Evening journal., 1921-09-17
SAYS chester IS
MODERN SODOM
City's Morality Never at
Lower Ebb, Josiah
Sleeper Asserts
THINKS GAMBLERS
ARE PROTECTED

CHESTER, Pa. Sept 17-Ches-
ters officials. from the Mayor down,
were nayed numerically by speak
ers at public meeting held in the
Sixth Regiment Armory and lasting
close to last midnight The hall was
filled from wall TO wall, several hun
dred persons standing four hours
rather than miss hearing what those
who claimed to have the goods"
had to say about the men whom the
city taxpayers elected to conduct
their public affairs.
The speakers were William II.
Berry. collector Of the port Of Phila-
delphia, and former Mayor OF
Chester; the Rev. DIR. c. Lee Gaul,
pastor of Trinity Methodist Episco-
pal Church; Rev. John Graham. pas
tor Of Bethany Presbyterian Church;
Rev. j. A Maxwell. pastor Of the
First Baptist Church; Edward II.
Bryant, head OF n detective agency
which gathered the evidence thai
led to a raid on THE Paddock" sew
eral weeks ago. when nearly 200
men were arrested. and Mrs. Mary
b. Obdyke, Chester's only police
woman.
Never has the morality Of the
city been az a lower ebb than now"
declared Professor Josiah Sleeper,
chairman OF the meeting. Capital
lists come into our midst to start
some line OF business and invest their
money, but no sooner do they learn
the truth about the city and its po-
litical corruption than they decide
that II is not a ft place for their
wives and children to live in and
finally they go elsewhere. Chester
has become a veritable Sodom."
III the Mayor knows the condi-
tions of the city and does not allevi-
ate them he is guilty. If he does not
know the awful state OF things here
he is incapable, and ought to resign.
II those under him have not carried
out his orders. and refuse to make
Chester a good place to live in, he
ought TO charge his subordinates be-
fore the public bar Of justice and
exonerate himself" DR.. Maxwell as
serted.
Or. Graham spoke OF "a certain
judge at Media" and charged the
jurist with having intimate knowl-
edge OF "the rotten political and
moral conditions that exist here.
DR.. Graham said that "heavy fines
az imposed upon friendless and un-
influential colored men and the for
eiFner. without a pull, while the
higher ufs are allowed to go with
the admonition, DO not do 4
again."
Detective Bryant said that as high
as s37O0 had been carried away by
single patron OF the Chester Ath-
letic Club, as winnings in one eve
ming and that on an average $1,000
changed hands every night. Bryan
told how ne had gone TO a police
head, who didn't know him. to make
overtures whereby he could start d
gambling place in Chester. ana the
rolice head had offered to sell him
gambling tables. slot machines and
other devices captured in previous
raids. The detective said ne had
some OF his operatives negotiate for
gambling privileges which were ac-
corded him, and that protection
money was paid.
Mrs. Obdyke named a city official
ss proprietor OF a disorderly house
n this city ami save the addr ass or
West Third street.
Collector Berry urged the people
of Chester to lend their assistance
to put a stop to the sale Of booze ~
the licensed saloons as well az th'
speakeasies OF the town. saying tha
more than three-quarters OF th'
city's population knew that the Vol
stead act was being all but openl,
violated,