New-York tribune., 1905-01-04
SEVERELY FLAYS POLICE.
Society for the PreUention of Crime
BLGmeS McAdOO.

The Rev. DR.. Charles H. Parkhurst presi-
dent Of the Society for the Prevention Of Crime.
sent a letter yesterday to Police Commissioner
McAdoo strongly blaming the Police Depart
ment for conditions disclosed he says. by agents
of the society. The letter was delivered in per-
son yesterday at the Office of Mr.. McAdoo by
Thomas L. McClintock, superintendent of the
society. d.. Parkh.rst Is at Lakewood.
In his talk with the reporters yesterday the
Commissioner said he had received the letter.
but did not seem pleased with its contents. He
would not say what they We're
81 see tbs general tone of it," he said, "and.
so far as have reaed IT, it will receive no reply
from me-"
He said that Mr. McClintock had his permits
sion and hearty good will" to give out the let
ter If he chose to do so.
WAS there anything in the letter which will
lead you to make any investigations?" Mr. Nc
Adoo was asked.
There is nothing in the letter which will
change the current Of history in any way" de-
clared the Commissioner.
He repeated this answer when told that rep
resentatives Of the Society for the Prevention
oS Crime had declared that previous letters to
him by the society had been ignored by the
Commissioner.
THE LETTER OF DR.. PARKHURST
DR.. Parkhursts letter said, IN part:
We have observed with surprise not qInmipgled
on two or three recent occasions you have publicly
that there are not many members of the force that
richly deserve every complimentary word that can
be spoken in their behalf. but our own somewhat
intimate acquaintance with current conditions com
pes IN us the belief mat the GompI2eeney o mus Us
other thai IS Ominous as IT is amazing.
I have before me at this moment a letter recently
received from a dealer in real estate who COM
nences with the inquiry: "Js IL way in which
-so4, a
Of the poolrooms on the West Side Of town." He
then proceeds to speSy by @ R 6sy bee ana Ieady n
able IN part certify. Now. why does he appeal
pIanation have you give of the fact that many
Of the complaints that reach US had PREVIOUSLY been
Gers? It is a common inquiry that our ONCE makes
OF complainants: why don't you 90 TO the police
sHaVe been there and can't get anything"
Exhibitions which are held IN certain puoilc
ering on the outside and rapping on the windows
The man in charge asked from the captain OF ths
Fnnctionary accordingly appeared, spent five min
ites on the corner and the rest of the time
the street IN saloon. This, my informant tells
You assumed police control OF the city Just
year ago u would 5e OF inI@r19I ea9 20 ,ioI nIG%
you have found time 10 aeqqai4t yourself win
on what ethical principle you have, aS would ap-
pear been able to reconcile yourself TO plague
and 50 much to the reproach of your administra-
9n ~ Last sprps n as as you gect9n Of the
city-except, perhaps. such interest as always
with the prospect of revenue-we set our
work there. who discovered thrty-fve Tot
terry games, foTtynine fantan tables In operation
and eleven Pie how games.althorgh II need hard
~ he called discovery Tor The games were
being carried openly. pckets standing on the
sidewalk and calling out that the games were
running.
About the first of October last we notified you
OF a outbreak OF the gambling fever, in
response TO which your secretary made tour
of Chinatown. Mr.. Commissioner let me- In all
resnec 10 the Office you hold, acquire of sou how
Yourselves 10 the position OF waiting for the nod
az the press or the nudge or a little society ike
ours? Why don't you stir about and do things on
your Initiative
Excise matters I will make no mention Of
cent ia saw that II Is burden under which YOU
nave ignOminiously lain down without having made
one valiant effort to move H.
one word about disorderly houses. Why didn't
Won close up those brothels In West Thirty-second
a. urithodt waiting 10 have the Society for the
Prevention Of Crime tell you to close them? on
fhe 18th Of October We sent complaints TO Inspec-
Tor Walsh and Captain Cpttreli. and there began
a. once 10 lie great stir OF heroic police activity.
no Won imagine that Walsh and Cottrell did not
know what going on IN west lmrty-second-
81 Do YOU appreciate the ridiculous figure that
,-o,, and YOUR big money absorbing department cut
H. waiting for the Society for the Prevention OF
crime 10 go around town pointing out the dirty
snots for yo clean up?
'Now Mr.. Commissioner. a single word ~ closing.
rr ,,,,cb of the present deplors BILE police situa-
-. ,s due 10 Yourself and how much 10 your men,
- how much 10 the depraved Tammanyism or the
ynl1icipa government. IN which the Police Depart
,aeot Il an included factor. cannot be accurately
Estimated This. however. can De salo that Null
ethics work from the top down. and that Nev-Hork
civ need never expect the honoranle ana SUCCESS
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