The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-07-30

powerful oiohOneG minority OF the
conditions during the last TWO years
ever were before.
That there Isn't any excuse for this
state of aRairs," declared Mr.. Baker 60
IN Evcning World reporter to-day.
lyon can go from the fact that during
the last six months Of Bingham's admin
istration and during the FIRST part OF
mine. prior TO the time Mayor oaynor
took once. there were not seven gam
bling houses running In New York.
There were some pooirooms-not many.
though IN proportion to the number you
Anay md to-day-And handbook men
flourished simply because they had no
recosnired headquarters. but drifted
from corner TO corner. But gambling.
big gambling. was dead. II wasn't an
easy thing to do. but we worked hare
10 accomplish II. and we practically sue
cssdtd.
NOTICE or wloE.opEN TOWN
AFTER JAN. I.
Then, after Gaynor wss elected. the
word got around through the under
world-don't ask me how-that after
Jan. I the town was TO be wide OPEN
This Is a fact. Gamblers and short.
card men began to flock into town from
the West and from other Eastern cities.
We had got things running % that II
had been comparatively easy to shut
out offenders; but. early In December,
the crowd Of sharps and gamblers got
to ~ 20 big that they were noticeable.
and we had our work cut out for us
merely keping track Of them and their
movements.
Mcclellan waS Mayor then. remem-
Der. aud he soon caught on TO the way
things were going. Presently ne sent
for me.
Say. Bii.' he said. for Gods sake
keep thess fellows quiet until get out
Of once. will your said Ia do my
best. and I did. with the backing of
the Mayor and Jerome. who was then
IN ths Dtstrict-Attorney's once. I man.
aged to lssep them under control for the
rest OF the month. But that was all
When 0aynor took once he promul.
GATED MS doctrine OF personal liberty.
took the cops niEhtsticks away from
them. forbade the use Of force to obtain
ashing ths plain clothes staff.
This last happened while ! was AVA,
- my vacation, and as soon as re-
tur1ed ] reinstated the Headauarteri
plain clothes men. II was not Ions
before I resigned. you may recall
Mayor 0aynor did not exactly abolish
the plain clothes force again over my
head. but one OF his distinctive trait
is never TO admit himself In the wrong
He accomplished his object. therefore
In . different way. lie split the paii
clothes men up among the precincts
sssisning 90 many of them to each
This. he claimed. was 10 do away wild
all chances for graft.
LAUGHS At METHOD OF PRE-
VENTING GRAFT.
"weii. anybody who Is familiar wit
police conditions can only laugh at sue
a contention. The great bulk OF IA
force Is honest. beyond any question a
doubt. but Gaynor's plans did not de
priye the dishonest or weak ones of op
portunities for graft. What did he 4
but 10 ahead and constitute a sycc!u
squad OF one hundred and fifty mer
answerable to the Commissioner. I
carry on the work OF Gupprssslng gan
biiAG!
This was all very well.i II NEAR
that the inspectors and the captain
In the districts and precincts would ha,
no direct chance OF blackmailIH
crooks. But II also meant that son
man like Becker. who stood In stror
with the Commissioner and Wilma
sheehan twaldo's Secretary and wi
could get himself on the gambllr
squad would stand good chance
pulling the trick instead.
And right here l want to say N
II isn't fair to blame Becker too stron
ly. No man OF the callbre OF the ave
age policeman should be trusted wi
such power and responsibilities as
had. Remember, & man In his pos! III
coesn't have to sc out and ask {
money, II Is thrust upon him. PeoI
pursue him and clamor for him 10 Il
cept their favors. Even II he were no
est IN the nrst place, ! doubt II
could withstand the temptation.
simply should not he placed In such
position. no policeman should. The d
ganixation OF the department should
such that no ordinary policeman cou
be brought directly within reach OF 4
vast influences OF the powers OF {
underworld.
y telA Mayer 0syaor this 70 his t.
49,