Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-26
1T is WAR TO THE DEATH
THIS TIME

THE Mayor is still in office Director
Of Public Safety Wilson is still in
office. Lieutenant Bennett is still in office.
Government by murder continues. The
degenerate and narcoticfed dregs of So
ciety that did the dirty work are in Jail,
where they belong. An Assistant District
Attorney in New York reports that his
Office believes that telephone wires lead
Ing into the Bronx courthouse have
been tapped by men wishing to serve Ger.
tain interests in Philadelphia. New York,
I'm the meantime, has promised that the
confessions OF gunner, no matter what
men higher up" are named, will be pub
lished in that city if they are not pub
lished here. The long arm Of the Organi-
Eation is not long enough to reach into
neighboring citadels of justice and pre-
vent publicity. its arm, indeed is with
our own environs, since Mr. Rotan shows
no signs of being afraid and reiterated
yesterday his demand upon the Mayor
that Lieutenant Bennett be removed, but
got no response from his Honor, although
he pointed out that Benefits presence
hampers police investigation Of the con-
spiracy.
The arrogant attitude of Director Will
son is not changed. The Mayor and his
cohorts sit tight, refusing to do any.
thing, making no move to assist in the
ascertainment of the facts, confident that
the power of the Organization which they
control is superior to any other power
that the Inundated community can
bring to bear. Insult is heaped on insult,
and once more the old device Of stilling
public indignation by asserting that after
all this is nothing but factional fight, a
mere partisan murder, not to be taken too
seriously is being brought to the front.
Hypocrisy is immense" There is moth
ing like it to fool the people. The Greek
demagogues had it down to fine art
Give a skilful lawyer time enough and
he'll have people weeping tears and spend
ing their hard-earned money for flowers
for murderers. Maybe. before we get
through with this affair, somebody will
be proposing a public testimonial for the
Mayor on the ground that he has been
prosecuted. 1t beats the Dutch what
hypocrisy can do.
Assuming that the Mayor was morally
innocent before the fact, which is a very
violent assumption. his conduct since the
murder is sufficient to render his con-
tinuance in Office an insult TO the COM
munity. The murderers, so far as any
action by him is concerned, could be
riding about in limousines now and drink
ing champagne with their blood money.
1t has not occurred to him, apparently,
that he has any duty in the premises. His
deplorations are the sort Of deplorations
that begin and end in deploring. AS for
catching murderer, thug or a CRATER,
his attitude is the same as that assumed
by him in the vice matter. There isn't
any vice. and we would have put an end
to it anyhow if the United States had not
intervened. Why hold up Philadelphia to
seorn? 1t must be a Democratic trick for
,,oiftfcaI ad,-antaaap To ,,,an Ill A..
Mayor nobody ever does anything unless
1t is for political advantage. Possibly he
thinks that every soldier who has vol
unteered 20 fight in France has done so
only because he believes he will get an
Office when he gets back home. Yet we
have heard that it advantageth a man
nothing il he gain the whole world and
lose his soul. We have heard it whispered
at the affairs where men tell the truth and
purge themselves OF lies that the good
rs better than the wrong and that the
Christ taught only holy things.
Government by murder! But is the
pleading Of the defendants, I'VE are not
the murderers; we are only their friends?
Aye. and in the mercy Of God let them
hope for their physical safety that those
friends who stand in actual condemnation
do not tell the truth. Let them tremble.
ss they must. in fear Of what forthcom-
ag confessions may reveal The sword
:. pamocies hangs over their heads.
ss,eir arrogance Is ASSUMED. Their guilt
stresses upon them. They yainly Try
q meet - sSss OF thslr fsllov msn