Evening star., 1928-12-14
NEW YORK POLICE
PROBLEM REVIEWED
Both "White- Collar" and
"Strong-Arm" Systems Are
Declared Failure.
BY LEMUEL F. PARTON.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December IA
News that Grover A. Whalen has been
definitely offered the job of police COM
missioner of New York, following the
report that Commissioner Joseph A.
Warren has been asked to resign, rounds
up cycle of 27 years of white-collar
police administration here, as con-
trasted to the old method of depart
mental appointments. The situation,
disclosed rather than created by the
murder of Arnold Rotl1stein, epitomizes
a problem of national interest as it
exists in large cities
Big Bill" Deyery, the last of New
York's police chiefs, head of the de-
partment in the COS, was handy
with a club and roaring Falstaff in
speech and person. While his admin
istration cracked many skulls which
doubtless needed cracking, he played
gang politics, and in 1901 the State
Legislature eased him out by abolish
ing his office Thereafter the depart
ment was headed by commissioners of
police, former business men or poll
ticians, rather than rough-and-tumble
knights of the night stick, such as
Devery.
Neither System Worked.
Neither system has worked. Crime
is still fostering. Neither the major
operations of the heavy-fiSted police o.
the old school or the poultice app Ia
tions Of the later business admins
trations has brought about a cure
Or even much relief to the patient.
The difference. between Grover A
Whalen and Big Bill Devery just about
bridges the gulf between Nicholas Muir
ray Butler and John L. Sullivan. This
extreme variance of types indicates the
range of New York'S search for some
body-anybody- can put thieves,
racketeers and gunner out of business.
Mr. Whalen is chairman of the mayors
committee on reception to distinguished
guests. If he will receive a few dis
tinguished gunmen, hi-jackers, chiselers,
drug peddlers, lush rollers and pam
gingi kings at the town Jail house, he
will get bigger cheer and more ticker
tape than Lindbergh and Comdr. Byrd
both arriving at once. And if he should
meet the slayer of Arnold Rothstein with
the keys to the city jail-there's no tell
ing what this town would do.
Mr.. Whalen is one of the higher ex-
ecutivaS of a leading New York depart
ment store. During Mayor Hylan's ad-
miniStration he was commissioner of
plants and structures. Even more than
the late j. Sergeant Cram. social men
tor of Charles F. Murphy, he knows the
niceties of public department. Possibly
only GaSpaS de Portola, with his orna-
mental reception barge, has surpassed
MIR. Whalen and the municipal tug
Macon in colorful pageantry incidental
to public receptions.
Foot Ball Tactics Used.
Criminals have followed foot ball in
&opting the open game and the long
fdNyard pass. They have abandoned
the mass attack of the old gangs, and
the cops can never be sure as to just
who has the ball-a gunman or some
quasi-respectable politician
While many of the guesses in the
Rothstein affair have been wild-Such
as that linking him with the death of
Iowenstein, the Belgian financier-the
post mortem on his various activities
has been sufficient to disclose an amaz-
ing versatility in shady operations as
well as strange immunity. Mr.. Wha
len will have many leads to follow Here
are few of the sign posts along the
backward trail of the murdered gam
bier.
Rothstein owned the house in which
Dot King, show girl, was found mur-
dered five years ago. The police never
found the murderer.
District Attorney Banton said he had
found evidence showing that Rothstein
had financed Communist agitation and
strikes.
The Federal narcotic squad traced
$4,000, 900 worth of confscated drugs
to Rothstein.
Supplied Lawyers.
George Graham Rice, on trial for
alleged stock frauds, was bailed out
and supplied with lawyers by Rothstein.
Rothstein was associated with Fuller
and MCGEE, sent to Sing Sing for stock
market frauds.
The man who shot Rothstein let the
genii out of the bag, and New York
is again dramatically reminded that
crime has long talons and an ugly
countenance.
The appeal to the Legislature by w.
Kingsland Macy, by which the Roth
stein case was tossed into the political
arena, did not have the expected re-
verberations. However, Republican pol
iticians here are making the most OF
it. and unless swift and effective police
work is done, it will unquestionably
become an issue of the approaching
political campaign.
Copyright, 1929