The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-30
SWAMI DENIES CITY
IS NOW "WIDE OPEN"
Refuses to Explain Visit to
Whitman.

Interest in Mondays conference be-
tween Gov. Whitman and District At
torney Swami and James f. Smith, AS
sistant District Attorney, over the lat
ter's raids in the Tenderloin district
was stimulated rather than abated by
the reluctance displayed by Mr.. Swami
and Mr.. Smith vest srday to discuss the
circumstances Of their hurried response
TO a summons to the executive suite in
the St Regis.
Gov. Whitman himself declined to 60
into the reasons that made him send
for Mr.. Swami and Mr.. Smith. but so
far as opld4be learned put no obstacle
or executive request In the way Of any
disposition on the part OF either Mr..
Swami or Mr.. Smith to talk.
Swami Has Little to Say.
In his Office in the Criminal Courts
Building yesterday Mr.. Swami. when
asked what significance might be at
tached to his visit upon the Governor
with the knowledge that the activities
OF his office and the police situation gen.
orally had been discussed. replied that
the call upon the Governor was simply
an official visit" When II was sug-
gested to Mr.. Smith that the Governor
had left the way open for him to talk
he replied that the Governor must have
meant the District Attorney, not me-"
Later yesterday, in view of gossip In
teresting only because It appeared to
originate in sources that for years have
been In touch with the District Attor-
ney's office and the Police Department
whether under Tammany administration
or not. Mr.. Swami was asked II in the
activities OF his subordinates he had
discovered any evidence that would IN
dictate that New York was running
wide open.'
HIS answer was: mo. certainly not
II there was such evidence We would
prosecute"
Despite Mr.. Swann's attempt yester-
day to dismiss the matter of his con-
ference with Gov. Whitman as n purely
routine affair, the belief continued to
grow last night in some official circles
that situation was rapidly developing
In the city government that might at
tract more interest on the part OF Gov.
Whitman than he has already displayed.
This belle. was reflected in the Tender
loin district OF Manhattan, which be-
sides being the locale OF the dramatic
tragedy the outcome OF which gave
District Attorney Whitman a Guberns-
torial nomination. also has been the
scene OF much of Assistant District At
torney Smiths activity.
One OF the reasons was a story tina,
has been going the rounds of the Tender
ioin, but which as yet lacks official con-
firmation. Ii Is to the effect that after
being appointed Police Inspector In
charge OF the district, Dominick Henry
reported to Police Commissioner Enrigh,
that the Tenderloiu was cleaned up and
that gambling and vice had been eradi-
Gated.
Enright Sent Report to HyIan.
The story has II that Commissioner
Enright sent an abstract OF this APP
parently highly satisfactory report to
Mayor Hylan. and that shortly afte.
receipt OF this communication the Mayor
sent his letter OF October to District
Attorney Swami denouncing the activi-
ties OF District Attorney Smith as cheap
and despicable attempts at notoriety.
Inspector Henry was placed in charge
of the Fourth police inspection district
embracing the Tenderloin. on January 90
the day Commissioner Enright was ap-
pointed by Mayor Hylan. following the
resigna ton OF Commissioner Frederick
II. Bugher.
Another reason put forward last night
as a probable explanation Of Gov Whit
mans interest in the situation<at this
time may be found In the stories OF fric-
tipn between the District Attorneys Of
foe and the police department. 1t has
been no secret among persons familiar
with the workings OF both organizations
that friction has existed for some time
and this belief has grown since the re-
moval of Honest Dan" Costigan from
the District Attorneys staff over the pro-
test of Mr.. Swami.
Still another explanation offered I'M
officially was that Mr.. Smiths recent
Broadway raids were executed at the
request of the Federal authorities and
that Gov. Whitman was anxious 70 learn
just to what extent the local agencies had
cooperated with him.