New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Mayor-Elect Denies Reports
of Wide-Open Town After
Swami Conference
Plan New War
Against Gamblers
District Attorney Hears
They Are Ready TO
Open Up Again

There will be no "wide-open city"
after January I, Mayor-olect John +.
Hylan insisted yesterday, after a
conference with District Attorney
Swami at the Office Of the new Mayor
at the headquarters of the Business
Mems League, so East Forty-sccond
Street
Judge Hylan sounded a warning to
gamblers, disorderly persons and others
who might entertain the hope that the
advent of Tammany administration
would mean a general lifting of the
Gid" The Mayor-elect declared that
the three officials most interested in the
regulation Of vice-himself, the Dis
trict Attorney and the Police Commits
sioner, whoever the latter may be
would combine their weight in sitting
on the lid"
The Mayor-elect declined to say
whether he thought conditions were
such at present in the white light dis
trict" and other gay sections Of the city
as TO need a cleaning up" lie ap-
peared more anxious to make ,he point
that there would be no relinquishment
Of a strict enforcement of the laws
after he took Office. His conference
with the Di5tric. Attorney, as was an
nounced, was for the purpose Of tormu-
lating practical methods Of cooperation
between the prosecutors Office and the
Police Department for conducting a
campaign TO make the city as morally
clean as their best efforts can accom-
plish.
Police Assistance Promised
"A note of warning is given" said
Judge Hylan, "to those gamblers and
disorder.y persons who have any be-
lated hope that they may be permitted
10 open up after January /. CONNER
cialized vice and gambling will be pros
ecuted cesselessly and rclentlessly.
There viii be no wide-open city. The
Police Commissioner will be held
strictly accountable for the rigid en-
forcement of the 'aw."
The District Attorney, after his CON
ference with the Mayor-elect, asserted
that Judge Hylan had pledged himself
TO give him more detectives for his
office, and that every gambler with an
idea in his head that a Tammany al
ministTatiOn means a return Of the
good old days will find that he is "moU-
keying with buzzsaw." Mr.. Swami
said that, although he does not intend
TO set himself up as a censor of metro
politan morals, if some theatrical man
ayers do not clean up certain current
plays they will be dealt with severely.
"I have in mind a certain play that
is being produced near Broadway, in
which about fifteen young women, as
nearly nude as they can be. take part
in an utterly inartistic dance. 1t is a
plain case of indecent exposure. This
is war time, and no time for such in
eXcusable samples Of indecency. APP
parently some producers utilize war
time sentiment as a medium for foist-
ing such obnoxious features on the
public. II is a matter for the Police
Department, and after January / | am
sure il will not be tolerated
"My principal object in asking for a
conference with the Mayor-elect," he
said. "was to devise practical means
for graphing with the problem Of gam
bling. A few days ago ] got word that
some particularly unscrupulous gam
blers were coming TO New York 20 open
4 club and charge an initiation fee Of
$500. Inasmuch as the tip came direct,
| wanted to take il up personally with
.Iudge Hvlan. ! asked that twelve de-
tectiyes be assigned TO me. ] viii PROB
ably get six in addition to the four |
now have. Two Of these, however, are
assigned TO eXtradition work"