The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-29
PHILADELPHIA
FIGHTS CRAFT
Like New York, Is Cleaning Up
Police System ..z,.,,
UNDERWORLD STRIKES BACK,

Accuses Reform Head of Police De-
partment-Vice Squad Leader Sus-
Notwithstanding Houses and Dis
orderly Resorts Being CIosed-Wo-
man Smrches Police Commissioner.
New York is not the only city inves-
tigating police graft and protected
vice. Philadelphia is preparing to at
tack its own problems in this line, with
the result that the grafters and the
SYSTEM have struck back at the head
of the police department. The mo-
ment the finger Of investigation was
placed upon graft in the Quaker City
In connection with the alleged accept
ance by policeman of money to re-
fra1n from serving warrant on the
proprietor of disorderly resort the
system" was quick to act, and the
chief detective who was executing
orders from the head of the police de-
partment found himself under charges
and suspension.
Despite the opposition brought to
bear against the present reform adj
ministration. however. those charged
with execution of the laws are going
ahead against the conditions that have
aourished for years, and PHILADELPHIA
is being cleaned up in a way never
before witnessed by the present gen.
GRAFTON of citizens.
Police Commissioner Attacked.
George D. Porter. commissioner of
public safety and head of the police
department, found himself the object
OF hostility from mysterious sources
as soon as he assumed Office on Dec.
4, 1911. Attempts were made to dis
credit his chief lieutenant, Detective
Harry D. Jacobs. Investigator of
criminal affairs and leader of the vice
squad. 1t is not known yet who the
men higher up" were who induced the
bringing of frivolous charges against
him. However, they failed in their
purpose, but more serious method Of
attack on the commissioner of public
safety followed.
A woman carrying an infant in her
arms appeared at the residence Of CON-
missioner Porter at Wayne Junction. a
suburb Of Philadelphia. and told the
wife of the commissioner that the lat
ter was its father. The woman is sup
posed to have been bribed to tell this
story by the criminal element and by
certain politicians who were profting
by graft and lawbreaking and found
their interests interfered with by the
reform methods Of the commissioner of
public safety.
All efforts to find the woman with
the child have baf1ed the commissioner
and his friends. Her action has ap-
parently the same handspring as that
which has prompted the charges against
Mr.. Porter's detective. Mr.. Jacobs
charged three policemen with being
concerned in accepting money for hold
ing up the service of a warrant on a
resort run by notorious woman Of the
Tenderloin district. The detective
backed up his charge with ahdavits
obtained from the only known witness
es to the alleged transaction. men and
women of the underworld
Squad Leader Suspended.
Instead Of aiding him to make out a
case and assist in clearing out the de-
partment. if there were any men there
in guilty. as he charged there were, the
system hastily went to work to dis
credit his evidence. to ''save' the &C.
cused men. and for this purpose coun-
ter afidavits against Mr.. Jacobs and
his squad were sought.
Detective Jacobs was brought up on
charges and suspended. Mr.. Jacobs
said that the whole affair was con-
spiracy to injure him and through him
to discredit the commissioner.
In the meantime Mr. Porter, as an
evidence of his confidence in Detective
Jacobs, restored him to duty. with in
creased power to act on his own judy
ment. Mr.. Jacobs Immediately re-
sumed his crusade and in his latest
clearing out Of resorts reports the ar
rest Of fifty-five men and thirty-five
women with criminal records. In all
he has made some $50 arrests of men
and women. proprietors Of resorts, and
closed resorts to the number of 1000.
Scores OF ministers and hundreds of
citizens have Endorsed the work of
Mr.. Porter and his investigator. The
streets have been practically cleared
Of Objectionable characters. At least
twenty-five Of the largest gambling
houses have been forced to close their
doors. When a delegation of ministers
called on Mr.. Porter and asked him to
abolish the conditions that existed he
assured them he would do so.
Despite these efforts, graft has not
been eliminated entirely. How wide
the system" is no one processes to
know, but this is part Of the work
to which the investigation is now be-
Ing turned Evnn tho nOlifical Onno-