New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03


q question concerning 'the I'D"
Is Il on or?
That question asked IN Rochester. is met with
grim silence by many persons From others IL is
productive OF varied replies
Chief OF Police Joseph p. Cleary answers with
emphasis. saying: The lid is tight. bottled and
riveted into place. with about two hundred police
men atop OF it
so sure about where the police may be- is positive
there is considerable amount OF violation OF the
law IN Rochester.
Bishop b. ]. Mcouaid. the spiritual head OF the
Roman Catholic Church IN the diocese OF Roches-
stoutly defends the police of the city. but says
the excise laws now on the statute books are a
farce and a reproach
On the other hand. Dr. Walter Rauschenbusch.
professor OF church history in the Rochester Theo-
logical Seminary. one OF the leading educators in
Monroe County and chairman OF a special commit
tee now investigating conditions in Rochester I'M
der the auspices OF the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION. says the lid is nowhere in sight 1t IS
or, clear on is the substance OF what Professor
Rsuschenbusch has to say, and he asserts that not
only the excise laws being persistently broken.
but also that the social evil has apparently got be-
yond the control OF the police and is spreading
throughout the city.
n this the professor is supported by the Rev.
Paul Moore Strayer. pastor OF the Third Presbyte-
ran Church, who IS personally investigating the
spread CT the social evil for the Young Mems
Christian Association COMMITTEES. Both the profess
IN . large degree responsible for present condi-
s5ons-
They are backed up in their assertions by other
prominent men, and from private inquiry the
Young Mems Christian Association investigation is
Developing into a citizens movement for law and
order n Rochester that is opening the eyes Of even
the most conservative persons.
A spirit Of u-rest over local conditions has mani
Tested itself considerable tine IN the Flower
City, but st was not until the grand jury a short
~ rofzr ~ 10 u In
unuistakabie terms for failure 10 proceed against
s1olators OK the excise laws that the people as a
whole began entertain suspicious concerning the
security OF the lid
The grand Jury's comment was made In oOnnec-
ton with the indictment OF several alleged offend
ers against the excise laws. evidence against whom
was secured by detectives in the employ OF the
Anti-Saloon League over the heads OF the local
police The trials OF these cases give promise OF
being some OF the interesting heard IN Roches-
ter in years for the outcome viii in large meas
ure determine the truth OF claim advanced by the
authorities that il is practically impossible to con-
Hfct offenders in such cases.
The grand jury rose March IS. and IN its report
had this TO say OF the Rochester police and the
excise law offenders:
There were brought before US some cases FOR
violations OF the excise laws In all the other
y our own of4cials policemen and detectives, but
IN these the evidence was procured by private
law and order organization me evidence seems 10
he been
From these circumstances We are forced 10 be-
ueye that either the organizations and detectives
LION o az poiioeme1 and detectives or that our
officials. policemen and detectives 90 not desire 20
that officials policemen and detectives are as
2e,sors back OF them We strongly urge
al laws be impartially enforced. ana that our OF
fcals be required TO do their duty IN these cases as
in others.
The point OF the grand jury's carefully worded
criticism q the police not lost upon the peo-
pie OF Rochester and TO rrany the statement was
rude ava kening Through years OF prosperity ana
greet growth population, the city had let herself
fan into the habit OF believing that Rochester can
DO wrong.
I'VE are better than Buffalo: vastly bet
ter than Syracuse" the average citizen USED TO
Hay and when after measuring by these Standards
Rochester was made 20 appear as morally pure as
she is naturally beautiful the average citizen
turned a deaf ear to all claims 10 the contrary.
They are Sust talking 10 hear themselves talk"
said he: we all right" and be turned again
70 his business with ma gnifcent indifference EVen
q large part OF the clergy OF Rochester set them
selves believe that Rochester practically free
from the glaring evils besettirg her sister cities
Indeed many OF them cannot yet bring themselves
believe that there IS anything radically wrong
with their beautiful town. Yet they cannot misin-
terpret the language Of the grand jury, ana they
DO not presume to take issue with that body
There is mistake somewhere" say they.
something that has not come to the surface we
caunct understand il at all"
TIE grand sury's report great surprise 10
the peorie q Rochester. and now. as ~ 10 empha-
size the shock the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton investigators assert that the grand jury CD
uct hin. AT half the real trouble. A report. too.
has saiced credence that the grand jur3s report,
as nnay presented. is IN greatly modined form 70
what Il was originally. One clergyman says he mas
knowledge that the wish OF several OF tho Jurors
wac % administer still severe rebuke 10 The
police.
stu another sours. Of anxiety fyr Rochester IS
found ia the conditions existing IN tie crowded
tenement districts Dr. George ". Goler. the city
health officer has so mistakenly and emphatically
called pubic at:entl5u TO conditions in the Stun
quarters that the city Council. moved 10 exaspera-
ton. has on several occasions said. Peace TO
thee Dr. CIDER with considerable emphasis. Fur
thss reason DR. Goler is not saying WORD,
though MS friends dsclare he Is dong much think
ing.
Taken altogether. the report OF the grand jury.
he revelations Of the Young Mems Christian As
socatiOn investigators and the ineisputable evil
cenoe procured by Or. Goler concerning tenement
HE have caused Rochester people 10 think thoughts
they never thought before.
80 Ear ss the further enforcement OF the excise
.aNs Ia concerned. however. those who have fol-
to~ea the situation closely say they cannot see
what the outcome n be Chief cisary Is en-
pnsuc n IFS assertion that the police force IS now
o"s everything Il legally % prevent viola
80 o. These laws He says he does not approve OF
1As sp'ss cut Of ysucsmsn b. sending them