NEW YORK’S VICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 2

NEW YORK’S VICE.

AN INVESTIGATION ORDERED. THE PROHIBITIONISTS’ PREDICTION. [Australia & X.Z. Cable Association.] NEW YORK, December 21. Police Commissioner Enright lias ordered every police official and constable to participate in a thorough investigation of vice conditions in the city, following on an exchange of correspondence wherein the Mayor-elect charged Judge Dylans’ administration with purposely overlooking the revival of unhampered gambling, prostitution and kindred evils recently, expecting thereby to leave a discreditable and unsavoury legacy to t\ alkcr when be assumes office. Walker’s adherents contend the investigation will be merely a political gesture, returning a clean bill of health, since the police will their own alleged laxity. ' The conference between Walker, Governor Smith and Judge Olany, the Tammany Hall leader, regarding the choice of a new police commissioner is expected to include plans involving the most drastic vice cleaning in twenty vears. Walker is expected to counteract immediately the assumption that since he favours the sporting element, his supervision will he lax. Furthermore, it is believed Smith’s identification with the moral clean up might further his Presidential candidature in 1928. While the city is stirred over the vice investigation prominent clergymen. juries and the public, hold a meeting to consider the crime wave, its causes and cures. Among the former were designated the failure of women to do llioir duty under equal suffrage, illicit immigrants, improper education, police inadequacy, laxity of the punitive authorities and overswitimentalKm in the administration of the prisons, the antiquated system of jurisprudence and the breaking up of the American home. The prohibition speakers drew a parallel between Borne and New York and averred the former s fate would overtake this modern Bahvlon unless its people return from selfishness and the lure of wealth and cease to participate in, or approve of the exchange of conscience for the sordid gifts of tho golden world.