Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-20

COPS "UP A TREE
East End Republicans, in
Ware Stronghold, Need
the Money
POLICEMEN THE VICTIMS
Forced to Sell Tickets or Buy
Them, Notwithstanding Law
of the State

The fat finger Of political Mammon has
stretched forth once more and is collecting
| sheiels today from the cty's policemen.
Not only are the police in politics" again
| --openly--bUt the state laws. which place
| lotteries among the crimes punishable by
| fine and Imprisonment, are being violated
| by the policemen at the behest of politicians,
| who themselves are violating the law.
II is the same old lottery game. The
| East End Republican Club, at 1888 South
| Broad street. Ware stronghold Of the Twen-
| ty-siXth Ward. has distributed books Of
| lottery tickets for sale. Policemen living in
| the ward who are members of the club
| that is. ninety nine zone -hundredths Of them
| have received their quota. So worth each.
| SO have barkeepers, cigar store proprietors
| and other holders of little shops in the ward
| The money for these tickets is to be turned
| H. by March ., three days before the time
| set for the prize drawing, which will be
| held at grand entertainment" at the
| club.
| 1t is not wise to return any OF the tickets.
| Money talks. 1t speaks loudly, asking for
political favors.
This condition might have passed unno-
| ticed, although several police officials con-
| versaut with the anti-lottery laws are mem-
| bers of the club. of witch former Represen-
| tative Fred w. Willard is president. But
| the imposition ranked several policemen
| and they 'pcached" The macing is more
| severe than ever this year. Where the
"coppers" were invited" to buy SO worth
| Of tickets for last years East End Republic
| can club lottery, this year the sum Is SD
and the cost of living is higher this year.
CHURCH DRAWING" FORBIDDEN
The sale Of the lottery tickets goes on
undlsturbed, although Police Superintendent
Robinson has gone ON record as opposing
lotteries "Raftles" held ar church enter
tainmcnts, when brought to his attention,
have been quashed by his order. TO the
Polish Young Mems Catholic Association,
In notifying it that its proposed lottery was
Illegal, he wrote:
1--WE will not permit the proposed draw
ing to take place as IT would be IN violation
of the laws of this state to conduct such
lottery"
Probably warned by last years storm. in
which Police Lieutenant John f. Echter-
meyer, then president of the club, was ac-
cused Of making policemen i'm civilian
clothes sell lottery tickets to saluunkeepers.
the promoters of this years lottery have
taken pains to observe as much caution az
seems necessary under the circumstances.
GHOSTS D1STRIBTTE TICKETS
The messengers Of the club--"ghosts,"
the policemen call them--left bulky en-
velopes at the home of every policeman in
the ward about the first Of the month.
Each envelope contained five books of lot
terry tickets, each made up OF ten tickets,
worth ten cents each a polite printed cir
Cular signed by Thomas j. Lappin. chair
man: James G.. Caldwell secretary. and
Richard McFadden, treasurer and a re-
turn envelope addressed to Lappin, in
which the money collected was to be in
closed and mailed.
The circular informed the recipient that
$1,000 is needed to pay off the debt occa-
stoned by alterations and additions to the
clubs home. at 1898 South Broad street
lie was requested" to dispose of the in
closed tickets and make returns not later
than Friday. March >. The tickets are the
same style lottery tickets were used
last year. Each contains a number, with
corresponding number on the stub. The
holders of the lucky numbers receive the
ten presents" listed on the ticket, "and
| twenty-five others"
POLICEMEN up A TREE"
"I wouldn't dare to sell one of these
things" declared respondent "copper""
who had secreted the tell-tale envelope and
is contents in his home Il wouldn't sell
them, because l know I'd be breaking the
law
IT'S a funny thing. Here / am with a
uniform on, supposed to uphold the law.
And the very people that ought to help me
breal; the law themselves and want me to
do the same. What canI do? They've got
me up tree
81 won't sell the things. But I've got
10 pay my IS just the same, because some