New-York tribune., 1911-04-03
TELLS WHAT CROPSEY SAID
George Gordon Battle Explains the
Citizens Right to Bear Arms.

To the Editor of The tribune.
Sir: II has been stated in the press that
Police Commissioner cropsey suggested or
recommended to the grand jury that private
watchmen should wear pistols. uncon-
cealed, in a holster or strapped TO belt
1t has even been said that he advised dtl-
zens to carry arms publicly
In Justice to him il should he made clear
that he has never offered any such gro
tesaue suggestion. He made indeed no
suggestion, nor did he offer any advice on
the subject. The question was asked OF
him whether private watchmer could not
carry pistols or other arms without police
permit. provided the arms were not CON
cealed To this legal question he replied
in the affirmative; and his answer was, as
every lawyer knows. correct. NO one can
take from a citizen his constitutional right
to carry arms.
A private watchman can wear uniform
and badge. carry a club, and. IL it Is
deemed necessary, an unconcealed pistol,
without any police or other permit. The
only effect of the recent police orders is to
deprive the private watchman Of the char
acter Of a public officer. of the right to
wear n .DaDGt silON iilS tlidi ii' 10 81
of the police force and Of the right. to
carry concealed weapons.
II is the theory of Commissioner Cropsey
that no one should he a member OF the
poIice force who Is paid hy private en-
ployer. and who is not subject to the au-
thority and discipline OF the Police De-
nartment He does not think that private
mercenary employe should nave the official
powers Of "A policeman without the Official
obligations and discipline of Policeman
There may be diversity OF opinion on TINS
port. but no one can doubt that the COM
missioner has strong reasons ana iogicai
arguments on his side.
THE recent orders do not prevent the EN-
pIovment of private watchmen. They only
nrevent the assumption by them OF the
official trainings and powers of policemen
without the corresponding duties and dis
ciDine The watchmen can stili 90 all the
duties of watchmen. and, in fact, the
practical difference will be very slight
# has also been published in the press
that witnesses testified before the grand
Jury that there were many crimes on west
street. along the waterfront. from CHRIS
,onher street 10 ed street. The inference Is
drawn that this Is new condition. ana
that II IS due 10 failure OF police duty.
,s . matter OF fact the change OF many
OF the great steamship lines from the docks
below Christopher street 10 ;he new steer
piers above that street has vastly IN
creased the number or sailormen and or
steamship passengers in that quarter OF the
CITY These sailors and the foreign pas
scngers. ignorant of our language and our
customs. are to-day the prey of land
sharks, as they have been ever since men
went down TO the sea In ships.
And with the greater number OF the
viatims. the spoilers. too. have become
more numerous. There are. consequently,
more such crimes in that neighborhood
than before the new piers were occupied
In every great city. such as New York.
there is much crime. II specific crimes are
emphasized and conspicuously noted, IL is
easy TO make IL appear that ttere Is
wave Of crime. As matter OF fact. such
Testimony means very iittle. The true
inquiry is whether our police administra-
tion X weak or faulty. II there is an un-
due increase Of crime throughout our city
the inference Will be that there Is some
thing at fault with our Police Department
But proof Of separate OFFENCES does h"'
of itself show increase OF -lme. That can
ONLY he determined by n patient. and I'M
uartiai iumIiry, such as the District At
torncy and the grand jury purpose to make,
I'm the meantime il would seem To be fair
10 suspend Judgment and await the hnal
result. GEORGE GohpoN BAL LA
New York. April 2, 1911.