The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-23
Police Commissioner Takes First
Practical Step in His Battle
Against Organized Vice
In Detroit
DENS SAID TO EXIST
NEAR CENTRAL HIGH
DIR. Mary +. Stevens Asks Probe
of StOry-Declares Segrega-
ton Failure

Police Commissioner John Gillespie
made his first move in his crusade
against organized vice in Detroit.
when he issued an order. Friday
morning. absolutely prohibiting the
sale OF liquor in disorderly houses
and refusing to allow any more new
sorts opened any place in the city.
There are now over 500 inmates OF
these vice dens registered on the pc.
lice books. and probably as many
more that have not been brought
under police surveillance.
According TO the police commission
err, Detroit is now the recognized
place OF refuge for lewd women that
are being driven out OF Toledo. Grand
Rapids and other cities near Detroit,
where crusades against vice are al
ready under way or have taken place.
BY prohibiting the sale OF liquor.
Commissioner Gillespie figures that
be will be able TO force number OF
I disorderly houses 10 close within
short time. 1t has been rule OF
the police department for some
months past TO prohibit the sale OF
liquor ia these places. but the rule
has not been rigidly enforced. In re-
sorts a pint bottle of beer brings all
the way from % cents TO dollar and
the returns from the sale of beer,
forms a large portion of the revenues.
All To Be Included.
Commissioner Gillespie says that
L a.. "a al In nd nd r 4
house in the city, and Capt. Palmer,
chief OF detectives. has orders 10
close up every house. the keeper OF
which is found selling beer or any
other Intoxicating liquor
BY refusing to register new In
mates. the police commissioner hopes
to discourage the migration OF unde-
sirable women 10 this city his pol
icy regarding the treatment OF wom-
en- of the streets will be very strict
one. and he is confident that several
hundred OF them will he driven out
OF the city in the next few months
"My intention Is TO make Detroit
very undesirable city for lewd wom-
en- as we'll as other suspicious char
acters. said the commissioner. 1
nave not given up my idea OF totally
abolishing organized vice in Detroit.
although II will take at least two
years to accomplish that work.
Z whereas ii will take me only SIX
months to segregate the vice district.
The work OF investigation Is now
under way and my men are busy pre-
4 pairing reports that will be submitted
to me. The Board OF Health has as
sured me of it's cooperation IN my
crusade against organized vice. There
are two distinct sides to the war on
social evil. the moral and the health
sides.
Some Landlords Protest.
The published statement that the
police commissioners means TO great
1y reduce the number of vice dens. II
he does not work out plan for tnelr
total abolition, has brought number
OF early protests 10 the ears OF the
commissioner The owners OF prop
erty on Champlain-st. and other
streets where vice dens flourish VIII
night to keep them where they are, SO
that thew can continue to collect high
rents from the keepers.
Il am laying myself open to attack
from some quarters by beginning
crusade against organized vice. but
will not back down, said the commits
sioner. Il will 60 through with TINS
war on evil. even II do not last out
nv term OF Office II Is going TO De
a dirty mess before this department
gets through with the work OF segre-
CATION"
The commissioner finds that TO In
form himself on the situation oetore
outlining a policy, he will have TO
make a complete investigation hec-
ords, dating back several years, that
should be available for purposes OF
Investigation. he says, have not been
kept by the department. The recent
records are incomplete and almost
uaeless for the purpose of conducting
an Investigation The commissioner
was surprised To learn how httle au'
3 thentic Information concerning organ
lied vice In Detroit, the police de-
partment Is In possession OF.
The commissioner mao a conference
I. scheduled for Friday morning WIN
DIR. w. A. Wilson head OF the Board
Y Of Chamber vice commission, but the
doctor was unable to be present, al.
though he sent NOru tnh' NJ Noulu
meet Mr.. Gillespie later.
The commissioner expects TO get
feom DR.. Wilson copy OF the com
mittee,s preliminary report He wants
y 10 nrst study this report for the pur-
(. n6ua of learning what value II will be
e him before outlining the nature OF
4; the inv estigation that the department
will conduct. II the committees re-
uorf y not complete il will mean that
the commission will have to put men
n work gathering the necessary data.
Fhfs viii take time and cannot be
4 Sone inside Of go days.
when complete data has been gath
4 orAd Immediate action will be taken
- Improve conditions The police
Z nmmissioner viii not be content TO
4 rlmply read the reports OF his men.
y H viIl likely take an active part In
< 60 work Of Investigation and n neces-
carv will make personal investigation
r Woman Physician AppIsuds-
II am glad to see that, at last.
n >one oalcial ccgniKancs IL being TAX.
" - of the social evil In Detroit-it
been ignored too long" said DR..
[xcv thompson Stevens. who has Just
1mrnnA from several weeks yaca-
nn - northern Michigan.
-. stevens and her husband. DR..