The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-18
WEDNESDAY, JULY Is, 1906.
POLICE ACTIVITY.


part of the police, and good measure of success
seems to have been achieved in the direction OF
putting on the lid" The fact is interesting
as 1t is significant While the captains of the police
districts received orders from the chief of police
practically no effort whatever made to root out
the vice and lawessness that prevailed to ex-
tent throughout the city, but to notorious and
Hagrant degree in the central section.
When the chairman of the commission decided
to deal directly with the district commanders, and
made them understand they would be held to strict
accountability for the condition of their districts,
there came change as surprising as it appears to
be salutary.
Some places of evil resort have been raided and
their proprietors prosecuted. Others have been
closed as those who conducted them, alarmed by
unusual and unexpected police activity, deemed it
wise to cease their nosome traffic before the strong
hand, of the law dragged them the bar of Justice
Not all the places where vice and lawlessness
exist have received the attention of the police.
Many continue their commerce in immortality and
wantonness, but in secrecy and seclusion. No
longer does vice flaunt itself on the most travelled
thoroughfares in the busiest section of the city
the shame and disgust Of decent citizens No longer
does it parade itself in open and impudent defiance
of law and decency.
Though vice still exists here, and much of it.,
some of its votaries have fled the wrath they be-
lieved awaited them, while those who remain hide
themselves in secret places hoping thus to escape
the vengeance of the law they have outraged.
If the police continue their work of enforcing
the laws with vigor and impartiality, if their
efforts are to be continuous and not spasmodic,
decent citizens may hope with some degree of con-
fidence that the time is not far distant when Prov
dence will be purged of many of the disreputable
resorts and much of the oulness that for years have
disgraced it.
There is significance in this new order Of
things. Not so long ago apoogists for the police
department it conducted by Chief of Police
Matthews, insisted there was little or no lawless-
vice here; that the moral atmosphere of the
community had been cleared and the efficiency Of
the police department. itself had been improved
since Matthews became chief
The raids upon, the prosecutions and flight Of
keepers of places of evil resort that have occurred
since the chairman of the police commission took
direct hand in the matter of law enforcement, and
since district commanders acted upon the instruc-
tons of the commission and not upon those of
the chief, prove the utter emptiness of such claim
They prove, furthermore, that these vile and
VICIOUS resorts did exist and would have contnu I'd
to exist in brazen immunity had not the police COM
mission determined to take upon itself the duty Of
seeing that the community was rid of them.
Citizens will draw their conclusions as 90
what influences and agencies were responsible for
the long continued security vicious and awless ele
ments enjoyed in this community they will decide
for themselves whether it was pull pay or both
that provided protection for violators of the law
and brazen offenders against deeency, and brought
about condition in the community at once scanda-
lous and shameful.
Hereafter they will look directly to the police
commission for thorough and impartial enforce
ment of the laws. They will be satisfied with no
spasms of activity followed by long periods Of
apathy and inertia.
Law enforcement TO merit the approval OF the
citizenship must be vigorous and persistent 1t
must be relentless against the gilded haunts of
sin as against the low brothel 1t must chastise
keepers of cheap hotels who use hotel and liquor
licenses as cover for immoral uaffickng as
severely it does the keepers OF kitchen bars aud
cellar dives.
There must be no partiality, no favoritism
no protection. Lawlessness and vice must be sup
pressed in the city Of Providence.