Arizona republican., 1903-03-30

were in colluson with the pirates who
ruled them. They desired a rotten gov
eminent, and got what they wanted.
The real recognition OF the diseased
condition of the municipality came
about after the shocking disclosures of
the Lexow legislative investigating
committee in 1894 when reform move
ment wrested the control Of New York
City from the political organization
that had prostituted it. The govern
ment that followed VS. well-meaning,
but it lacked virility and knowledge.
1t did not attract the masses. 1t was
a remedial measure but not strong
enough. There was Z relapse.
The story of what happened after the
relapse will serve as good history OF
misrule in New York in former as well
as in later days. The pictures may
vary in detail but the same system
brought them into being. The old par
ty was restored to power. Compersa-
ton was needed for the leanness of two
years, and the newly elected and APP
pointed authorities permitted, if they
did not actually authorize, Il wide
open" city. Any man with money
could violate any law. whether of the
statute books or the decalogue. The
political bosses became millionaires
high police officials We're as the feudal
bHrons Of medieval England, with
power almost of life and death, and no
mans property and no woman's homer
was safe.
No attempt was made to enforce the
law properly. AS q matter of fact all
no 10
the breach than in the observance.
Grand juries were drawn in the inter-
| est of those who controlled the vice
and crime syndicates. The merchants
were at the mercy OF the inspectors OF
the different departments, and in ev-
cry rank of life from the millionaire
householder to the push-cart peddler
tribute was demanded and in most in
stances paid.
! Mr.. Jerome-hc was justice Of the
court of special sessions then-saw a
policeman stop a fight on the street
He asked why an arrest was not made
and was told that the men were fol-
lowers of Il certain dictrict leader. a
couple of days later a friendly police
captain said the officer did just right.
But surprising a policeman saw i
crime committed Justice jerome ask
ed. "and a district leader ordered him
to make 10 arrest, what would he dc
them"
Wei" replied the police captain Sc
rious!y, " he would have to decide 70,
himself. 1t would be a very embar-
RAISING position for any policeman tc
be in
Think of it! Embarrassing for AZ
officer of the law, sworn to do his duty
10 have to fulfil his obligations to his
employers and to mis- conscience. Jus
ranking sense of personal injury al
the wrong-doing of the official masters
of the citys welfare, he said to himself
as he walked away:
1T would BE- lauehable, if it were not
so sad
IN the we'll TODD neighborhoods Tx
residents paid the police to maintain
their inviolability. In the poorer To-
calities houses of iil-fame polluted the
Surroundings and paid tribute accord
ing to their receipts. Vicious resort:
multiplied. Disorderly houses estab
lished themselves as recruiting station:
in crowded tenements. 1t was not un
usual to see the women of those place:
plying their trades openly in the sigi,
of children end young girls going t
and returning from school or work
Appeal to the authorities brought ridi
Guile and abuse. and sometimes assau:t
1t was almost impossible to cut the 70,
tape of the police courts and get near.
to the magistrates than the cour
Gle Of in
with the police. and nearly all of whom
owed their places to the district leade:
, Mr.. Jerome has instituted a change
He has established himself right in III
heart of the poorest section of the city
and there from carly morning until lat
at niGht-the doors are never closed
either he or one of his assistants i
: within reach, with ears open to an
story of oppression or distress.
> Les than three years ago an indus
trious tailor going home to dinner sa,
his fourteen-year- old daughter forcibl
carried into disCrderly resort in tn
tenement in which he lived. Crazy wit
: rage and anguish he ran to the nearb
police station and demanded that hi
: daughter be rescued. He was not re
Z spectful enough to please the sergean
f in charge-since dead and lit is hoped
: reaping his reward-and met with
surly rebuff.
2 Cant You see I am busy? Get to-
$ out of here" vas all the, sympathy &C
/ corded to him.
2 The man, Lithuanian, without none
= and with no vote to obtain political rec
: ognition, was too excited to remembe
: the social difference between a polio
Y sergeant and n tailor. and he expresse
. his thoughts about pandcrcrs in ger
n eral and the police force in particula
= He was dubbed and thrown into eel
5 hand next morning was fined three do
lars fer comm drunk to the-statio
n house and usin' foul and abusive lar
f guaGe." The magistrate did not hca
: his side OF the case. The reporters di
r and the newspapers told it to the worlt
+ No police action was ever taken to dis
:. | cipline the sergeant or to rescue Ii
|. girl Charges were preferred again'
= the policeman by private parties, br
= they Were contemptuously dismissed
L.