New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-29
PULPIT URGES ANOTHER
LEXOW INVESTIGATION
Coat of WhitewaSh Will Not Do,
Says Rev. G. W. Grlnton
of Rosenthal Case.
LAY ORGANIZATIONS ACT
Open Letter Issued Commend
ing Proposed Aldermanic In
quiry-Condition Wide
spread, 1t Says.

y
spread, 1t Says.
SideIights on the Rosenthal case were
reflected yesterday from the pulpit and
from civic organization sources. a;
the Fordham Methodist Episcopal
Church. in The Bronx, the Rev. George
w. Grinton declared another LexoW in
vestigation was needed. Signed in be-
half Of four lay organizations, an oper
letter TO the Board of Aldermen was
issued commencing the proposed alder
manic investigation.
Speaking on Gamblers, the Rev
Mr. Grinton said Samson was the first
Samson had thirty suits of clothes,
he said, that he bet the Philistines
that he could PROFOUND a riddle they
could not answer. When he was out
witted he added murder to his Other
crimes. We all like to take chance:
it satisfies our desire for novelty ano
excitement, but sooner or later tn;
gambler comes 10 grief.
Since the murder of Rosenthal tho
searchlight has been turned again OF
the police OF New York, and in spite Uf
the protestations of the Mayor there
are few who do not believe that the
| system is at the bottom Of the trouble
ministers and citizens generally can
not be accused Of being meddlesome
when they demand the fullest investi-
CATION. Another Lexow investigation
is needed--a coat Of whitewash will not
do Men 0! the churches have n fine
opportunity to clean mp the city by
cleaning up their own neighborhoods.
Schools of vice are everywhere fur
nishing the city with young men e.
swell the ranks of the class who wish
to get something for nothing. In short
organized moral and religious effort is
needed against all forms Of vice and
corruption"
The circular approving the plan FOR
an Aldermanic investigation Of the
Rosenthal case and OF the police was
addressed To- he Board of Aldermen,
and was as follows:
Recognizing the commendaole activity
Of your honorable body ia calling 4
special meeting TO consider apprOpr!dt,
action upon the facts lately disclosed. OF
the possible alliance ~ members OF tn,
police OF this city with il immoral cl.-
meEt. the undersigned, for themselves
and for the organizations appended ia
their names. respectfully request tho az
pOintment 81 a special committee uf tGt
Board of Aldermen 10 Investigate th'
subjects TO which public attention mas
been called by the ROsenthal murder
fishing the persons guilty OF this crime
has been completed much Will remain
to he done to eliminate from the ponce
administration those influences ana cor
ditions that have given rir" 10 the hu--
pIcion Of completely IN the Rosenthd
crime on the part OF some members of
the police iorCe. In order that the police
mur b. confidently and fully relied upon
10 preserve law and order in tho Cd y
such changes as are necessary. not ol'!
I'M the personnel but also In the form OF
ORGANIZATION ana methods OF the Pollc,
Department. should be recommended y,
the result Of a thorough, unbiased ah0
unspaIing Investigation.
[ pom the BOdlu OF Nlbfl lIsfi' ''''
! ferred the power and imposed the duty nl
| conducting such an investigation. II
| should be conducted By committee
| clothed with all the investigating power
placed at the disposal OF the Board %. o,
| Aldermen by Section 81 or the greater
New York charter. For the puI
| poses OF the investigation an approprla
/ lion OF city funds I'm whatever aInoun'
may be necessary to perform we "o'l
| completely ought To Dc made. We khoN
HFfta
| preparation OF the public funds thah thIs
| The CITY At times eXpends as much ~
| 900 removing from the pupnc $500, ,
snow fallen in a single winter stoI NV
! THE conditions that now exist III th'
! Police Department are certainly lle %,
| serious than any obstruction 10 tIhH'
| due 10 a single snoWsJorm' ana wiz 10
correct themselves by mcllln6 AVN W.
unless proper Official action ~ TAKEN. W.
| suggest for the proposed Investigation al
| inmediate appropriation OF l2ryp 70 p'
sunrlemented BY whatever addluonRl ap
uropriations may be found necessary;
We recognize that Whlle lnNesuta
| tfons are being conducted before IN
erand iury In secret by the prosecuting
6ficer Of the county no. acton shoul'
! he taken that might TO tho slightest dc
| gree embarrass him IN ms eHoItS ~
! 0rohe the Rosenthal murder case 10 W.
| bottom Undoubtedly any commute
Amounted by the Board 81 AldermGi
would recognize this situation ana Won ],
! he Guided by the advice Of the Distrlc
| httornev as to- what effect any acuo,
on it's part would have upon the WoI'
| in which ne is now engaged IN tho per
| formance of his official duties. The 40
| senfhaj murder, however, Is merely al
| incident that has called 10 public atteh
| ton a widespread condition which ha'
| been brought to the surface repeater!
| In tho last few years. .,,.,..
We appeal to the Board Of Aldermen
| Cor action looking toward the eimIna
| tion from the Police Department o.
| those conditions which have made pos
| sibJe the dramatic murder. within Sign
| of police officers. of man VINO hs'
| threatened to disclose the partnership O.
| the notice with the gambling element o.
| the community.
The signatures were Walter Laidlaw
for the New York Federation OF
Churches; Judah L. Magnes. for th'
Jewish Community; Henry Moskowitz
for the Association Of Neiehborhooc
| Workers: Joseph o. Hammitt for The
Citizens Union; John =. Peters arc
others.