Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-04

that he replied:
"I am not concerned with the idle
chatter Of persons who are seeking
notoriety"
Nor would Mr. Wilson express an
! opinion as TO the adequacy Of Colone!
Hatch's force TO handle the vice situa-
tion unaidcd by the police.
II know nothing Of colonel Hatch ana
J his department" said the director !
have enough TO do to take care OF my
/ own"
Though Director Wilson would not
define CAPTAIN Mills powers. or outline
the scope of his new duties, he did come
out emphatically in a statement that the
supreme power rests with Robinson lie
was asked whether Captain Mills would
| take orders from Robinson.
THE Interchurch Federation said
| Doctor Batten today. has been hood
winked by Mayor Smith and unless he
| gets bury and keeps his promises we
| viii ask Secretary Daniels to eliminate
Philadelphia as a port Of debarkation
for overseas soldiers. With Robinson
on the job We know what TO expect
We got a taste of his law ENFORCE
ment during the first year of the war
and i'm order to protect the health and
morals of the boys in khaki we want
nothing more TO do with him.
Mayor Smith assured us that
Robinson would not be restored to his
old rank. He made it plain that NILS
would continue to handle the vice
situation, and because of those assur'
ances we withdrew our objections TO
the reinstatement of Robinson.
Planning for Fight
"rhe Mayor has apparently broken
faith with us, but this is one time
when he will not get away with IL.
The underworld wants Robinson as
the superintendent OF police and the
decent men and women want captain
Mills in that place. We VIII Demon
strate to Mayor Smith and Director
Wilson that the underworld cannot
have It's way.
Il shall get in touch with other men,
bers Of the wartime committee during
the day and by Monday We will be ready
TO carry the fight to the Mayor.
We want Captain Mills put in charge
Of vice. lie has been on the Job and has
made good and must be continued.
Doctor Batten is secretary of the social
service department of the Baptist Ehurch
Union and a representative of that de-
nomination In the Interchurch Fedora
ton.
He said he regretted the controversy
az much as Mayor Smith. but asserted
that the Mayor was to blame.
This row is up to Mayor smith he
added IF he wants TO serve the FORCES
of decency he will tell superintendent
Robinson 70 keep hands off the vice sit
uation If he fails 20 do so, then the
blame for a controversy Will be ms
am speaking plainly, but when one Is
At, r1a IN
words are necessary.
"I can tell Mayor Smith that he can
not hurl Robinson into the faces of
decent men and women and get away
with it
Removal of Captain F.. " Callahan
and Lieutenant John Ewing from the
districts where vice is said TO have -four
ished to positions where vice is beyond
their reach Is causing the alarm among
the clergymen. Callahan was trans
ferred to West Philadelphia and Lieu
tenant Ewing has been assigned TO
police boat.
Captain Callahan has had charge of
the crusade against vice in the so-called
tenderloin and his activities caused con-
siderable stir among habitues of the un-
derworld.
Lieutenant Ewing, in the Blankenburg
administration, was active in stamping
out vice and was considered most
pcrsistent antagonist OF tenderloin char
acters,
Another of Robinson's first moves also
has startled those who have been de-
mandiug that the city be rid of all vice
This step was 20 put back on the force
two men who were dropped by the police
hoard for failing 10 make raids in Ware
wards. These men are Anthony Martinelli
and Anthony Isola, district detectives.
Colonel Hatch has made public the
correspondence which passed between
himself and Mayor Smith, Colonel
Hatch's letter follows:
Hon Thomas Il. smith, Mayor Of Phila-
dslpha, City Hall, Philadelphia:
"Nly Dear Mr.. Mayor-Some time ago,
when the newspapers announced the fact
that Superintendent Robinson had been
discharged from the army and would
soon return to the Police Department as
us head. I requested an interview with
YOU on December l6, which was pur-
poselv held in room selected by you
nj the Bel,evue-Stratford Hotel. / sug-
gested this procedure, because did not
wish IN any way to embarrass your
posltion by coming to your office and
having II reported certain demands had
been made regarding the Police Depart
ment. As a matter OF fact, absolutely
refused at that time and up until today
TO make any statement TO the papers
regarding Superintendent Robinson's rs,
turn. At that interview three ques-
tons we're brought up, viz,
The advisability Of detailing strong
military and naval patrols for duty In
this city.
THE advisability of the disembarka-
ton at Philadelphia OF our returning
troops
THE return of Superintendent Robin
son TO the Police Department and the
duties TO be assigned to him at that
time.
Il have no doubt you will remember
you volunteered the statement you would
direct Director Wilson TO assign Super
Intendcnt Robinson to the duties he held
In the Police Department before enter
ing the army. and that Acting Superin-
tendent Mills would retain his duties as
acting superintendent.
Having accepted your word in this
matter, and considering the fact that
the patriotic citizens of Philadelphia
were entitled to see our men on their
return from France, | recommended to
the department that this port be used as
a port Of entry for returning transports.
subject to the proposal you had made
regarding Acting Superintendent Mills
being left in charge of the Police De-
Dartment.