New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-06-27
BLOCK PARTY GRAFT
EXPOSED INN. YORK
Welfare Worker Says Il Is Only
Field Day for Crooks

New York, June sT,-Hlaek parties
general have degeneFated into pure
'rakeoff'' commercial enterprises
there the morale OF young girls are
naangered, petty gambling INDUCED
and heotleggeTs are busy, according
Q Bird 3, eoleE, commissioner OF
Ahlle welfare,
After an investigation Mr., caler, in
statement issued last night, said that
nsneakable occurrences have taken
lsee at certain block parties ana
hat the public 10 being robbed In
ambling games under the guise OF
harity.
Under d city ordinance adopted on
december 8, 1891, Mr., coler may H.
ense any person, society. association
corporation 10 solicit money, dona.
Ions or financial assistance on the
treets or In public places. Failure 10
omply with this ordinance ID punish
bile by fine OF not more than $500.
by imprisonment not exceeding 90
avs, or both such fine and imprison'
nent.
Fer three months Mr.. coler has
,een In constant hot water over his
efusal 10 Issue licenses 10 persons
enected OF being backed by profess
ional promoters, who stage carnivals
n the guise OF block parties, Some
& these enterprises were worked on a
commission or percentage basis. ac-
erding TO Mr.. coler.
"open gambling in its most insid-
Gus form Is being carried on. not only
nmes of chance and lotteries, but
wheels have been actually run for
noney--i0 cents to win 81 or 81 TO
rim sio-out In the open, where the
general public and children can par
icipate. We arc complaining against
he increase In crime among children.
Ind yet under the guise OF charity we
ire teaching them crime.
THE disease has been running
through almost every class and every
ype OF religious belief. We are at
empting. as fas as possible. TO stop
/. We have restricted permits in an
,ndeavor to shut out 'syps' and the
business agents who have developed
hese propositions. We have asked
he leaders of veterans organizations
o meet us in order to come 70 some
lind of agreement. Most Of the posts
hat have conducted these affairs have
lone them in an orderly and decent
way. Some of them have been sim
ply 'gyp' proposition at which un-
peakable things have taken place.
We believe a social gathering of
my type Of organization held in the
,pen air is good thing. but the way
hese block parties, carnivals. etc,
lave been conducted. or attempted to
,e conducted. must be brought to the
attention of the public. and I would
hank the press II it would send rep
'esentatives to these gatherings and
hen tell the people Just what they
Jaw at them"
In an attempt to stop SO far as
possible what Mr.. Coler says is
growing menace to public morals"
he has called officials Of the American
Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars
for a conference in his Office In the
Municipal Building. on Friday after
noon at 1 o'clock. to ask full coopera-
lion In stamping out the evil.
II have received numerous COM
plants about these block parties some
of which could not be made public"
said Mr.. Coler. Il will say, however,
that liquor Is frequently sold with the
result that women and young girls
have been seen staggering about at
these affairs
The time has come when this de-
partment and the public at large
should insist that at least outward de-
:ency be adhered to In obtaining
Off welfare charity and church
work. From an innocent type Of COM
munial gathering, these institutions
have grown to be disease and most
demoralizing to the community. Pro-
fessional accelerators, dealers In dolls
and other novelties, games Of chance.
ETC.. approach organizations Of oil
veterans organiza-
ton nurseries. ETC., making PROPOSE
lions to them to conduct block parties
bazaars and carnivals on o percentage
-, oA,,n L. ia