Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-13
PASTOR PROMISES COP
TO JOIN VICE HUNT
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
Superintendent Robinson and Captain
Tempest in such action"
The minister said he had been mlsauoted,
and had never said Fifty-second street was
tho worst street in west Philadelphia or
that thirty resorts hourished with police
connivance in It's vicinity
what I did say" he explained was
that characters OF n different type are now
fiocking to West Philadelphia and that there
were a few disorderly houses located in diff
ferent sections. I did not say the polcei
wlnked at violations of the law but did
say II was up TO the police to act, and II
they failed. then the citizens should get
together and do something the police had
failed TO do. I do not know there are
thirty such places I'm full blast; my inform
alton came from a prominent real estate
operatr In this sectin."
SHIELDS INFORMANT
who was your Informant" asked the
lieutenant. The clergyman refused TO name
the source of his information. declaring IL
had come to him In confidence. He prom
ised TO visit the real estate man in n
few days and ask permission to reveal his
name.
The Rev. Mr.. Ferry then said he knew
| Of a dozen resorts operating In West Phila-
| dolphin. but when urged TO reveal their
locations qualified the number as not quite
addresses of those you know" asked the
| lieutenant, 'and, though this Is my day
| off, | will don my uniform go to the
| station house and send my special officers,
and. IL necessary, take men from their
beats to investigate"
clergyman TO explain that he was not criti-
| clzing the police in his remarks. but trying
| TO stir enthusiasm. What / did say OF
Flfty-second street was that II women OF a
| certain type we're not eliminated 1 feared
It would become a second Eighth and Vine
| streets" he said.
| The invitation to accompany the leuten-
| ant was then accepted. That appeals TO
/ me as n splendid ldea,' said Mr.. Ferry. II
| will report to the station house in few
| days and we can go out In the evening and
| will point out the houses and characters
| mean. 1 have been In West Philadelphia
| nine years and conditions are growing
worse. but were never SO bad as today"
COMMUNITY FRIGHTENED"
When questned further on the subject of
his address which was delivered at a din
| ner at the Chapel OF the Mediator. Fifty
| first and Spruce streets, Mr.. Ferry said, the
vice situation Is so bad that the community
is thoroughly frightened at the results
| which will come out of II unless II is
checked" He said further that TO the fear
| Is added utter encouragement because OF
the attitude taken by the police, and for
this attitude he blanes the men at the top
| of the city government.
"It is 30 bad" he said. that we hardly
know which way 10 move The West Phil
adelphis Ministers Association is going TO
get together shortly ana plan 70 DO some-
thing. Something simply must be done II
can't go on the way II IL, whether or not
the police continue to wink at It,"
Complaints TO the police had accomplished
nothing, said the Bethany pastor At the
Fifty-hfth and Pine streets station he had
been told that the police could do nothing
becaune even IL they made arrests they
could not get convictions in the court.
THE POLICE KNOW. TOO
"Now what I'm fighting" said Doctor
Ferry. ''is this attitude.
IF you see men going In and out OF a
house oil night. hear their rioting inside
you know pretty well what's going on with
out being there. The police know, too When
the complaints got too bad tho police sue
ceeded In putting stop TO the noise. but
the other traffic went on just the same. II
they can stop mere dlsorderly conduct they
can stop something worse--if they will"
Doctor Ferry said that with the situa-
tion as II is, II seems TO be up TO private
eltisens TO prove the violation of the law
The police are too disinterested." he con.
tinued
No wekt Philadelphia citizen Doctor
Ferry said, is ignorant Of the vicious con.
ditions in the neighborhood contiguous "a
Flfty-second street. Il Is a matter Of such
city government TO maintain It's attitude
| IL as ridiculous as II is shameful.
Doctor Ferry said that the president OF
the West Philadelphia Minister'S Assocla.
tion, the Rev. Dr. Phillips H. ossood, would
soon assemble the association TO hnd "a
way out OF the present mess"
ROBINSON DENIES CHARGE