The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-20

Mayor Mitchell addressed to 200 below
Fulton street business men ut "a Home
Defence League meeting at the Bankers
Club. 100 Broadway. at 6 O'Clock.
He said the acts of the Thompson com
inittec had been the strongest blow
struck at the efficiency of the Police De-
partment In the last two years and "A
half" and were "jrst as much In the
interest Of the criminal classes as " IT
had been desIgnedly for the purpose of
making the commission Of crime easier
and the detection of crime more difficult"
Much applause and many cries OF
Right! Right" Interrupted the Mayor
when he finished this sentence:
"A citizen of this country who. know
ingly, forewarned that "a statement of
these cases and n development OF the
legitimate and legal methods used for
the detection of these crimes would
prejudice the Interests of the country
deliberately develops these facts In pub
lie. makes them known to those unde-
sus picioi. even though he be guilty of
nothing that IL touched by the statutes
of the country, Il guilty In his heart OF
reasonable conduct toward his nation
The Mayor began by requesting per
mission TO Say "A word upon the sim
gle question which during these two
years and a half has been raised against
All' WpIh OI lnt Ibtlf l'tl'dl 'lil'lll VIZ
uer the direction OF Arthur Woods" The
Mayor continued
There has never been a case under
this administration when the Police De-
partment. having supervised a telephone
wire. has tel mittcd the information
acquired by that supervision. to go out
OF It's WI hands or to be divulged, an
cept to duly authorized agents for the
purpose Of Collecting further evidence In
order to secure convictions
And ! wish to say to you that there
are dozens of men serving their sentences
IN tho penitentiar ies OF this state, there
are others who nave gone to the electric
chair. who would not have suffered the
} consequences Of their crimes had not the
Police Department had this great Weapon
OF crime detection In It's hands.
This matter. and IL was through no
doing OF ours that thu fact has become
public. touches interests more vital than
the interests of his single community
Of New York, more vital than those OF
any community Of this country. It
touches interests Of the whole natioI In
It's International relations and gentle
men. | wteh to say to you that the Police
Department and the city government
have protected as inv!olable those facts.
The chairman of this committee was
duly warned that TO so into these ques-
tons. 20 drde them out for public dis
cussion IN the press. wcill Jeopaidizc
thosc national interest 'fc received
that warning from NOR. than one source.
but | can say to you that received it
from me personally at q meeting about
A week ago. and he was told that the
I Police Department had been cooperating
with the national Government IN this
matter; ard deTSit. tia fact. despite
thoe warnings. M matter wa dragged
in" = puhlic discussion.
THE Police Department and the city
government propose TO protect the In
terests OF the Government, and OF the
country. They propose. however. tt4t
the people OF New YORK shah under
s;and the methods tina; have been usel
by the Police Department TO detect crime
III local matters and to protect the law
abid ng private citizen against any undue
espionage Of his private business 10y
anybody.
THAT has no. existed That sle-
ye-t.uu II untrue. ant the city govern
mrut r.sents u and denies j. and the
Police Commissions. Just As soon as uo
can compel a hearing. will make that Iu-
mistahab,y plain to the people of this
cay. an! he VIII explain a; The sam,
time the Results that have been achieved
by the department IN the work that II
has done during these tWo years AMI a
half
before We get through the public 81
New York is going to know not only
the general method employed by the
department, not only the results tina. :
has achieved generally, but IT j. going
20 know specifically all about those c.ts.~
that occts'oned the first discussion of
this matter. and which there j. TODAY
An organized and persistent effort 20
keep hidden iron, the peopl" Of this cry.
~ know that when the las. word hls
been said YOU Will lind that instead ot
constituting a reflection upon IN. sG.
miuistration Of that department, tins
matter is going to be one Of III. things
mos, tn g. ty.IGt