New-York tribune., 1919-06-06
Hylan Asserts
Newspapers Aid
W ave of Crime
Appeals to Banks to Put a
Curb on the Publication
of Stories That Cause
Crooks to Come Here

Mayor Hylan has appealed to the
banks to put muzzle on the news
papers, which he holds responsible for
crime in this city. The appeal was
made yesterday in a letter to Louis
&. kaufman, president of the Chatham
and Phoenix National Bank.
The letter charges the newspapers
with being responsible for burglaries
and hold-ups because they print the
news of these crimes. The Mayor saws:
You know that Police Commissioner
Enrlght is endeavoring to give the peo-
pie OF this city the best possible police
administration. On May IL one of the
morning papers printed an article
which you will find inclosed, concern
ing a notorious crook, which article is
nothing more than an invitation to
crooks to begin operations in the Citv
of New York.
1T Is to be regretted that any news
paper would print or publish an article
"hlch points out to the vicious ele-
ment all over the country the manner
IN which crooks might easily and
successfully begin criminal operations
IN the City of New York. 1t seems to
me the press owe a duty to the public
regardless of their personal feelings
against the Mayor of the city.
Says Reporter Sought Data
Il have report IN my possession
which states that on March 81, 1919, a
man was approached by another who
informed him that he was a reporter
and inquired if he had been robbed
within the past month. Upon being in
formed in the negative, the reporter
SAID, I am getting up great story
knocking the police, or rather Hylan.
ON other dates people whose names
have have been approached by re-
porter, who stated, You know our pa
per is out to knock the police, we'll not
exactly the police, but Hylan.' The
press should honestly criticise a pub
ilc official who Is not performing his
duty, but when articles are written
pointing out to crooks that it is easy
to rob banks in New York it amounts
to ar invitation to crooks of every cali
bre to visit New York, where they be-
lleve they can operate with ease This
gives the police great deal of trouble,
for invariably murders are committed
IN attempts to rob banks
Let me call your attention to tes-
tlmony taken by police inspector in
an examination some time ago, which
proves that young boys some times get
their inspiration to do wrong from the
articles in the press which give the
impression that it is easy for crooks
to operate.
"A young man, not yet seventeen
years OF age, when asked how he came
to get the idea of making 'stick-up'-
IN other words, holding people up-said
he read about how easy it was to do
these things in the newspapers. An
other young man, in answer to the
question How did it get into your head
that it was easy to 90 and stick people
up? gave the following answer: 4 read
how somebody was shot with a gun.
Another time I read about burglar.
and / thought ! would do the same
thing
"This, it seems to me, is sufficient to
point out to you the danger Of such
articles. We are working to the end of
crime prevention. The papers could
help by telling the truth and pointing
out that New York is not safe place
for crooks to operate if they have any
regard for their liberty.
SoIicits Aid of Banks
Would it not be good idea for the
officials of banks in this city to take
some action in an endeavor to prevent
bank robberies by asking the press to
discontinue articles such as the one
inclosed. which encourages crooks,
criminals and hold-up men to come to
this city?
"The papers in the city which are
opposed to me and maliciously abuse
me might we'll forego their personal
antagonism and discontinue writing
such articles because Of the danger to
the people. My only desire as Mayor
Of this city is TO protect all the people
and cndeavor to aid them in carrying
out the laws prescribed by our gov
eminent 80 that all may enjoy the
rights and liberties given them under
our Constitution.
"If you can interest the banks in a
movement to use their influence with
the press along the line that | have
suggested, 1t will tend to put an end to