New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10
IS SYRACUSE A "WDE OPEN" TOWN?
MANY OF HER MOST REPUTABLE CITIZENS SAY
THE LID" HAS BEEN OFF SO LONG THAT 1T is LOST.

DO you agree TO the best OF your ability 20. exc
cute and enforce the laws OF the STATE, ana the
guard the public morals. and in particular to use
!oor PES 20 '5fl,c 1rostitfes and All public gam
bling including the illegitimate use OF slot ma
VIII you carefully Investigate into the qualihca-
tions Of those whom you contemplate appointing 70
S ZONES I ana s eleent S'' '"OSs
n any Of your appontees shall be found 20 be
dishonest inefficient in the disoharge OF duties
VIII you remove such appointee irrespective OF
In case any complaint shall be made 70 YOU con
ceTnlng me tleslecs 81 Iii Won Carefully in
vestgate the facts pertaining 20 the same ana ols-
pe Pcs Is Concerned the same as though he
your personal employer
Because officials OF the Municipal Voters League
Of Syracuse, y. Y. say that Alan c. Fobes. the
present Navor OF that city. answered Yes 10 each
o, these questions when placed before him in
printed form Just before election. and because these
men in common with many others representing the
best element OF che Salt Citys population now de-
clare that open violation OF the excise laws ana
worse forms Of vice still prevail In the munich
palty there is a great and growing uneasiness at
present pervading Syracuse.
The more conservative say. give the Mayor
time" The executives political enemies are cry
ing What did tell your
The few hopeful ones are striving 20 make them
solves heard with their cry Of Don't give the
SHIP. There is tine yet"
Some Of the Nornout. dlsheartened workers for
f.forn content themselves with hurting maledic-
tons AT the police whom they hold responsible for
e~-v fcrm of evil 10 be found in the city. Others
st-k. over the heads OF the police at the political
losses and at the higher officers charged with the
a.--i~istration the law They allege that prose-
crtors Of LIQUOR cases and against keepers OF dis
q cry houses ln which the city abounds. are
sc-Cr-l carried 10 a successful issue IN Syracuse.
said one prominent attorney, when asked by
= t1ine reporter why a more rigid enforcement Of
TIC ,ev is not possible IN Syracuse: Young man.
= .oI 70 try she devil. would you hold your
cer-t in hell2"
t.a.v Of the discounted workers who have
s--iren year after year for better conditions in
Syracuse and had hoped much for a sweeping
change a, the hands OF the present administration
base cropped hack thoroughly disheartened. salts
fcl that no, hing can drive out the evils now so
frcpy rooted These willing 20 admit the
claim rnade by Rochester reform workers in The
Tribune of Sunday, April 5. that although there
may be V1ckedness In Rochester that city cannot
hold a candle in this respect 10 Syracuse In their
tbect Giscoura cement and temporary loss % heart
they willing 10 concede that there is
city 81 the size in this part OF the country at
least quite saturated with evil is Syracuse.
This Is. OF course. rot true Of the ma jority for
there are YET determined workers for reform in
Syracuse who declare there shall be no truce with
TIE enemy. who are still confident OF their ability
not 10 drive persistent violators OF ;he law out
Of Syracuse. at least 20 reduce their numbers 10 a
point where they may be successfully combated.
A. present. however obser1 alton and the testi-
mony of her leading citizens lead 10 only one con-
clUsion-that Syracuse is perhaps the striking
illustration extant Of the way city acts when
the lid" has been blown 70 smithereens and the
pieces lost.
Mayo Alan C. Fooes whose promise 70 eradi-
cate ext! IN Syracuse vas secured by the Municipal
Voters League before election. positively re-
fuses discuss the situation. To a Tribune re-
porter last week he refused say a word for pub
Lcaton the head OF enforcement Of the law in
Syracuse.
40 sir" said he Il have nothing 10 say; not
WORD. ] viii make statement I must refer you
20 the Commissioner os Public Safety for any
formation that head
majority OF the people Of Syracuse realize that
the Mayor is placed In exceedingly trying posi-
ton. and they favor giving him every BIT Of lati-
tude possible under the circumstances. Mayor
Fobes. the president OF the City Council gave
evidence OF marked power. say his friends and they
are confident Of his ability 10 fulfil all their
pectations OF him.
But it is unfair 20 expect so much Of any man
within short time" say they. Why. he has
held ONCE barely three months yet"
Outspokon enemies OF the Mayor laugh at the
claims Of his friends. and reiterate their oft re-
reated assertions that HIS election allowed by
The powers for evil sop 10 the better element:
mat ne is tied hand and foot and that good
can come Of his struggles 10 enforce the law. With
discussions like this sounding IN his cars daily
WIN tho accumulated evil Of years OF Ynisrule
hooking him. with his pledge TO the Municipal
Voters, League brandished before his eyes, and
With the ever present spirit OF the league standing
over him with hand always upon his official
pulse. the position OF Mayor Fobes is truly try
ms one
II there Is any ore city official OF Syracuse who
seems 10 enjoy the respect and confidence OF the
best element OF the population. that man is Ralph
s. Bowen. Commissioner OF Public Safety
Bowen means business they say and then
they ada 'but-er-er'" and they hang that
er" with tonacity which avakens all kinds Of
Tears Finally they coRhde the familiar suspicious
about the Commissioner being able TO battle sue
cessfully with the powers OF evil
But he has done good thing since he came
lEto ONCE; lie has closed out these stalls they
ADMIT and then they add half apologetioally ''tha,
is-some OF them"
The Commissioner himself says All OF them -
onc he places emphasis the expression To a
tribune reporter the Commissioner said:
The greatest eyil we have had TO do with her.
has been these stalls. or back rooms In saloons.
out We have wiped them out now"
boinF tod by the reporter that prominent per
sons insist thHt the social evil is still appalngly
pONerldl IN syracuse. he became considerably ex-
e'csed and asked with some warmth:
70 they say these present conditionsy"
ink tola that there could be mistsking tho
n applied 10 present day Syracuse by some OF
s, eli]ens' the Commissioner said he knew the
N'u0hs referred 10 10 be true OF the city under
her administrations but sa!d It was not true
OF the present administration
ooaio shod no light upon the methods OF IN.
~ oeahng with propretors OF disorderiy
auaes the Commissioner seemed % be astounded
informed Of cruel but persistent report