The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-04-01
CAYNOR'S 0 K ON THE POLICE
CITy NEVER MORE DECENT
THAN NOW, SAYS THE MAYOR.


crime wa,c:-T There 1s None save In the
Imagination Of Those Who Oppose the
Ad,ninistrAtion-E -Exciso Law Never
80 We'll Observed ana Graft Checked.
The City Club at It's weekly luncheon
to-day is to discuss police conditions in
this city. Mayor Gaynor was one Of the
egests invited 10 attend and speak on the
subject, He has written to Charles H.
Strong. the president OF the club. explain-
ing that he Is not yet able to be heard in
public.
He has. however. given his views on
the police work OF the city in long letter
which will be read at the clubs luncheon
to-day In this letter the Mayor says:
The work which the Police Department
has done during the last fifteen months and
ts doing should be pretty well known. The
record OF II Is accessible The streets
we're never so free Of wayward women.
Outward order and decency were never
better. There were never so few gambling
places in the city within my time. There
were never so few barrooms doing business
on SUNDAY.
Tho police force has been dlssociated
from graft with the liquor business. For
the first time We have enforced the State
law. which requires that the window cur
tains or screens OF every barroom be low
cred or raised on Sunday SO that the police
officers and every passerby may see that
there is no one inside and that the barroom
Il not in use. This work has been well done
by the police You can ascertain that
for yourself by going around to see whether
the harrooms are open or occupied on Sun
day or not. All violations of the foregoing
are reported every Monday morning by the
police and their affidavits thereof filed with
the District Attorney for prosecution as the
statute requires. Nowhere else in the State
il this law enforced unless in some localities
where they have recently copied our method
here
The Police Commissioner Ia still in the
struggle commenced to dissociate the force
from graft with gambling. This has been
almost accomplished. hope. The in
spectors' stats OF plain clothes men we're
dispensed with and the detective bureau
reorganized under Mr.. Flynn for that
purpose. l only mention these things.
hut could mention others. Everything cam
not he done In day. We have TO be patient
and do things little by little. ! never have
been able to do things in any 9th er way.
and the hest things we do as rule. as have
learned in over twenty-five years of public
work. are those for which we get the most
abuse. In carrying out these things il has
been necessary TO reduce four inspectors
to captains and discipline other officers.
The result OF this and of doing away with
the inspectors STATS Of plain clothes men
has been an organized and persistent de-
famstion OF the department in order 10
niure the Commissioner and the depart
ment in its work. Started inside the depart
ment. this spread to the outside. All sorts
of falsehoods and exagaerations have been
retailed to certain newspapers and others
whose delight Is to picture this city as in q
shameless state OF vice and crime and
10 befoul IL In every wny. whereas IL is the
most decent and orderly large city in the
world. -~r~
or course we an,icipl,et in advance
that these things could not be done with
out stirring up the opposition of all grafters
and lawbreakers in the department: and
outside. However. We intend TO so right
on. and no amount OF clamor. assisted
though 1t may be from sources " hich should
lend US help, will deter us for one moment
You cannot Overturn evils and work re.
forms without arousing the bitterest hos
tlity. Anything your club can do to hell
will be most gratefully accepted. The
city is indebted to you for much you have
done. The present Mayor is indebted to
YOU for encOuragem ent and assistance
We are glad to have persons come and tell
US of any violation of law. We have re-
oeived most valuable assistance in that
way. Such complaints are not only lis
tened to but examined into and remedied
Tho regrcttable thing is to see some few
good people unwittingly deceived and mis-.
ed. OF course ] expect every dishonest
person to raise his hand against us. anc
there are many such in this great city
While we can stop the use OF the barroom'
On sunday. to stop the sale of liquor in the
landlords interior room is difficult. IL
the case OF licensed hotels. whether bis
ones like the Waldorf-Astoria or little one
With only a little room tfOr they are al
under the same lawl, they have the righ
10 sell liquor all day Sunday to guests who
eat meals. the same as In your club. although
they are not permitted to use their bar
looms. The question whether the food
furnished is meal in fact or only a pre-
'enoe is one for the courts to decide. ant
need not tell you how the Magistrate,
and courts have decided on that point
lhey are very quick to say that soms
people eat much less than others and thai
spa,e OF soup or a small sandw ich ma,
he meal to some. while others require
much more. The police cannot settle thu
matter They have to do the best they car
with hard case Moreover. no law car
bs Effectively enforced in any locality where
p,bhc sentiment or even large part o
public sentiment IL opposed to il. ! neeC
not say that to such men as make UP tn,
membership OF the City Club. But tn,
police here are doing as much and NOR,
to enforce the excise law than is being dom
anywhere else in this State. and ] thinl
every member Of your club knows that
very we'll. ! say II without hesitation
because ! know IL. ] know that as soon al
you cross the city line right hereabou
there is no observance of the excise law
% Sunday. The traffic is even carried
On IN the barrooms.
There is no way TO try to cope with the
sale OF liquor in the landlords interior room
fS""pt to send policemen there in plain
clothes spies To drink and report. Man,
~ them ara total abstainers and do moi
wish 10 do this. And need not tell sensibl,
men the danger OF graft or eStortion in thi'
method and Of all things We do not wan
70 r"siors 10 corrupt political leaders ant
Police officials the liquor trade graft whici
We have done away with
HE police force IL as a whole a splendid
'"aN doing splendid service. as have SAID
,"r and over again; and while remain
NlrH Il.