Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-27
@ase
NO TIME FOR Q%UIBBLING.

ment in regard 10 the expose u tNS
gambling that has been going on IN
this city, to which his attention, as
chairman of the police committee
was called by Prosecutor Stricken
does not in the least relieve him OF
the responsibility that he has assumed
in regard to the enforcement Of the
law in this city.
AS for the escape of tho gamblers
that the alderman says was made pos
slble by the publication of the
prosecutors letter TO him, it might be
pertInent TO ask why did the chair
man of the police committee wait I'M
til The prosecutor found 1t necessary
to call his attention to this open ana
fragrant violation of the law In this
city before acting? The local police
are expected to enforce the law mere
not the county prosecutor Alder
man Wilson, through an opinion given
by City Attorney Goldberger, claims
to be the responsible head of the
police.
Then, again. why did not the chair
man of the police committee act Inn
mediately upon receiving from the
prosecutor the Information about
which he claims to have been IN
ignorance, but which has been pretty
common knowledge about the city Tor
some time? The prosecutors letter was
dated March 20 and 1t gave the city
authorities ten days to clean up or
Tho prosecutor said he would take d
hand himself. With this letter in his
possession tho alderman went off on
b. fox hunting trip. Was 1t the alder
mans intention TO wait until near the
expiration of the limit fixed by the
prosecutor before doing anything
thus permitting the gamblers to COM
tinue their ucfarious trade without
m%olestation as long as possible?
1t is pretty small stuff to try to
get out from under by raising the cry
OF KNOCKING l6Ill AliibOJ
anything dirty in connection with the
city Is expected. When an oHlclal
can't think of any other escape there
Is always this sickening attempt to
pose as the great defender of the city
good name and reputation. If one
thinks so much of the city's reputation
why is such lawlessncss permitted
thereby inviting just such an expose
as has been brought about?
If IS ridiculous to claim that the
authorities were OF TINS
gambling. To make such a claim Is
only emphasizing the incompetency OF
the police department.
If we understand Alderman Wilson
correctly, his Idea is that there is no
disgrace in having Perth Amboy
known among the underworld as q
yide-open town. AS long as we shut
our eyes TO lawlessness the city Is
booming. The disgrace comes in
Showing up the whole business and
publically calling upon the authorities
No 10 their duty. We fail to see the
LOYALTY to the best interests of the city
In any such attitude, 1t is so thin the
people can easily see through it.
Alderman Wilson seems to fear tina
this so-ca1led knocking is being done
In the interest of cheap labor and tina
the more respectable and higher
priced element Will be kept out be.
cause of this cleanup. We can't ex-
nctly follow such reasoning. What
does the alderman mean by the more
respectable and. higher priced ele'
ment?" If he means poker and fare
players who run games for big stakes
instead of the petty crap shooters ano
gutter snipe. we fail TO see any diff
ference. The city is equally disgraced
with either Of them. AS for gaining
n higher standard of citizenship, sure
" the alderman does not hope to at
tract the desirable element through
making the city safe for the under
world. Only by a thorough house
cleaning and evidence that it is goin'
TO stay clean can we hope to secure
and hold the class of people who maxi
desirable citizens. 1t can never b.
done through the "hush" method.
As for the hous~ecleaning, the chair
man of the police committee says: Il
our police force needs reorganization
let's go about it in the right way. rh'
city hall is the proper place and an,
recommendation made will receive al
the consideration they warrant" II
The first place, there is no doubt il
the minds of the great majority o
people that the police force needs re
organization. No IF is necessary a
far as they are concerned. The fore
as it exists today has had little bu
scandal and incompetency to it's credi
for some time. We are all anxious t
go about the matter in the right wa
and if the city hall is the proper plac
then let those who are in control .
the city hall begin without delay.
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