South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-11

elnOr met the issue squarely and put
into effect some orders which COM
pletely reorganlzed the old system He
refused TO allow plain clothes men To
go INTO saloons gambling rooms and
dlSOrderlN houses. He prevented
clubbing of citizens by police and
reduced the number of useless arrests
by 90 percent lie rebuked policemen
for arresting boys for such offenses
as skating in the streets. walking on
the grass in parks and playing ball in
vacant lots. Some Of his letters on
this point are classics
Quarrel With Whitman
Then came the assassination Of Her
man Rosenthal and the graft expo
sures in the police department. Fol-
lowing this sprapg up the quarrel be-
tween Mayor Gaynor ana Dist. Atty.
Whitman as TO which should control
New York police policies
Mayor Gaynor stuck op for Police
Commissioner Waldo and the force as
a whole. admitting that ten thousand
men could not be gathered together
without finding few bad ones among
them He asSailed Police Lieut..
Charles Becker. who was convicted of
instigating the murder Of ROsenthal.
as a worthless scOundrel, but con
tinued 10 persist that there were not
more than fifty rogues in the depart
ment
The police question worried the
mayor and preyed on his health and
mind. He was flooded with letters
complaining Of police graft secured
from dlsorderly houses and gambling
rooms. The protests resulted in the
most drastic police campaign New
York ever knew. The disorderly re-
sort keepers were in a panic and were
compelled 10 close up and many OF
them busted.
one of the mayors famous orders
was his curfew restrictions. He want
ed TO prevent "all night guzzling". he
said, and ordered that the al night
tenderlOin restaurants where the
drinking and turkey trotting went on
merrily from midnight 10 sunrise.
should close. Healy's restaurant at
Goth and Columbus av.. refused. Dist.
Atty. Whitman took the part Of the
restaurant owner and this precipilated
another clash.
Friends were trying 10 bring Mr.
Gaynor and the district attorney to-
gether again az the time OF the for
mer's death.
Born Son Of Farmer.
William Jay Gaynor jurist and poll
tician. who made a remarkable rec
ord as Reform Mayor OF New YORK
city was born as the son Of a poor
farmer near WnitestOwn. y. y. in
1851. He received his early educa-
ton at the public schools Of Whites
town and later at the Whitestown
seminary and in Boston and was orig
.nally destined 10 enter the priesthood
Of the Roman Catholic church. As
a boy young Gaynor was ambitious
and made every effort 20 acquire a
good education.
In his young manhood Mr.. Gaynor
taught school in Boston. and after
ward studied law In Utica. y. Y. re-
moving 10 Brooklyn ia 1873 10 con-
tinue his studies. Meanwhile ne made
a scant living by working for news
papers. He was admitted 70 the bar
in 1875 and went 90 live in Fiatbush.
then "A separate community in the
control Of corrupt politicians.
StraightWay GaynOr began 70 study
his surroundings and developed his
hghting qualities as refOrmer. He
found that Flatbush bad 40 saloons.
but only one liquor license. lie OBJ
tained evidence against the saloons.
had their prOprietOrs arrested and
compelled them 20 take out licenses
Then ne called the better element ta-
gether and a reform ticket was nom
mated at the next election.
Police Commissioner.
Although opposed ar both political
machines. the reform ticket was elect
ed and GaynOr was appointed police
commissioner. As commissioner his
most notable achievement was the
closing OF several illegal road houses
on the Ocean Parkway the evidence
being procured. the Keepers convict
ed and the whole business cleaned up
within SO days
In 1855 Mr Gaynor moved to
Brooklyn proper and soon found him
self arrayqed against the late Hugh
Mclaughlin, the democratic boss
When the town 0f New Lots was am
neXed 10 Brooklyn in 1889. the boss
and his friends with their peculiar
foresight. purchased through dunn
mics. the Long Island Water co. in
the new addition for S1S5.000 Their
purpose was 20 sell 10 90 the city and
they had contracted with the mayor
10 dispose OF it for 81. 500. 0o0 Gaynor
lCONTINI-ED ON pAEE -