New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-11
pARTNERSBIP IN CRIME.

President Clowry Of the Western Union Iele-
graph Company, who came to newborn WIN
an excellent reputation and who is unquestlon-
ably an executive of ability, must realize as he
reads Commissioner McAdOo's latest statement
that II its allegations are tr1e-and ne mas
power to discover whether they are true or
false-his published excuse for furnishing news
to poolrooms is utterly untenable. obviously
neither he nor those whom he represents can
remain in the position which they now occupy
before this community. Either he must show
that the specific charges of deliberate co-opera-
ton in crime on the part of the telegraph COM
pany are untrue, or he must take effective meas
ures to cut off the system Of poolrOom service
which the company is said to maintain. 1t may
well be believed that the service was developed
by Jealous sub0rdinates without any clear I'M
Outstanding on the part Of the directors, or even
OF Mr. Clowry, OF just what 1t meant. Now,
however, that attention has been fixed on this
feature OF the telegraph business, a perfectly
sharp moral question is presented which does
not admit OF evasion.
Mr.. Clowry cannot escape responsibility by
saying that the company merely performs its
duty common carrier and has no right to
inquire into the purposes of those who rent its
wires That excuse does not meet Mr.. Nc
Adoo's accusation. If the gamblers got their
messages in the usual way. and the telegraph
ties, that reply to complaints might be valid.
The telegraph operator is not ordinarily consid-
cred a detective or & censor of morals. He
and his principals are however expected to be
law abiding citizens, not plotters for the COM
mission OF crime The point Of Mr.. McAdoo's
charge is that the Western Union has distinct
department of its business specially organized
to facilitate lawbreaking, and that it receives
special price for this disgraceful work. 1t is
no oorf nff ba Ia0 b,,oI %
graphic common carrier to maintain a corps OF
men skilled 10 string wires in secret places
where the officers Of the law will not detect
them, to maintain hidden exchanges whence
with the aid Of passwords known lawbreakers
can receive the information necessary TO their
criminal business. telegraph operator in
structed to jump out OF n window I'm case Of
police raid and cooperate with his patrons In
covering up their offences Is not merely doing
his duty an agent for the delivery OF mes
sages.
If Mr.. McAdoo is correctly informed this pool
room service Of the telegraph company is con-
Quoted with elaboration and with skill, for
the purpose of making crime possible and its
detection difficult. The assistance given 10 the
gamblers is not incidental. The misuse OF the
wires is not something beyond Mr. Clowry's
control. If the business We're transacted in the
usual way, without these special precautions 10
avoid the police there would be no criticism
Likewise there would be no poolrooms. IL Mr.
Clowry thinks he is merely doing his duty as a
common carrier, let him ask himself what would
happen II his wires were strung openly. his
racing news exchanges were unconcealed and
his agents were only skillad telegraphers with
out training In the strategy of lawbreakers
However ignorant he may have been hitherto
of their methods, he cannot hereafter plead that
he Is engaged in a legitimate and honorable
business If he really furnishes now, and con-
tinues TO furnish, such special facilities for
criminal operations as are detailed in Mr.. Nc
Adoo's statement