New-York tribune., 1920-12-18
Mayor Says Army of Grim.
inals Is at Work Over
Whole Country; Asks
Public to Aid Police
Strongly g Urged to
Dismiss Enri ght
issues Defense of Com
missioner After Long
Conference With Him

Conference With Him
Mayor Hylan, in statement issued
last night, admits that a crime wave
is sweeping the city. The statement
was prepared after long conference
with Police Commissioner Enright at
the City Hall, the second in two days.
The Mayor broadened his statement
sufficiently, however, to include other
cities throughout the country, and con-
tended that the crime wave was gem
eral. He insists that the police are
using every possible effort for the pro-
lection Of life and property in this
city, but calls upon citizens to use
every precaution toward protecting
themselves, as we'll as to cooperate
with the Police Department.
"There is throughout the country at
the present time" said the Mayor, "a
great criminal army, who do not care
what means they use TO ply their ne
farous trade. Life means nothing TO
them in the pursuit Of their ill-gotten
wealth."
Summons Enright Early
In another sentence he urged all cit
izens TO give their full cooperation and
aid to The Police Department, and
added that ''the department is fully
capable to meet and cope with the
crime chat is prevalent throughout thu
city, He urged merchants to see that
their messengers transmitting money
or valuables through the streets are
armed, and to notify the police pre-
cinct stations in which they do busi-
ness Of the time and place Of delivery
OF such money or valuables.
-. Mayor Hylan summoned Police Com
missioner Enright to the City Hall
early in the day Their conference
lasted about an hour The rulnor spread
about the City Hall that the Police
Commissioner had been asked to re-
sign. The Mayor ignored all queries ON
that subject. He made no statement
until the prepared statement last night.
Commissioner Enright had nothing to
say when he left the City Hall. He did
not even deny that there> was a crime
wave.
1t was learned that certain city Off
cials have been bringing pressure to
bear upon the Mayor since the crime
definite action toward remedying condi-
tons, even to The extent Of shakeup
in the Police Department. The Mayor
is understood to have told them, how
ever. that he had every confidence in
Police Commissioner Enright aud had
no intention Of asking him to surren-
der his office. He declared, according
to one official, that he would stand
squarely back of the Police Commits
sioner and support him to the end in
the face Of his critics. There is
movement on among the city officials
to bring further pressure to bear on
the Mayor and insist that he find a
way to relieve crime conditions
David Hirshteid, Commissioner OF
Accounts, another city official in whom
the Mayor has great confidence, called
at the Mayors Office yeste rday when
the Mayor and Commissioner Enright
were in conference. Commissioner
Hirshficld left without trying to see
Police Commissioner was in the inner
Office. Orders have gone out from the
City Hall to all the commissioners in
the Hylan group, since the police pot
began to boil, not to comment on the
police situation or other city matters
without first "seeing the Mayor"
La Guardia's View
Major f. II. La Guari.a President
of the Board Of Aldermen declared
yesterday that the police morale had
gone TO pieces and the whole system
Of surveillance in the department
broken down. He intimated that the
Police Commissioner should be re
moved. The Aluermanic President has
discussed the crime and police situa-
tion with the Mayor recently.
M.,A orIi h.,{
commander of troops had failed as re-
peatedly as the Police Commissioner
such commander would be Immediately
removed. He declared that he would be
willing to take charge Of the Police
Department and put it on a military
basis, so that it would show marked
improvement in three weeks time.
The Aldermanic President said that
in his opinion recent murders and rob-
berries were as daring as any ever per-
petrated in the Wild West, and that
Arizona, whore he was raised, would
never stand for them.
"The morale Of the New York Police
Department has gone completely to
pieces" said Major La Guardia, "and
radical changes must be made before
there will be any Improvement.
Removal Hint
~ on mean DV that you mink En-
right should be removed" he was
asked
"When a commander in the field fails
10 make good he is removed" replied
the Aldermanic President. "He is not
asked why he didn't make good. Re
suits count. The Police Department
is like an army, and it needs rejuvena~
tion and new vigor. The whole system
of surveillance has broken down"
1t was said last night that the Mayor
might have something more to say to-
day ON the crime situation.