New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-05
Insist Town Must
Be Cleaned Up
Ask Mccarthy to Prove the
Charges or Give Place a
Clean Bill

Rochelle resolutions were adopted to-
night at a mass meeting calling for the
immediate resignation of all city off
cials responsible for the conditions al
legged by United States Marshal Nc
Carthy to exist in this city and for the
establishment Of a fve-mile dry zone
in the territory surrounding Fort $50
cum.
The meeting was held in the assem-
bly, room Of the Trinity Place School
under the auspices Of the Citizens Pro
tective Committee, an organization
formed in the early days Of the war to
arouse the people TO the necessity for
the proper patriotic action to combat
the influences OF German propaganda.
The meeting was called to order by
William B. Greeley. president Of the
committee. He declared that the pco-
pie of this city have hung their heads
in shame since the startling allegation
made by Marshal Mccarthy were pub
lished in the metropolitan press. With
nearly six hundred local boys in The
service of the United States ~ is th'
duty of the citizens of New Rochelle.
he said, to give TO the soldiers within
the city the same protection that we
demand for the local boys in service.
lie declared that il the charges made
by Marshal Mccarthy are true that the
city officials responsible for such con
ditions should be removed. but that IT
the charges are not true, then the city
should be given a clean bill Of health
by the Federal Grand jury.
Don't Known Conditions
"You know that liquor has been sold
10 soldiers" he said. you and ] don't
know what vice conditions prevail.
here"
The frst resolution TO be presented
was as follows:
Resolved. That we regard the sale
Of liquor 10 men in the United states
army ard navy not only as "a violation y
law, but as an act OF disloyalty. and
should be punished as such; and, re-
solved that from this time forth u Is
the duty Of every loyal citizen OF Ne"
Rochelle TO exert his utmost efforts TO
rid the city Of all vino are guilty OF
such acts.
"And resolved Tina. the Mayor Of
New Rochelle be called upon forthwith
TO demand the instant resignation or
all officials who are charged with the
prevention of crime and whose supine-
ness has permitted the existence OF
the conditions disclosed, and 20 see 10
10 that immediate cOndlgu punishment
is visited upon all officials and indl-
viduals who are responsible for such
Conditions
.Itrt q. lrrad
That the citizens of New Rochelle in
mass meeting assembled request tho
United States District Attorney
promptly to lay before the Federal
Grand Jury the evidence upon which
such charges are made and offer to aid
and assist him i'm so doing. And that
# II develops that the evidence does
not Justify Indictment, he be requested
promYtly TO publish that fact
Call for Campaign
The third resolution:
Resolved. That al loyal citizens oi
New Rochelle be now called upon 10
prepare themselves 10 wage a successful
campaign 10 bring about at the earliest
possiblc moment the absolute prohib-
ton of the sale of liquor in the city
under the state local option law: and
Resolved. That i'm the meantime the
Federal authorities be called upon 20
establish about Fort Slocum zone
having a radius Of five miles, and in
Guiding the city Of New Rochelle, IN
which the sale of liquor may not be
carried on during the war
During mis- opening remarks M.
Greeley stated that a citizen had gore
10 the chairman OF the Board Of Pc
lice commissioners with q complaint
regarding the sale Of liquor 10 sol
diers. and that the citizen had been
informed by the chairman that, unless
the local police acted in the matter.
the Federal authorities would bc
called in
The police did not act within the
three weeks limit set in the complaint,
End. as result, the Federal authorl-
ties were called in.
John J. Carroll, police comm ssion-
or. demanded that Mr.. Greeley give the
name Of the complainant. He said that
as a commissioner he did not know of
any complaint having been made i'm the
last six months. Mr. Greeley said that
the complaining citizen was I'm the
room and would speak for himself.
Whereupon the Rev. DR.. George Rcyn-
olds. pastor Of the First Presbyterian
Church, declared that he had gone 30
Ernst Merton Best, chairman Of the po-
lice commissioners, with the complaint,
but that the complaint was made under
pressure.
When he made this startling an
nounccment Immediately cries OF
Throw him OUT" were hurled az
President Best. Raising his hands
above his head. DR.. Reynolds said:
"No. you will not throw him out UNI
less you throw me out too. He is my
friend. and be will remain my friend.
But DO not agree with the way he Is
handling his business
Nj Carroll then declared that when
lac had asked Mr. Best last evening #
any complaints had been made. Mr..
Res; had replied no. At this point Mr.
Carroll was called to order, as the res
olution was under discussion.
Donald {. Appenzcllar. who served
two years as Police Commissioner Of
New Rochelle, hut who declared that
he resigned because he was not given
a free hand M the administration Of
the affairs Of the Police Department,
declared that New Rochelle stands dis
graced. not through any fault of the
uniformed Police Department. but be
cause Of outside influences which do
not permit the men 20 do their duty.
THE police Of this city will do their
duty If they are allowed 20 do II.
know the uniformed men like a book,
and / know they are honest he said.
II denounce the chairman OF the Board
Of Police Commissioners. ] don't know
.b,u. tnoro1 ronditiors IN N... Rochelle