New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
WHITMAN TAKES RAP AT
CITY ADMINISTRATION
Conditions IntoIerab|e and Un'
speakabIe. He Says. at the
Brooklyn University Club.
CITIZENS ARE TO BLAME
Up to Them to Remedy Matter,
Prosecutor Asserts-Wishes
He Might Talk Plainly, but
1t Is Inadvisable.


District Attorney Whitman, although
not on the programme to speak. volun-
teered TO say few words at the Uni
versity Club. No 109 Lafayette ave-
nue., Brooklyn. last evening. The civic
committee of the club had sent invita-
tons to various persons to attend a
discussion of police problems. These
| included Mr.. Whitman, eX-Police Com
missioner Theodore A. Bingham,
Emory r. Buckncr counsel TO the Cur
ran investigating committee; cX-
Deputy Police Commissioner Woods,
the Rev. DIR. Nehemiah Boynton and
three hundred members and their
friends.
Although Mr.. Whitman refrained
from mentioning names, he took several
shots at the city administration. He
said that conditions now-referring TO
the city adminstration-were unspeak-
able and declared with emphasis that
he was in a position to know. He
added that these conditions could easily
be remeded by the citizens.
Mr.. Whitman animated that there
were a lot Of interesting things he
might say, but he thought 1t would be
inadvisable TO 90 so at this time Con-
tinuing he said:
II would like to stay and talk with
you at length. 1t would require a good
while for me TO say all | feel and all
I know. bIt ] think it ineXpedient and
inadvisable and perhaps ii might mill
tate against those who are trying TO
uncover crime in situation which Is
unspeakable. Therefore am not going
into details.
Il know the things which are dear 10
you, dear TO every good man ana
woman Of this greater city. You are
not so much concerned as TO whether
New York is as good as some othe-
city. but whether II is as good as II
ought to be. know we are more deep
" concerned with the greater PROPOSE
ton, is New York as good as you and
/ can make it? That, after all, is the
only question that concerns us all.
IT want to say TO those engaged In
this struggle-and it is a struggle that
we are engaged in-that there is no
more important contest for the things
that are wholesome, clean and worth
while and for the things that make for
good citizenship. for the things that
make New York good place for the
boy and the girl to grow up in.
ut is of small concern what happens
to the individual in the social and po-
litical contest which occurs every year,
but Il makes a good deal of difference
what system of government prevails
in our city. 1t is not 50 much a ques-
ton of what the officials do as what
the voters and the public do.
Conditions now are intolerable and
unspeakable, and l know what ! am
talking about, but when. such condi-
tions arise responsibility does not rest
on those alone who enforce the law; IT
rests as well OH those who put these
officials in power
People Unpatriotic, Says Bingham.
Mr.. Bingham, speaking on "Patri-
otism," said that the trouble was that
the people of this country devoted only
a little time TO government problems.
He said they neglected political duties,
with the result that things did not go
along with satisfaction. He paid "A
glowing tribute to tho work done by
} ex-Deputy Commissioner Woods and
Mr.. Buckner, who, he declared, had
performed their duties under great
difficulties.
| Mr.. Bingham said the trouble with
some existing conditions was due TO
the fact that the people failed TO act
on what they heard Persons go here
and there and listen TO speeches, he
said but they forget. He added that
the people ought TO read the papers
carefully, study and act.
Mr.. Buckner confined himself prin-
J cipally to the work of the Curran In
vestigating Committee and its conclu-
sions. Mr.. Buckner declared that for
the last twenty years the most vital
thing in the Police Department had
been neglected. This he said was that
the commissioners failed to pay strict
attention to the kind of men who APP
piled for positions on the force.
MEM HAVEN MAN q SIIIcI0E