New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-15
Municipal Heads Tell Big
Foreign-Born Meeting
of Years DOingS.
mitchell PRAISES
GAYNOR'S SERVICES
We Give Police Square Deal,
Saws Commissioner, and Ask
Same for Public.

Mayor Mitchell and heads of the city
departments reviewed the achievements
OF the present municipal administration
BOO mass meeting at Cooper Union last
evening. The hall was crowded TO lts
doors, and police reserves were called
out 10 hold in check the four thousand
or more who jammed the streets out
side in vain effort 10 get IN.
The meeting was held under the
auspices Of the League of Foreign Born
Citizens. 10 learn at first hand what the
Mitchell administration has accom-
pnshed i'm its first year. Besides the
Mayor. the speakers were George Nc
Aneny. President Of the Board of Al
dermen; William A. Prendergast, Con-
troller; Marcus VI. Marks, President of
the Borough of Manhattan; Arthur
Woods. Commissioner of Police; Miss
Katharine b. Davis, Commissioner Of
Correction; John A. kingsbury, Com
missioner of Charities, and Henry
Bruere, City Chamberlain.
Mayor Mitchell upheld the record of
every department, commencing espe-
cially the work of Commissioner Woods.
There is no department" he said,
(Which has so difficult a problem TO
deal with as the Police Department,
and none that is so subject TO public
scrutiny and criticism. When we took
it over on January /, 1914, it was dis
organized and distraught. We first at
tempted TO build up confidence and give
the entire force the assurance OF a
square deal.
"The policemen were told 10 break
up the gangs and eXterminate the gun
men. In 1914 the police arrested
twice as many gunner as IN the year
before and secured twice as many con-
y!ctIorS.
81 want to acknowledge publicly to-
night the great service rendered the
city by Mayor Gaynor in dlvorcing the
Police Department from the partner
ship existing between II and the sa-
loonkeepers and some politicians. We
have continued that policy. We ask
YOUR patience in the work OF building
up a force that will make our ideal
of a Police Department a reality IN
/ New York"
The Mayor also reviewed the work
I Of other departments. and after say
ing that he considered it the duty OF
the city to do as much as possible
toward securing employment for those
out of work closed with al appeal for
the people Of the city TO keep IN as
close touch with the work OF its OFF,
Gals as they can.
Commissioner Davis outlined her
plans for providing employment on
Rikers Island for the men now kept
/ at Blackwell's Island.
+ I'm reviewing the work Of the Police
Department Commissioner Woods said:
I'VE try TO give the police force
square deal and We demand that they
give the public a square deal IN re-
/ turn, attacking all forms Of crime and
treating all classes of people alike.
/ We ask for no quarter. Ii we do wrong
we want you to tell US so; if we do
right we ask Tor your support"
The other speakers emphasized the
need OF economy, and explained the
steps which have placed New York on a
sound financial basis for the first time
in fifty years.
+ After the speeches the hayor and
other speakers were subjected to a
/ period of "heckling," but owing to the
lateness of the hour less interest was
shown in the questions than was eX-
pected.