There are five hundred thousand young men in New York who at present seem to be beyond the pale of the churches and the Young Men’s Christian Associations. But they are not hopeless, nor are they beyond the reach of kindness and the gospel of Jesus Christ. But there seems to be no particular agency at work trying to reach this class before they have become tramps and criminals, except the rescue missions. It is true there is an eternal struggle going on between good and evil and it is becoming more intense every year, but the church should take part in it and seek to save the young before they become law breakers. Once upon a time the Young Men’s Christian Association was a moral force in the community and aided young mechanics and store keepers and clerks to rise to independence, but not now. They are now working mainly to reach rich men’s sons. In some Associations rich young “bloods” go there simply to play pool and when the place is closed at night retire to some gin mill where they can finish the game. But what about the tens of thousands of young chaps who hang around the gin mill, simply because they have no money to pay the steep price for a membership ticket in the Y. M. C. A. or respectable church club? Would to God some Andrew Carnegie or Morgan or even a John D. would put the money up to erect a half a dozen of such places for poor but honest young men? Make them like the Cooper Union with a gymnasium attached. Serve meals at cost, have an employment bureau, throw out a shingle inviting all young men to come in without respect to race or creed. If you speak to some of these young men about the twentieth century church, they will swear at you. You know the Church is closed as tight as a clam six days in the week. What some of these young men want to see is persons that love God and their fellow men, and then show it by helping them into a better life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XIX OUR POLICE GUARDIANS This is a practical age, and the people demand of their servants, the Police, practical up-to-date methods in the prevention and suppression of crime, and no matter what other virtues our civic guardians may possess, the old adage that “Prevention is better than cure,” will always remain the true motto by which our police will be judged as the real protectors of our city. Under the bi-partisan Commission which controlled the Department for many years, the practical work of the force was intrusted to an experienced officer known as the Superintendent. This man knew every detail of the department and could not be deceived by any one, as he grew up with the system.