The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-20

New York. Sept. l9.-Coney Islands
'wickedness" led Acting Mayor John
Purroy Mitchell to st. James tonight for
the purpose of asking Mayor Gaynor to
remove Police Commissioner Baker The
two were in conference several hours.
but no statement was given out to-
night
The reports of gambling and other
"wide open" conditions at the resort.
which may result in a grand jury inves-
tigation. were responsible for Acting
Mayor Mitchers determination TO take
drastic action.
Before he left the city hall in the after
noon, Mr. Mitchell told the reporters that
he had no doubt OF his own powers. but
that he wanted TO keep the promise he
had made not TO remove any OF Mayor
Gaynor's employees without the mayors
consent.
Holds Baker at Fault.
Mr.. Mitchell made it plain that he be-
leves the responsibility for the ineffect-
i've police work, which was brought to
his attention by Commissioner Fosdyke' S
sleuths. should be placed On Bakers
shoulders. He thinks Commissioner Ba-
ker has been insubordinate. He carried
TO Mayor Gaynor tonight letter he re-
ceived from Baker, in which Baker de-
clined 10 take the blame for open gam
bling and street walking, and laid the
situation TO the embargo on plain clothes
men. The acting mayor thinks that this
complaint is a reflection on Mayor Gay
nor since it was Mayor Gaynor who for
bade the use of such police agents.
Mr.. Mitchell said he would make Police
Commissioner Bakers letter public to-
morrow. and that he would have no
statement to make until then, regarding
his conference with the mayor. He in
tinated that the statement would have
10 do with the matter Of Bakers removal
In case the mayor declined 10 act. He
left the impression that if the mayer
would not. he would
Mr.. Baker has not concealed his in
difference 10 the acting mayors attitude
in the matter Of his removal He has
shown that he feels perfectly secure in
his commissionership. While refusing tc
discuss the question with newspaper men
he has told acquaintance that he thinks
he is safe and that he viii be permitted
10 go ahead and make a sincere effort to
shut up the gambling houses.
District Attorney Acts.
He was told very frankly to-day by
District Attorney Whitman that gam
bling has got 80 stop in New York. or
some folks in the police department would
be indicted by the grand jury. He re-
piled that he could do it in twenty-four
hours il he was allowed 10 use a sufi-
cient force Of plain clothes men. The
district attorney remarked that the plain
clothes men problem was one the police
commissioner would have 10 adjust with
his superiors in the City Hall; but that
there need be no misunderstanding about
the matter of stopping gambling.
''Win you do it?' said the district at
toYney And the police commissioner said
Il will"
Tomorrow morning the grand jury will
get right down 20 the gambling situation
Subpoenas have been served on Acting
Mayor Mitchell, Commissioner of Ac.
counts Fosdyke, Police Commissioner
Baker, Inspector Smiling Dick Walsh
Inspector George McCluskey, and severa
minor police officials ]. Edgar Leay-
craft. the foreman of the grand jury
suggested 10 the district attorney thai
since conditions seemed to be worse thar
for years. it would be well for the grand
jury 70 proceed at once with its investi
cation. Mr.. Whitman agreed and vii
appear personally to examine witnesses