The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-21
WHAT ARE VIC INVESTIGATING

view OF the fact that many persons, are begin
ming to lose sight Of the real purpose Of an In
v&stisation Of the Police Department The Wv
oinicn feels It not amiss to again call to mind
the main issues of the case.
Perhaps the best way to begin ts 20 clear away
some of the things which are not investi'
GatinK. We are not investigating the personal
conduct OF individual citizens, We are not in
vsstigating the actions OF Iaw-braakers; that Is
Tor the police We are not investigating the In
tsrest or activity Of the Vice Commission and
the ministers Of the city in commercialized vice.
What are We investigating?
We are invests eating the Board OF Police Com
nissioners and the Police Department including
+ IN the latter term the executive members Of the
force from Mayor Ainslie to the lowest patrol
man That is the scope OF the investigation.
what has this investigation beyond any con,
sroyersy revealed? It has revealed, first. that
tbs Jaw OF the State Of Virginia against the ex'
sssence. the practice Of vice in Richmond has
NOT been In the past enforced by the officials OF
me city. That statement no single witness has
ccutroverted in the investigation; no witness
viii controvert IT, 1T cannot be conroverter
Every witness every official, every commits
sioner who has testified has admitted that the
law was not enforced, From Mayor Ainslie to
tho humblest negro witness this fact has been
excused explained, palliatedit has not been
and cannot be denied or refuted.
With this issue clear we may we'll accept
as the basal fact what TIE Virointan has de-
clared as the truth for the last year or more
that the law was not enforced, the officials knew
II was not enforced and the officials made uot
the slightest effort 10 have 1t enforced 1t does
not make any difference that the report OF the
y,cs Commissioner induced the Mayor TO close
the segregated district that he ordered the chief
10 enforce the law and that the chief ordered his
subordinates TO enforce the Law. For years and
years, by the confession OF the whole depart
mont, the law WAS not enforced In this city ana
tho ofacials made no EFFORT TO enforce IT,
The main Issue Of the Investigation. therefore,
In established It is admitted; the force as a
whole. Mayer Commissioners. and force, all
plead guilty to the charge Of violating their
baths Of once.
The second issue in the investigation r. the
part played by Individual members OF tie de
psrtment IN regauving the force OF the law.
! BY the absolute failure OF the department TO
yhow where it endoarored to have The law
against the segregated district and other houses
enforced, the department particularly. those m
executive authority. stand convicted OF dereAc-
ton TO duty.
But there are other issues The Wee Com
missions Summary of evidence, which Was vol
NV
Mayor, the Council. and the investigating com
niittee as the basis for the investigation showed
that three members OF the Board Of Police Com
naissioners had been particularly NOTORIOUS in
u their defiance Of the Law. 1t charged by
witnesses heard by the commission that these
members of the board were frequenters ana
hAhitues OF the places they are charged ~ the
law with the duty o. suppressine. Not one
single bit of tegtimony has been sdduced to deny
q rsfute these statements Not single con-.
missioner has brought forward evidence TO show
dat he did not frequent such houses. This
ehaxxs also IS confessed and It alone Is sufficient
1anss for removal from Office.
What are we 10 think whan accused Of
/ eutbreaking oSenses against the laws Of God
Ind man confess their guilt but plead that be
sause some OF those who testify against them
- not all that could be demanded. therefore.
kho guilty officials should be excused from punish
nnnt for their crimes? The hrazsn Haunting
EMIT such shortcomings before the rctpie Of tht
#11ty, with shame and apology, should stir
Ssory citizen to intense interest IN the govern
Fonont Of hts city where such things are not only
MSlIowed. but boosted Ct
And yet regardless % those public confessions
s n. guilt on the graves charges btough. against
fhem We see It stated in the Times Dispatch that
IS The impression prevails among those
Who have followed the inquiry CLOSELY from
Tho beginning that .he accused men may
&oaSonsbly entertain high hopes for either
clean bill Of health or very tender treat
Aent at the hands Of the Investigating
dy-
~ can clean bill " health be returned In
" men who themselves seoutess TO moral
- Hon can feuder treatment be accord