In Our Great Cities

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 11, 1909

In Our Great Cities

The great cities of the world are centers of power and influence. Were these powers and influences those which tended for morality, for peace and justice, we could look with satisfaction upon the constant growth of the great cities; but we are compelled to admit that such is far from being the case. This is demonstrated by the records of graft and other species of crime unearthed in our great cities during the past few years. Gen. Theodore A. Bingham, formerly commissioner of police for Greater New York, has this to say:—

Lawbreaking in all our large cities is to an appalling extent a safe and profitable occupation.

He declares that New York “is in many respects the most lawless city in the world.” The police magistrates discharge criminals for political reasons at the dictation of political bosses. The political affairs are dominated by corrupt politicians. The thousands of men engaged in what is known as the “white slave traffic” furnish one sixth of the illegal votes cast in close elections. The majority of the city ordinances, according to his statement, are not made to be obeyed, but to be broken, “so that some one could make money from the intentional or unintentional violation of insincere law.” The city government costs two million dollars a year, but in addition to that, he declares that the city pays one hundred million dollars a year in graft, blackmail, and brokerage on crime. With these conditions constantly growing worse, we can understand the necessity for a quick work on the part of our people in giving this message committed to us in these great centers.