Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-28
ARE HARMONY PLANS
CONSPIRACY OF CROOKS?
When PooIroom Proprietors Are Said
to BE Paying Money for Protection
to Follow Poiitlea Truce, Hon
est Men Must Be on
Their Guard

- thrown some light on conditions about
which there has been much talk in private.
1t was said in tho news reports of the raid
that several poolroom proprietors have paid
from $4,000 down for the privilege of op-
Grating as soon as the alleged harmony deal
between the two factions in the local Repub-
lican party had been arranged.
Whether there is any foundation for this
statement we do not know. but IL is notori-
Gus that there has been quiet gossip for
weeks about tho desire of certain politicians
for such an arrangement as would permit
the operation Of various kinds of illegal
business without interference by the police
department, so that the politicians might
obtain money for financing their organza'
tions.
We prefer to believe that the basis Of this
gossip is In the desire of the conductors of
Illicit business to secure q re establishment
of the kind of partnership between govern
ment and vice which has existed here at
times In the past rather than in the plans of
any one actively engaged in politics to finance
political organization in such a way. The
fact that there has been and is such gossip
should make every political leader seek to
clear his own skirts of suspicion.
One thing is certain. and that il that no
deal of this kind can be put over with the
knowledge or consent of Mayor Moore. lie
il an honest man. Any partnership between
government and vice is repugnnnt to him.
1t is a betrayal Of the people. 1t il the
selling to )awbrcakcrs Of the privilege Of
breaking the law. 1t demoralizes the police
force, for il creates a group of protected
criminals who must be allowed to pursue
| their calling with impunity.
| Partnership between government and vice
4
| and the contractors who do the public work.
Only men with an a:rophied moral sense de-
fend either. We got rid of contractor rule
when Mr.. Moore was put in the Mayors
Office, but the low moral standards which
| made lot of politicians follow the lead Of
| the contractor bosses was not elevated by
| their defeat last November. They were not
reformed They were merely outvoted.
And now We are hearing talk of harmony
| between the leaders who were outvoted and
the leaders OF those who outvotcd them.
| And along with the talk of harmony comes
the gossip Of the dabolical plan to debauch
the government by selling it out for price
to those who pandcr to the vicious.
1t is not apparent yet how far the ''har-
mony" plans have gone. But the denial
by Thomas W. Cunningham. head Of
the Republican Alliance, that he will sup
port Charles J. Pommer, the Ware cand-
date for the Council in the First district is
reassuring.
James Gallagher is the fusion candidate
for the vacant seat. lie is committed to the
support of the Mayor. If he should be
elected Mr.. Moore would have twelve votes
and the Wares would have only nine
Whereas. il Pommer IL elected the Mayor s
majority in Council would be only one, pro-
vided all those who were elected q plat
form in opposition to contractor interference
in government keep their pledges. Some OF
them have already shown a disposition to
assert their right to vote as their own in :
tcrcsts seem to indicate rather than to con
tinue their support Of the Mayor. How far
this disposition will carry them will depend
on how potent are the arguments offered to
convince them that their Interests require
| them to obstruct the honest and busineSslike
| plans of the executive departments.
The duty OF the Mayor in the present
| crisis, so far as that crisis can be under
stood, is to stand out against every propo
SitiOn to compromise with the powers OF
darkness or to have any dealings with thos'
who profit by the occupation of the clas,
whose feet, according to the ancient writer
lay hold on hell. Better a bitter fight for tn,
next three years than harmony which would
result in betrayal of the people.
The Mayor, fortunately, holds the whip
hand through his control of the police de
| partment. lie put at the head of that de
| partment a man who regards it as his dut
| to enforce the laws against all lawbreakers
No conspiracy for the protection of tn
I | vicious can b. carried out 30 long as Directo
Cortclyou remains at his post. The send
ing of Lieutenant McCoach, formerly Cap
tain McCoach, and a Ware follower, to raj
the poolrooms was a shrewd political move
( II served notice on all and several that tn
members OF the police force are peace officer
and must obey their supcriors regardless @
their political affiliations, and that the tim
when a friendly" officer in the precinc
would be useful to the lawbreakers ha
passed
Whatever may be the situation in othe
r departments, the director of public Safet
y does not think in terms of political den
e when he approaches the performance of hi
duty
e The Mayor cannot ignore what is going o
q behind the scenes, but his strength lies an
v will lie in the emphasis which he places O
K the execution of the constructive plans
= his administration. Whether he is 'titulf
9 head Of the party" is unimportant in CON
y parison with his undoubted leadership In Il
e business side Of government. 1t is tn,
. business side in which the great mass of Il
n people Is interested. They look to the MayC
n as their trustee to conserve the public funt
4 and to carry out the projects necessary In q
r | expanding city. They win stand by him
0 every undertaking. And Il he viii take the