Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-05
Arrest House OWnerS
in CLedn-Up Campaign

Continued from Page One
officials, as well as Councils, character
lie the report as an act of politics sub
mitted merely to defamc the fair name
Of the City Of Philadelphia is believed
to forecast additional arrests under the
act and raids on alleged disorderly
houses today
That certain districts are TO be ralded
or series of raids have been mapped
out was indicated following Il two-hour
conference Of Director Wilson, Superin-
tendent of Police Robinson, Captain
kenny. Al Souder head of the Mayors
investigating squad. and Charles Lee
former head of the vice squad.
In direct contrast ~ the denialS OF the
existence Of vice here, the United Busi-
ness Mems Association, a. meeting III
the CoIonnade Hotel, charged partner
ship between the police AT d politics, ana
demanded creation OF metropolitan
police force by the next Legislature
and the complete suppression OF all
vice by the Mayor and the Ponce l'e-
partment, no matter where II exist
Partnership between vhe police ana
politics controls the city government
and bosses hundreds Of dives, 'ao"ard
Al O'Rrien. of the Ovevh"poE Improve
ment Association, charged al the meet
ing II was also charged THAI police
offirers with criminal records nave been
r. sappointad to the force after they had
been discharged by previous admnistra-
tions.
Business Men Act
After "A discussion Of the police s!S'
fem here. Edward y. Noppel presideut
of the association. agreed with several
of the members that there could be no
"nermanent blessing" until the Gordian
knot between the police and politics was
severed, and said he was impressed with
the declaration of Judge Martin, who
blamed tho trouble on ''the man higher
up"
'Why fuss about few mistakes IN
this report?" Mr.. O'Brien said. Nou
can investigate here and find zoo OF
3OO or even 400 Of these places In the
citv. They have been allowed to exist
because they are part Of the politica
system which controls affairs here. The
division leader does no tsee kjoDs in th'
vice zone: he asks protection and h'
gets It. and the profits from these places
may be divided into eight shares.
'.The policeman knows the division
IHHQeT mas llt tdAl l'l ilNN'NNANl sNA4N
he gives it TO him. The Government !!
taking an interest In this vice situation
not because il Is Philadelphia, but be
cause we are at war II wants TO pro
tect our boys. Aside from those few
mistakes you have plenty Of evidenc,
left. think the Mayor Is honest, bu
the police are an adjunct of the politica
system. Personally, they are honest
fine fellows, but they know only on
master--the politician. Give us met
ropolitau police force and the rest o
the situation viii be automatically rem
edied, for the immediate superior of tht
policeman will be his only master"
The wartime commission Of the Inter
church Federation also issued n state
ment demanding n clean city. TIL,
federation charged that q survey O
the situation here conducted by il
agents confirmed the belief that judge
and magistrates were lax in the en-
forcement of the laws and that police
men profited from vice while certail
politicians protected il.