Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-16

expected
Mayor Smith In connection with the vice
charges Of Secretary ot the Navy BsniAl,
declared Robert d. Dripps, chairman of IN.
committee on morals Of the Public Safa,v
Committee, today after a lengthy confer.
ence with the Mayor.
The proposition was put up to the Navo,
from many angles. Ward leaders appearoa
at his office throughout the morning Sand.
wiched in between them came Franci,
skunk Brown, Attorney General Of the
state, representing Governor Brumbaupb.
Director of Public Safety Wilson and Harry
Davis, his assistant, and last Of all IN,
biggest delegation of ciergymen that ha,
visited a Mayor since the Weaver admin.
istration in 1905 relative to vice conditions
ut Is now up to the Mayor" said Mr.
Dripps, the most outspoken of all of those
who called upon Mayor Smith He i'm
pressed me as being convinced that thsfs
Is something in the charges, and think
he can be looked to for action at onoa
This is the first indication l have had from
him that he was impressed by the charRes
DAVIS BRINGS REPORT
Harry Davis had been in the MAYORS
office only a few minutes when he cana
Dul anu went around TO his office A.
few minutes later he returned with special
reports, which had been made on request
by all of the lieutenants of police. These
were laid before Mayor Smith. short
time afterward Mr.. Davis left, and later
when Director Wilson came out he showed
plainly that he was out of sorts. He re-
fused to discuss the situation and re-
turned to his office
Bishop Garland, who was the spokes.
man for the clergymen, said they had made
no charges, but that, on the other hand
they had merely gone in to assure Mayor
Smith that they would support him In
any move he made to better moral condl-
tions in Philadelphia Many persons In
commenting upon the visit of the clergy
men, said II was more important as hav-
ing been made in this spirit than II the
clergymen had presented lengthy charges
Mayor Smith arrived from Atlantic City
shortly after o'clock, fresh and eager to
take the bull by the horns"
Mobilization of the municipal forces for
the drastic anti-vice drive started almost
Immediately.
Every charge made in the report will be
| Investigated to the limit" the Mayor as
| sured newspaper men. when we get
| through vice will be in no mans land as
far as this city is concerned"
Mayor Smith said that he had not de-
| termined as to whether not he would
| make public the list of illegal resorts COM
| Secretary Daniels.
| II will decide that after a conference
with the Director and Mr. Dripps," he ex-
| planned.
The police say that underworld denIzena
in South Philadelphia are preparing to
retreat. and, that realizing their danger,
many have left town.
| Federal agents have continued their in
| vestigation in this city pending action by
| either Federal, State or city officials. Ad-
dltional evidence has been gathered. Sew
| eral arrests have been made.
The Committee Of Public Safety, It was
said, Is ready TO clean up" the town II
| the police or other municipal officials fall
| to do 80.
The arrests made included several girls
| taken into custody near Broad and Porter
streets. Last night two girls found in the
| company Of six sailors at Point Breeze
Park were arrested. The men were moi
| molested
| The girls said they were Frances Cradle
| nineteen years old. of 644 North Eleventh
| street, and Josephine Smith, seventeen year;
old of the same address; Laura Smlttinger
| OF 31l3 Judson street and Anna Danbe
| OF 1850 Sergeant street. The last two arr
| fifteen years old.
Mr. Dripps said he would not be sur
prised II the Government report recon-
mended that at least two licenses in South
| Philadelphia be revoked. The Federal In
vestigators learned beyond doubt he said
that men in civilian clothing were making
| a practice of buying whisky by the pint and
half pint and transferring 1t surreptitiously
to enlisted men.