The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-14

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 Since its organization there years ago, the League has been instru- mental in conducting scores of in- vestigations upon request, stated Dt. Bartholow, and as a result of evidence gathered and turned over to law enforcement agencies, many gambling, horse race poolrooms, policy rackets, slot machine setups and other vice resorts have been raided, suppressed and the guilty parties apprehended.
 Tt was largely due to the ef- forts of the League and the Rev. James E. Barbee of Jacksonville, Florida, that the Florida Anti-Slot Machine Committee was organized" said Dr. Bartholow. "As 8 result of their work, nearly 12,000 heretofore legally-operated slot machines re- gently became contraband under the new Florida State Law which went into effect this month - thus saving the public millions of dollars annually. The League also had a major share in stopping dog racing in New Jersey, and other states.
 Backed By 200 Ministers
 The League is backed by an Ad- visory Board of over 200 minis ters, men and women civic leaders, and is headed by Dr. Bartholow, pastor of the First Methodist Episco- pal church of Mount Vernon, N. Y. Dr. Bartholow Is also president of the Bible Glass which bears his name and which numbers more than 20OO men. In making public @ letter praising the Leagues cooperation 1n the Florida Anti-Siot Machine drive received from the Rev. pr. Barbee, Dr. Bartholow expressed himself as gratified over the result and optned that 1t was one more reason TOT support on the part of the public. An excerpt from Dr. Barbee' letter reads: !" We have tried to do everything you said to do, and noth- ing. has stopped us. Permit me to say again that the National Crime Prevention League should have wogkers in every state, and the League could eventually save this Nation for decency and righteous ness."
 According to Dr. Bartholow, all leading crimologists and legal au- thorities place the cost of crime at fifteen billions of dollars, or over $ldO per person, per year in the United States, "and anywhere from 50 to 90 per cent of criminal activi- ties, especially those crimes that require the coming together Of groups of individuals to bet on horse and dog races, to gamble with dice, wheels, cards and Kindred devices, setting up slot machines, policy rackets, lotteries and other games to rob the public, Is due to the connivance or negligence ot some public officials. Those men who have sworn to enforce the law, but who find 1t more profitable to give protection and yield to tempta- ton. They are encouraged by venal politicians" he said, "and the indif- ference of the public, and the re- luctance of citizens to gain unpopu- lar notoriety by exposing the per- petrators of crime.
 Operate In Connecticut
 Tt was through the efforts of the Leagtie that the clean-up of vice, gambling dives and some of the most notorious gangsters of the un- derworld were run out of Yonkers, Mount Vernon and elsewhere in Westchester County" Dr. Bartho- low concluded. While the League now operates only in Massachusetts and Florida, 1t will soon launch a campaign to extend the sphere ot activities to other states. Speakers on how to curb and suppress crime" for churches and organiza- tions are now available on applica- ton to the League headquarters, President Bartholow stated. o. Rowland Munroe Is counsel for the League.