. It's motto
Is, Give every man show for his
money" and what vices are fostered by
this element are not disguised. They ap-
pear for what they are and every man
who goes against them does so with his
eyes open. It is when more or less free
rein has been given this permanent eIe-
ment that the city has been easy or
tight" under previous Administrations
In contrast with previous definitions of
easy there have sprung up ii Minne-
apolts of late various gangs Of the lowest
classes of human carnfvora. These are
degraded, dirty crirninals, whose proudest
accomplishment is the getting of a mans
money without giving him the ghost of
q SHOW II the crude confidence game
fails to work, there are always the
Knockout drops" or the sandbag to fall
back upon and they have been freely used.
Beside such men as these the ordinary
gambler or average craftsman looms I'm
| like proud thoroughbred beside a coyote.
When they undertook compact with
men OF this low type, the corrupt police