Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-11
GORDON DEMANDS
COMPLETE INQUIRY
Police Commissioner Calls on
Mayor to Investigate His
Official Conduct.
FLATLY DENIES CHARGES
Says He Is Unwilling to Submit
to Stigma of Commissions
Report.
FLATLY DENIES CHARGES

Alleging that the Vice Commissions
report, by Implication from which In
fcrcnccs have Inevitably bccn drawn.
charges that either the Board of Police
commissioners or certain members
thereof have been guilty of something
Infinitely more dcbascd than mere neg
lcct of duty" Police Commissioner w.
Douglas Gordon yesterday transmitted
to Mayor Ainslie written request ask
ing that an official Investigation be
Instituted into his career and conduct
as member OF the Police Board.
Mr. Gordon. in his appeal 10 the
Mayor. declares his unwilllngncss to
permit his name TO rest under the stig-
ma given /, by the Vice Commission.
While he denies fatty, on behalf of the
Police Board. the implied charge OF the
commission that II connvcd as body.
at the violation OF the laws against i'm
morality outside the segregated dis
irict. he does not undertake to voice
the grievance OF the Police Board.
merely demanding an Investigation as
far az he himself Is concerned.
WILL. SUBMIT TO ANY
COMPETENT Tribunal.
Any competent tribunal, whether ju-
dicial or commissioned. MIR Gordon in
forms the Mayor, will hc welcomed as
the Investigating authority. He suy-
gests, in view OF the Mayors limited
authority in the premises. that the
matter be laid before the Vice Com
mission itself, allowing that body 10
pass Judgment upon his appeal for a
vindica,ion.
Mayor A!nslic received Mr.. Gordon's
trn, i,G,. At.
that he will at the earliest moment
transmit Il to the Vice Commission for
It's action. The communication will
probably reach Chairman Ashton Starkc.
OF the commission to-day.
Mr. Gordon Is the first member of
the Police Board to voice an official
protest against the stigma placed upon
that body by the Vice COMMISSIONS
report. Other members OF the board
have indicated their dissatisfaction with
the commissions infcrcn,inl charges.
but have so far made no effort TO obtain
redress.
Whether or not other members of
the Police Board will follow Mr. Cor
don's lead Is a question fraught with
immediate interest. 1t was commonly
predicted last night that an Official
investigation of the Police Board and
long be averted.
COMPLETE TEXT OF
MIR. GORDON'S APPEAL
Mr. Gordons appeal 10 the Mayor fol-
'Richnond. Va. Feb. 10. 1915.
Hon George Ainslie, Mayor OF the
City OF Richmond. Va:
"Sir.-As member OF on" OF the
nf he. "a if.i al q.
and hence subordinate TO you, as
Mayor. In general, and. more particu-
larry. because you. as Mayor, are also
-oiiicio president OF that board. | APP
peal TO YOU tor reasons set out IN the
following statement:
In July. 1907. l WAS elected mem
Der OF the Board OF Police Commissions
crs OF the city of Richmond TO fill the
vacancy caused by tho resignation OF
Mr., Thomas Whittet of Monroe Ward.
AT that time the Hon. Carlton Nc
Carthy was Mayor OF the city; and
shortly before that time, stu during
the incumbency OF Mr.. Mccarthy. the
policy OF scgreEat!ng within limited
and defined district the habitual prosti-
tutcs OF the city had been established
following long and careful considera-
ton by the Police Department. in which
consideration the department had the
advice, assistance and cooperation of
n selected committee of the most pub
lie spirited and influential citizens of
Richmond. including several prominent
churchmcn, with whose names and with
whose part in the deliberations Your
Honor is thoroughly familiar.
BEI.iEvED SEGREGATION
WAS BEST SOLUTION
Relieving. personally. from informa-
lion gained from the study OF condi-
tons In other cities both in this coun-
try and in Europe. and obtained by
means of extensive reading and fire.
uuent conversations with police officers
Of other cities. that the policy of segre-
cation was the most nearly practical
Of all the plans devised for minimizing
the inel@Rlicable evil dealt with,
heartily acquesced I'm the continuance
of that policy. AT the same time-.and
] beg to be allowed to lay the utmost
stress upon this statement-this ac-
quiescence on my part was based upon
the distinct and openly expressed un-
Outstanding that no houses of i'll reputc
should be allowed outside that speci-
fed district. and that assiGnatfon
houses should be sternly suppressed,
both within and without that district.
That tho best thought obtainabIe
OH that subject concurred in the view
taken by the Police Department has
been verified again and again. and may
he attested by scores of citations and
references To mention only few:
The Chief of Police. Major Lewis
Werner; Captain George w. Epps, of
the second district: the late Captain
w. y. Barfoot, of the first district, and
the present commanding officer of that
district, Captain X. b. Sowell, all no
lIcemen and police officers OF long ex-
perience and OF nawless records. and
all good citizens of high reputc, have
always believed i'm the wisdom Of the
policy of segregation