The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24
SURE CURE FOR
GANGSTE,RS, SAYS FATHER CURRY

time is prop.tous for roofing out the
evil for good and all and this can only
be done by taking the boys in hand
when they are young. before they de-
velop into gunner and gangSters.
Father Curry says on this point:
Parents are often to blame for the
making Of gtngsters and gunner. They
are entirely too lax. They fail to learn
where their sons spend their time and
money and they are not severe enough
in preventing their boys from keeping
improper company and bad hours. This
is the real beginning of all the trouble
Boys perfectly good boys, are sent
out to work IN offices and they get fair
wages in return for their services. In
stead Of turning this money over to
their parents they are permitted to
retain most -: K. W!:h :hc necessary
coin in their pockets to buy liquor,
shoot crap, play cards and indulge In
other forms of dissipation they keep
late hours and finally lose their posi-
tons.
"They find it difficult to get new posi-
tions. Finally they get So they do not
want to work at all. But they must
have money. How are they going to
get it IL they cannot find work? Well
there is more than one way, Of course
but none Of them is honest Police
Commissioner Woods has named four
ways employed by this class of men.
The Commissioner says the gangster
profits as a pruCurer, he engages in the
drug traffic. he hire out as a gorilla
or repeater at election time or as a
strike breaker or picket And he is al
ways ready To beat up or even kin a
man when paid.
$50 you see the development Of the
boy to a gunman ana gangstcr is rapid.
II = only a question of time before
he deserts his parents (they ought to
he thankful for thaO and frequents the
rendezvous of bad characters so as to
get the proper spirit and to live In the
| proper atmosphere. when he becomes
| properly impregnatcd with the duties
of a gunman and gangser he is ready
to travel around with the older MEM
hcrs and share in their exploits. Then
! he is a real menace to the community
and the n.ghtstck Is the only thing
| he has fear Of.
We can attribute the making OF
many gunner and gansters to the de-
plOrahe conditions which make IL easy
to obtain a supply of drugs, principally
cocaine. For years | have made per-
strumental in having laws passed in
this state against tho indscrlminate
sale Of drugs. While my labors along
these lines have resulted in doing much
good there will never be a satisfactory
solution of the matter until "A Federal
law S passed regulating the sales of
vitiatlng drugs.
"If the police are anxious to round
up the gangsters and gunner it might
profit them To visit some Of the cheap
COffo. houses on the East Side These
coffee houses are the favorite gathering
places for this class Of men. Also so
called social clubs where rackets are
held on Saturday and Sunday nights
are breeding places for Bangsters and
gunner. In fact most Of the gang
shootings occur at these rackets. but
as long as they shoot each other II
should not worry us
AS 7 understand It, the police have
no right to enter these incorporated
clubs unless trouble breaks out. II they
do enter without being invited they
are apt TO be blackjackcd or shot, And
who ever heard Of "A gangster inviting
"A policeman into such "A club? Now,
the worst feature is that it costs the
ridiculously low fee Of $40 to get a
club incorporated and incidentally pro-
tected from police raids. This is a
phase Of the gangster question the
proper authorities should look into IL
they are going to make an effort to rid
p the city of gangsters and gunmon
Eyes, 7 advocate the use Of the night
I stick on the heads Of gangstcrs and
gunner. And think it would be a good
l thing for law abiding citizens il the
: police wadcd into the gangs ON every
2 possible occasion. There Is no doubt
that as soon as the gangsters realize
p that the hands Of the police are no
= longer tied by official orders they VIII
{ have more respect for the law, because
/ gangsters and gunner, owing TO their
n cowardly propenstIcs, have great rear
e of the nightstick.'