The New York herald., 1922-04-06
CITIZENRY UNITING
TO CRUSH LAWLESS
Police Head Inefficient, Says
Yorkvillc Club. Telling of
Merchants Fears.
MILLER TO GET APPEALS
brooklyn Commerce Body to
Demand Rigid Yoke on
Gunmen.
MILLER TO GET APPEALS

The protest of the Washington
Square Association against the failure
Of the police to control the criminal
element of New York, rising from the
robbery on Sunday or the home of
Albert r. Shattuck of 10 Washington
Square North. grew yesterday to wide
proportions. Among proposed meas
ures are two appeals to Gov. Miller for
relief, and one of those appeals is to
request the removal of Police Commits
sioncr Richard Il. Enright.
Two separate efforts in addition to
that of the Washington Square Asso-
citation were announced to obtain bet
ter police protection. The Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce executive COM
mittee Is TO meet next Tuesday to con-
slider recommendations for improve
ment of conditions. including an appeal
TO Gov. Miller for aid.
The He'll Gate Republican Club of
All East Eighty fifth street started a
petition among Yorkville residence and
business people asking the Governor to
remove the Commissioner. The York
vile professors have planned big
mass meeting, on date to be an
nounced under the auspices oil the
following committee appointed by the
executive committee of the club;
Joseph Goldsmith, lawyer, Of l2fo
Broadway. chairman; Abraham ooer'
Walter Nadolny Lewis Ellsworth,
Charles Kogle. Mrs. Emma Angerman
and Mrs. Martha Constance.
Justice lsador Wasservogel Of the
Supreme Court Is a member of the He'll
gate Republican Club.
Only want Protection.
Mr.. Goldsmith made II clear that
while the movement Is sponsored b.
Republican club and Is directed against
a Democfatic commissioner, it is nom
political in its motives, and Is designed
solely to Obtain better police protection
for Yorkviile.
The principai complaint OF the people
of Yorkville is that a condition Versihs
on panic has arisen in that section as
a result of increased danger from crim-
inals since Commissioner Enrisht aool-
ished the East Eighty-eightn street po-
lice station.
Mr.. Goldsmith issued the following
statement:
THE petition which was started IN
circulation to-day is ulrected to Gov.
Miller. and asks for the immediate re-
moval OF Commissioner Enright. IL
probably will be presented TO the Gov
ernor next week when he Is expected TO
be in this city attending an important
meeting.
"About three months ago the Yorkville
Chamber Of Commerce adopted resolu-
ton protesting the closing OF the East
Eighty-eighth street police station. which
was forwarded to Mayor Hylan.
month later Commissioner Enright APP
peared before public meeting held by
the Chamber OF Commerce a. which he
attempted to justify his action. At that
time he said that the closing OF the sta
ion house had not worked any hardship
on the citizens, as the same police ef-
aciency was being maintained. At that
time we as an organization. were adj
vised by Hugo Klein, chaircan of that
meeting. to lie low for the present.
"Com nm missioner inefficient"
Conditions relative TO holdups and
crimes have become too alarming for
this organization to longer withhold from
aggressive action. At meeting held on
Tuesday evening OF our committee 1t was
voted to draw up the ptition and launch
an aggressive campaign that will bring
about either restoration OF the Eighty
eighth street station or the removal OF
Commissioner Enright.
THE petition circulated directly
charges the Police Commissioner with
inefficiency. 1t sets forth, in addition
10 his ebolishment of the police station.
that he has weakened police protection
by nbolishing old systems put in vogue
by his predecessors. which we demand
be restored until the lawless element is
curbed.
"Crline in this district. which includes
a residential section in which live on its
Fifth avenue border a group Of citizens
whose wealth will exceed $500. 900,
has increased so per cent. since the po-
lice station was abolished.
Hundreds or storekeepers have visited
this committee m the last ten days and
asked for advice. Their fear OF holdups
has reached the stage OF a panic. They
are now contemplating as a partial
means OF protection the forming of a
vigilance committee. and we have ad-
vised them to do so. pending our en-
deavor TO secure the removal OF Com
missioner Enright. who is incapable and
who has an utter disregard for the pub
lie at large.
"viGiInntc Fund Already $4,000"
"As public spirited citizens OF the
sixteenth Assembly district we have
taken the initiative and intend to fight
the campaign to a finish. We have
So. 500 already subscribed as a nucleus
OF fund 10 wage the campaign.
eve intend to make impossible the
present conditions whereby a section OF
tho city IN which 100000 people live
shall he without its own police precinct.
At present the citizens of this district
must depend on the police from the East
Sixty-seventh and East 104th street sta
tons for protection"
Ii was stated that hundreds or mer-
chants bankers and professional men
and wealthy residents Of the Fifth and