New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-10
600 IN WORKHOUSE
KNIT AID SUPPLIES
Women Prisoners Eagerly
Ply Needles for Relief,
DR.. Davis Says.
WOODS ASSERTS HE
HAS QUIT THEORIES
Tells Probation Association of
His Plan to Prevent
Crime in City.

Police Commissioner Arthur Woods
told the New York Probation and Pro-
tective Association at the annual meet
ing Yesterday in the United Charities
Building, 22d st. and Fourth av.. what
the Police Department was seeking to
accomplish.
81 have been asked" the Commits
sioner said, ito speak in reference TO
our activities against the social evil.
The police are trying, in so far as II
seems possible, TO enforce the law. /
used to have theories, but | have got
over il almost. So far as ! can see, for
the lack of better knowledge OF crimi-
nails, there is nothing for us 10 DO eX-
cept to go ahead and try to enforce the
law humanity. honestly and with equal
Justice. We are making some improve
ment in conditions"
at is not my function to theorize in
this matter" Commissioner Woods add
ed. at is TO carry out the theories OF
others who have had them codiiied and
put into law. There is no intention Of
using the police force except in that
way and to get at the sources Of crime.
We are trying 10 enforce the law AID
to do away. so far as possible, with dis
honesty and grating, and TO do justice
TO all concerned"
The Commissioner explained that
there were two great branches of the
Police Department-the Detective Blu
reau, which took up crime when II
was perpetrated and sought to md the
criminal. and the uniformed police, ten
thousand in number. The latter, he
said. sought to prevent criminals from
committing crimes.
Commissioner Davis OF the Depart
ment of Correction. who preceded the
Police Commissioner, said she hoped
the New York Probation and Protective
Association and similar organizations
would do such work as to make her de-
partment and the Police Department
unnecessary.
Commissioner Woods, referring >
the remark Of the Correction Commits
sioner, said that the police wanted to
go a step further than the two existing
branches Of the service.
I'VE wish TO see what we can do TO
prevent people from becoming crimi-
r ais, not merely TO prevent criminals
from committing crime. We are en-
deavoring TO establish something more
far reaching than the ordinary forms
OF police work"
A committee Of five inspectors had
been appointed 10 consider some sort
of preventive work, he said, and the
report they rendered he termed "one
of the most intelligent he had read.
improvements started in the wom-
ems division of the workhouse were
emphasized by Commissioner Davis.
One of the greatest difficulties. she as
serted was finding work for the
women. The war. she said. had proved
a godsend, for the women were all
knitting, and the products were used
for the European relief committees and
for local charities.
"More than 600 women are knitting"
Commissioner Davis said, land they
ere greatly interested in their work.
Practically every woman inmate OF the
with the exception OF the
buns and old women, who can't work,
do not want to do anything else. If
there are any women in the city anx-
ious TO do something for relief work
send US whatever yarn you can. Al
present we are using s25 worth day
Justice Alfred X. Page, of the Su-
preme Court, president of the assocla-
ton, presided at the meeting. His an
r ual report of the societys work was
followed by an address by member
of the Girls Protective League. Miss
Maude +. Miner, secretary of the as
ISOLATION. presented the annual report
of the organization.
During the last year the New York
Probation and Protective Association
cared for 1.6e4 girls, gave medical care
to 209. secured $50 positions, made
l1.24S visits and Investigations and
gave relief to ISL.
1.-THE effects upon character and live
cannot be estimated in statistics the
report stated.