The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-13

DIR. J. Asphalt McCuaig. noted So
cial worker OF New York. spoke to
the city police force yesterday even
ing In the police court room. Never
before In the history OF the city build
ING. IL In claimed. has a social worker
addressed the police force as a unit.
Chief of Police Thomas Leyland
was present m listened with open
mouth to the things unknown(?) to
him. hurled in hot phrases right into
his teeth by this fiery speaker. The
reformer made no mincing OF the Ian.
guage he used. but spoke straight
from the shoulder. and called black
things black and white things white.
He stated that IL was not his intention
TO knock the police force or the chief.
but to tell them OF the things that
they evidently were unaware of the
existence of. or did not care to know.
He said that prostitution. gambling.
graft. greed and politics went hand in
hand. and these latter three infu-
ences were so strong as to tie the
hands OF the chief of police and his
men against the enforcement of the
laws concerning the first two evils.
Furthermore. hat a committee of one
hundred of the best men in Wheeling.
consisting of the heads of business
houses of ali kinds would wait upon
the chief of police and pledge their
support to clean the city. In all earn
estness he averred that public opinion
would be so strong within the next
few days as TO make prostitution
and gambling hated by every man.
woman and child. and that the police
would forget hat they were officers
and arrive AZ the fact that they were
men with families.
Gives Chief a Chance.
II know things about men on this
police force. eight or ten. tina II Il
were made public the chief of police
would have to ask for your dismissal.
and II he did not he would not he
allowed to hold Office "A hours con-
tinued the speaker. What l say to
you ! say in all kindness. You are
evidently OF the things going
on. and which everybody else is IA
miliar with. | believe that wha | will
tell the chief in confidence will cause
him to issue an order that will mean
the utter rou of prostitution and gam
bling. and other forms Of law breaking
In the city. If the order is not issued.
then | will make what | know public:
then IL will have TO be done. don't
think I will nave to resort to such
measures"
Rev. John Hess, OF the North Street
NJ. +. church. was present at the meet
ing and said a few kind words TO
the officers to ease their minds. Chief
Leyland also informed the speaker
that the houses OF prostitution were
closed January 1. e14. and remained
closed for some time.
Difficult 20 Convict.
The chief made complaint that
when evidence was secured against
Offenders. IL vas difficult to secure q
conviction unless they had been
caught In the act. He further claimed
that the difficulties In closing a red
light district I'm a city like Wheeling.
were insurmountable.
Answering his defense. DR.. Nc
Cuaig stated that the first essential
In dealing with a condition such as
existed In Wheeling. was good faith
on the part of the police department.
and that within one week. open pros
ttution could be brought to an end
in this city. N tonight. the officers
In the district would arrest the first
twenty men caught leaving sporting
houses.
Judge Jordan would deal faithful.
" In imposing the fine. The men
caught under such conditions would
not appear TO oppose the ruling Of
the court. Wednesday night bring
In another twenty. Thursday night
another twenty, and before Friday
night. men would be as scarce in the
red light district as rats are scarce
on the floor OF this room"