Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-16


come to a definite understanding with
the Federal authorities In the campaign
to drive out "booteEging," secretary
Of the Navy Dau3ds will undoubtedly
establish n barred zone that will rut
out OF business every saloon and lar III
Philadelphia.
This is the belief Of United States
District Attorney Kane who insists that
IA demorallzed aud ineffective police
force has been unable to handle stu
alton here that has been 50 dangerous
in its effects on soldiers and sailors as
10 demand. Government action Of dras.
tic character at once
Though the liquor dealers have prom
ised their cooperation in this matter
said Mr. Kane today. eve have not
reached a definite conclusion as to what
will he done. The liquor dealers must
realize that It Is their duty at this time
10 do their utmost to protect the health
OF our sailors and soldiers, and they
must further realize that this condition
of affairs cannot go or much longer
without some Intervention from Wash
ington.
81 feel sure that IL they do not come
to an agreement before the end of the
month Secretary Daniels will take ac-
tion that will put the liquor men out of
business altogether by establishing n
barred zone which might include all Of
Phils sdelphin.
I'VE also must stop the giving of COM
missions to drivers Of liquor wagons.
These men get a percentage on all extra
sales. They do not know where the
liquor they sell without an order from
the office is going. II is in such Il man
ner, believe. that "A good many Of the
'speakeasles' get their supply"
Governmental action Of drastic char
acter must be taken at once to stamp
out the wave of crime that is rampant
In Philadelphia, "A wave which is reach
Ing out and impairing the morale and
effciency of the men In the United state
service. The sale of liquor TO men In
uniform In Philadelphia is conducted on
wholesale basis and lasting example
must be made OF the offenders. The
bootlegging evil is increasing steadily
and must be wiped out
"A number of conferences between
prominent Government officials and my
! self have taken place along the lines in
dicnted. and other important conferences
will follow. These meetings have been
continuous and the plans thst have been
suggested will be made the basis Of ac-
tion to be taken.
"As result of repeated violation Of
the law covering the sale of liquor to
men in uniform the regulations covering
this phase of the question have been
so amended that they now cover the
giving as well as the sale of intoXicauts
to men in the service. ! must admit
that conditions here are bad.
nv. ha nj l,t,st 1
900 of our defense forces will be in Phila-
delphia, augmeutnE tho many thousands
already stationed here. Many OF these
men will be here on special duty and
others on indefinite furloughs.
with these men at liberty at various
times, they will naturally seek relaXa-
tion and entertainment, so you can sec
the Importance of making conditions
here as sane and as clean as possible.
a "If we can put the runner and boot
logger out of bushes, then we must
consider that the sailor or soldier will
naturally go 10 n 'speakeasy Cnfor-
tunately. there are quite n number OF
these 'speakeasies.' because We have Il
police force that is demoralized and
Ineffective. So | feel 1t is high time
that the Federal Government take n
hand IN the matter. to make Philadel-
phia a safer cleaner city for the thou
sands of sailors and soldiers stationed
here
Federal investigators here said to-
day that the growth Of dsorderly houses
and the widespread activities OF pro-
fessional bootleggers has gone beyond
the control Of the police. All depart
meiits of the Federal Government Will
cooperate in II sweeping campaign for
the protection of tho soldiers and sail
ors stationed near the city,
& This Information came simultaneously
with a frank announcement by United
States District Attorney kGne that plans
for a systematic and far-reaching cam
paign to correct vice conditions are
rapidly being worked out
Department of Justice agents here
have been extremely active in obtain
ing evidence against persons known to
be Interested in Illicit enterprises in
connection with men in Uniform. The
congested portions Of the city and the
river wards have undergone n care,
fui but quiet investigation.
Work OF rounding up the l!quor ped
Iers and disorderly house keepers will
begin almost at once, II is understood
How the plans of the Government agents
win be put into effect would not be
divulRed by Mr.. Kane,
rs G. v. Mallet. an agent Of the Depart
rnent OF Justice, assigned tC the work
Of Investigation. is said to have already
obtained evidence against scores OF law
broakers who have violated the Govern
/mont laws regarding the sale of liquor
- men in uniform and their admittance
( - disorderly houses.
I'M N}Laxity of the police in allowing such
4 'condttions throughout the city has been
\ srepeatedly scored at Washington, reports
~ the Federal agents In this district
fhoving taken into consideration political
relations of the police force and the
ne1ning inability OF what has been
called the determination CT the police
not 70 interfere with the ward politI-
clans a~a
Matthew Griffin. of the local secret
eervice force Frank l.. Garbarino, spe-
scfai agent of the Department of Justice (:
}(o{onel w. ID. Beach, of the Bureau of
Norcotics, and others connected with
~ Uovernment work are cooperating
~ Iho general campaign to relieve con-
III In general cleanup such as
oity has net experienced since the
lnt into Office Of Mayor Blankenburg
tnfs OF the Department Of Justice
~ up many suspicious characters
central part Of the city last night.
-1oxKers. bootleggers and other tf-
~ against the Government were
Into CUSTODY