“MODERN BABYLON”

Evening Star, Issue 19128, 21 December 1925, Page 5

“MODERN BABYLON”

CRIME IN NEW YORK CAUSES AND CURES A THOROUGH CLEAN-UP. PrM» Araociallon—By Telegraph*—Copyright NEW YORK, December 20. (Received December 21, at 9.55 a.m.) Police Commissioner Enright lias ordered every police official and constable to participate in a thorough investigation of the vice conditions in the city, following an exchange of correspondence in which the mayor-elect (Mr Walker) charges Mr Dylan's administration with purposely overlooking a revival of unhampered gambling, prostitution, and kindred evils recently, expecting thereby lo leave, a discreditable and unsavory legacy to Mr Walker when he assumes office. . Mr Walker’s adherents contend that the investigation will be merely a political gesture, returning a clean bill of. health, since the police will investigate their own alleged laxity. A conference between Mr talker, Governor Smitii, and Judge Olvany, the Tammany Hall leader, regarding the choice of a new Police Commissioner is expected to include plans involving the most drastic vice-cleaning attempted during twenty years. Mr Walker is expected to counteract immediately the assumption that since he favors the sporting element, supervision will he lax. .furthermore, it ls believed that Governor Smith s identification with the moral clean-up might further his Presidential candidacy in 19*28.

While the city is stirred over the vice investigation, prominent clergymen. jurists, and publicists held a meeting to consider the crime wave and its causes and cures. Among the lonncr were designated the failure of women to do their duty under equal suffrage, alien immigrants’ improper education, police inadequacy, laxity ol punitive authorities, and over-scntimcnalism in administration of prisons, the antiquated system of jurisprudence, the breaking up of American home, and Prohibition. The speakers drew a parallel between Rome and New "fork, and averred that the fate of the former would overtake this modern Babylon unless its people returned from their selfishness and lure of wealth and ceased to participate in or approve of the exchange of conscience for the sordid gifts of a golden world.—A. and iV.Z. Cable.