The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-25
THOUSANDSAT
MEETING CRY
SMASH GANGS
New York Launches Drive
to Break Underworld
Grip on City.
N0TABLES STIR CROWD
Mothers of Slain Babies
Inspire Throng That
Demands Action.
Bu United press

Demands Action.
By United Press
NEW YORK, Aug. 25.-Baby-
killing gangsters, gunner, and
racketeers were rounded up today
in police drive that got under way
last night as frenzied thousands,
inspired by two women on a Madi-
son Square garden platform with
mass meeting speakers, clamored for
action.
The two women were Mrs. John
Lopez, mother of Gloria, 4-year-old
girl killed in the wanton outbreak
last Friday, and Mrs. John Vene-
ghallo, mother Of Michael, 5-year-
old boy killed by gangsters in Little
Italy two weeks ago.
The police drive, most extensive
in the history of New York City,
was ordered by Police Commissioner
P. Mulrooney, who sat on
that platform and heard his depart
ment ard his SuperiorS charged with
responsibility for the instruction
Of criminals against the law.
NctableS on Platform
Speakers, who included a former
United States secretary Ct state,
cambridge Colby; United States
Senator Robert F. Wagner; ma
rine officer decorated by congress.
General Smedley D. Butler, and
himself, variously
charged the crime outbreak to pro-
hibition, political influence, and the
voters themselves.
The 10000 voters maSsed in the
Garden after the speaking, adopted
a resolution calling upon Governor
Franklin D. Roosevelt to remove
from office Mayor James j. Walker,
or any New York mayor who was
lax in his obligation to enforce the
laws.
Earlier in the day, the board of
estimate had approved, without a
vote, an appropriation of
$4,000 for radio equipment,
motorcycles and other
equipment needed by police in their
against crime.
Garden Is Packed
And two policemen, motorcycle
patrolman Churchill and patrolman
Webb, murdered by 19-year- old
boys attempting pay roll robbery
last Friday, were buried with police
honorS.
Four others, including the Lopez
baby, had been killed, and a dozen
were wounded in the chase that
followed the attempted robbery.
Weather had caused transfer of
the scheduled mass meeting from
Central park to Madison Square
Garden. The big garden was
packed by 10000.
Outside, from $4,000 to $4,000
clamored for admittance as Balm
bridge Colby, chairman, opened his
attack on an "unholy alliance of
politics and the underworld.
Il want you to look at these wom-
en-, then you'll have an understand
ing of what is taking place in this
city. As long as you put hypocrites
and towards in public office, so long
will your children be at the mercy
Of criminals"
Challenged by Butler
Senator Wagner, Father Charles
D. Coughlin of Detroit, Charles
Coe, State Commander Ed
ward ]. Neary of the Legion, Hugh
Frayne of the A. F. of L., Rabbi
Gabriel Schulman, spoke. Then
General Butler arose. He pointed at
Mrs. Veneghallo and Mrs. Lopez.
Look, there's your damned law
leSSness. Your police are as good
as those who boss them. You have
gangsters because some of your pub
lie officials have betrayed your trust.
Your city will be safe when it is
clean. 1t never will be safe while it
is dirty.
1.-THE 10000 policemen in this city
could close every speakeaSy, vicious
resort and racketeer hangout in
forty-eight hours if they NEW this
was what was wanted of them.
Something is holding the police in
check. Some restraint is operating
upon the commissions and his sub
Prohibition Is Blamed
Mulrooney, almost by way of re-
tort, it appeared, praised Mayor
Walker, blamed prohibition laws,
by New York's popula-
ton, for lawleSSness, and replied:
1.-THE New York police offer moth
ing to the racketeer but an uncon-
ditional surrender. We will meet
blow with blow, gun with gun. We
ask no quarter We will give no
quarter. Twenty thousand men are
o nthe firing line. Rackets will be
AS he spoke, the police, aug
mented by 800 on clerical jobs, had
rounded up fifty-known criminals.
They were bringing them in" with
every passing nour.