New-York tribune., 1903-03-24
GAZE MAYOR NO HELF
Saloon Men Ignored HIS Appeal
for Aid in RLackm0il Fight.

Mayor Low yesterday. IN letfer 10 IIle FNoIoli
Liquor Dealers Association. virtually chal-
Ienges them to purge themselves of the suspicion
that they are even now fostering the old system
Of blackmau He quotes the testimony of
uouor dealer to show that the association has
paid bIackrnan and is a secret body, bound by
an oath, and clearly sets before the dealers the
necessity OF their doing something to break up
blackuatl.
In letter 70 Henry Fuehrer, president of the
Germa n-Anerican Citizens League, or BrooK-
lyn. the Mayor placed himself squarely on rec
ord in favor Of high license. and, as was to %
expected the two deliverances have made the
liquor men exceedingly angry. They indulge IN
ell sorts Of threats about what will happen to
the fusion administration If the Mayor main
tsins this attitude. The letter to the Retail
LIQUOR Dealers Association is. addressed to
Mr. Gminder, the president. 1t says:
You complain that it is not fair to ask Sou 70
disprove persistent ruors sno as nop
question OF State policy that secfs ~ me tb. cy
As natter Saf In Sf = fsct DO not think that such
light exists without limitation: for the Mayor OF
h city ss f Is PE9'se Sc IL
question Of STATE pCicy his poweF TO Io6x
he Mayor confines himself to city Hs 2. or Fen 10
proper sphere remains unirnpalred. --,.,,-
to But you nso aaGtnsF dd ThicR REs Is not
letter. In my first message TO tne Boaro OF & -
the subject Of bIackmail, offered to eo-operate te
praotice pae eco fo an end and begged cOoeTs
ton OF the citizens in effort TO break II up: ne
ster1 IN he efort to punish prevent the
taking Of blackmail for the sale OF illegal pri'1-
Cannot fairly assurne this attitude to the police
and At the o sse f6. f tTne Pe Of the brbes which
believed that the police have been takns sR IN srs sne
well grounded reveal your association as not only
6Sns "a s b1 p1a as her doing it or attemn to II
now. despife the public Invitation Of the Mayor to
er x5h h m iR o9s ePsa6nf II
to complete reform of the Police foTee ana 4h 4be
force-so many Of whom are trying to DO tnelr
II such practices were easily capable Of proof
they could be easily broken up AZ taey are not
fgke cosnizance si Of rumors that bear, upon this
subject Sun IL in order I that aqsT my nor 1H Wholly ny
based on rumors let ask your attenton 70 tne
IN ths tris Of AdolPh Pfansn bsrtsRder end I'm in
following testimony given. After Christensen Ms 1.
had tese m oP that es i he %ss asked
questions by Mr District Attorney jerome:
TSentieth raSa PTecnct? Pre- Frsf3'' E@Yes
Is b6ans sef5st ST oaPR 9Rs E ,sns st.!
Q-Prior to the arrest of the bartender did you
o|was there not introduced at that meeting q
resolution in substance that heresfter business oe
r. I must answer the ouestion-there was no Ieso-
tie stand that we should support the adminIstra
doing. ''S1N '-4-'71
message in which ne said that this system Of black
n.aN must be broken up? Al understood tnat
Q@fs that the position you took before the
hs joahaf IS 'sS I 66s6R Poo 9ook money 10 the
o.And you opposed any understandi9E @ sta LIZ that
to The police for the privilege of Keeping open is
thar III A.-Well. I didn't exactly oppose It, but
liquor dealers. union We should try to stop it
Q-How long after that was your bartender ar
rested? A--WelL about two or three weeks,
Following this testimony. Justice Hinsdale, pre-
aTs not been ignorant Of, Of Ehst has Reea
70 ADMIT that were so STUPID as to not have
such knowledge. and we have administered the law
dition Of things that has prevailed here. and is
E = Ers oT Tbaf ths Ta foof eace
but It reveals one branch Of your organization as
naf GnF the known q the
Mayor for help in putting an end to 1t. but per.
Of its own members who was brave enough to
s ees tie ts Pa .Sor f E9Gf n the 0w 90
dent OF one Of YOUR locals with the following SEN
ever NAV ht be done BY indviduals throughout tfis
city. We do not know; but this organization as an
opposed to the payment Of blaokHah to the police
This testimony also reveals your organization as an
oath bound secret society What is there about your
business let ask. that necessitates such pre-
SUMPTION It is in the face of testimony like this
that you asked 10 dispose OF rumors that run
'on all fours' with such testimony.
To conclude. therefore: If citizens who
engaged IN q lawful occupa ton. you wish to call
upon ne. shall be glad to you at any time
that may be mutually convenient: but l cannot
you the representative of the Liquor Deal
erE' Association. apparently secret. oath hound
society. until the associa ton purges itself Of the
doubts raised by tine trial which have referred
TO- and by the rumors Of which ] have spoken. II
Il does not seem 70 you worth while. proper. to
60 this. l think judicial inquiry may well be set
foot TO determine the correctness or incorrect
ness Of these disqualifying rumors. need not say
that would be more pleased than to have
them shown 10 he wholly without foundation.