New-York tribune., 1911-03-24
BEGGING EVIL At WORST
Whining Tale and Then a Hold
Up Easier than Safe Blowing.
NO BLAME FOR THE POLICE
Hands Tied, Says Anti-Mendi
cancy society's Secretary
Confirms Corrigan.

Confirms Corrigan.
Magistrate C,rrigan's letter OF pro'es'
against the social conditions OF the CIT!
brought out an enthusiastic arlrhat'o"
from the National Association for the
Prevention Of Mendicacy and Chari'a"'e
r,,rosture Yesterday. James Forbes the
secretary of that organization oe'i'''u
that never before in his eleven years VI
experience in his work had cohoi'ioi'e
with respect TO professional beesars /"
New York been So bad.
'Onc weighty reason for this state Oh
affairs said Mr. Forbes, rs the atutuoc
of the police. and their attitude Is luiN
excusable under the circumstances \
roIicemau arrests beggar, proies-
sionaI .panhandler, and takes him be-
fore magistrate and in many cases '''o
ONLY result is that the magistrate sees
an opportunity "a talk about uhio' '"-
mates. while tho policeman goes out ''ao
and ashamed because OF the sarcasm
that is thrown at him
The policeman hates to arrest peg
gar. anyway. and particularly 'rlp-
pied enc. even though he may be iairiY
sure that the apparent deformity is ON!
slammed. and many times the pam
handler of this brand will show ilGht.
The policeman is practically helpless pe-
cause he knows that he can't manhanole
beggar. while he's afraid 10 draw his
niehtstick even on crook because OF
the attitude Of the present administra-
ton toward the police.
The organization Of which Mr.. Forbes
is secretary keeps volumlnous records or
this phase Of the citys life. and for
merlv worked IN cooperation Wit the
Police Department IN the effort 10 drive
professional "panhandlers' out of town.
and at the same time better the condi-
ton Of the real down and outs. Cnder
Commissioner Bingham. however, the
detail which looked after this wor.. VAS
stopped. and efforts 10 re-estabbs3 the
old working basis with the present ad-
ministration have faHed.
Alleued Tip 20 the Professionals
Mr. Forbes believes that the personal
liberty idea 80 prominent III the an
nouncements of Mayor Gaynor has been
, tin" 10 the professionals that New
York is now easy and his records
show that they are taking advantage
C. IT,
Men who have been on the records in
various courts and prisons all over the
colntr,- as veegnen have infested New
York this winter. according - Mr
FORBES and turned from their CUSTOMARY
profession of blowing safes - the less
dangerous pursuit Of holding up New
Workers with whining tale which II the
hour IS late and the place unfre1uented
is likely 10 turn into a threat or a real
"hold-up" any minute
Tho records Of the association for the
prevention Of begging show two gen
eral divisions among the ''panhandlers
town haegars and tramp besgars Ihe
latter class includes sll that army
of men who hobo u ir the warmth Of
. sum r1ST. NDf 1lbSr1d'S Vt H'N@ irb6
inc houses. ard Is divided under 4 score
~ suhheads running all the vsv from
the harmless and good natured sen Of
the road 70 the veggmen vho put in
their srarA time in cracking hank safes
in small cities and country towns
some of them. these records show. will
work on occa sion. if the occasion does
no. present itself too frequently and
regularly They ave the odd-ioh men.
hut even in this class dissffection fer
r-1erts during the winter when they hear
tales from the successful beggars Of
4 "easv money" from begging after they
have rut i0 long dsv of dru1sins
work
/ The hatitual heggars said Mr.
Forbes are proud IF their accomplish
/ r,ert when they can return 10 their lodG-
ing house with fair amount If money
as result Of their dav's work. and the
tales they tell induce the odd lob mer
70 quit work and q - begging. i would
take epacial detail Of policemen tc
GET at the evil. and thev would have tc
stay at il for a time too
That is 10 say that sporadic raids ir
different PARTS ~ the city cannot ac-
corlplish much in the way NJ real cure
or tho situstio But a regular detai