Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-13

Vice conditions in Philadelphia are being
studied by Secretary Of the Navy Daniels
in Washington today. and this evening
90 he announced this afternoon, he will
issue a formal statement about the situ-
alton. Confirmation was given of the re-
port printed in the EVENING LEDGER sew
eral days ago that unless immoral resorts
were wiped out an enlisted man will be
stationed in front Of every house of ques-
tionable repute.
Secretary Daniels made II plain that he
much preferred the earnest cooperation Of
the local police authorities in wiping out
vice to any steps that may be taken by the
navy TO eliminate the trouble. Attention
was called to the fact that the policy Of
putting an enlisted man in uniform in front
OF every house under suspicion, as was
done at Newport when the Mayor denied
there was wholesale immortality there. could
not bring more than temporary relief. As
soon as the enlisted man is removed the
old trafflcking can be resumed. The direct
result Of putting the enlisted men in front
Of immoral houses TO warn sailors and
attention on the place, and the police could
not disregard the tip II gave.
Secretary Daniels said II Is more difficult
for the navy to deal with vice effectively
than II Is for the army. II conditions be-
come bad around an army camp the camp
may be moved, but at a naval station where
the Government has millions OF dollars in
nonmovable improvements II Is impossible
10 make a shift.
Secretary Daniels said that last year.
when conditions got bad along the border,
Secretary OF War Baker notified the busi-
ness interests OF San Antonio that unless
they cleaned up the town he would shift
the camp. That was sufficient
I'VE cannot pack up the navy yard at
Philadelphia and move it," said Secretary
Daniels, 80 conditions must be made salts.
factory around it,"
When asked today II the departmental in
vestigation OF vice conditions in Philadel-
phia bore out the published reports that
bootleggers hang around the entrance to
the League Island Navy Yard and jitney-
men offer TO take enlisted men TO immoral
houses he said
wait until you get my statement on
the situation later today"
POLICEMAN HELD AS RESORT Owl;ER
Daniel Mcbride. Jr., a policeman of the
Thirty-fourth district, the station of which
Is at Fifteenth street and Snyder avenue
ard Margaret Fullmer. of 14l2 Porter street
have been held In $500 bail for trial in the
Misdemeanants Division OF the Municipal
Court on accusations Of conducting a place
OF evil resort at the Porter street address
Mcbride has been suspended as a result OF
his alleged interest in the place.
Several girls, one OF them seventeen years
old. testified at the preliminary hearing
that they frequently visited the Porter street
house with sailors from ships al the Phila-
deluhia Navy Yard. Altogether they tes-
tihed, five girls patronized the place.
stephen Cavanaugh, an officer Of the Mu-
nicipal Court testified that when he went to
the Porter street house with a warrant for
Ruth Swank. the seventeen-year-old girl,
McBride ordered him away, saying II am
In charge Of this place. I am an officer and
you get out of here" Cavanaugh refused
20 get out. Later, he said, he saw Mcbride
andsMargaret Fullmer hand the Swank girl
over 70 two sailors He took her from the
sailors.
rs RESORTS IN ONE WARD
While Secretary Daniels. Federal and
other investigators are standing pat on their
charges that vice is rampant in the city,
Government officials say that Mayor Smith
and Director Wilson as yet have taken no
definite action.
Additional evidence has been obtained by
the Government
No fewer than seventy-ive illegal resorts
was said.
A fun report is in the hands OF Secretary
Daniels. Il is ready for publication.
Mayor Smith has been warned that this
publication would be a disgrace to Philadel-
phla and would give this city an unsavory
reputation that might be nationwide.
The warning 10 the Mayor was given In
emphatic terms by Robert d. Dripps, chair
man OF the Committee on Moral Conditions
OF the State Public Safety Committee and
former Director Of Public Safety.
Besides urging prompt action on the
part OF municipal authorities, Mr.. Drpps
has called a meeting OF his committee for
today TO take action I'm the matter.
II was intimated that II the municipal
authorities fail TO act, the committee may
call upon District Attorney Rotan for
action. The District Attorney is expected
ot his office today. He has been out Of
town.
The Rev Louis c. Allen. OF the James
Evans Memorial Presbyterian Church, az
Broad street and Moyamensing avenue, said
that be and other clerymen are discussing
mo adviaability OF engaging detectives of
Iheir own 20 stamp out vice In the neighbor-
hood.