reciation of its opportunities to become recognized as one of the
most desirable places in America for homes, educational centers and
legitimate business enterprises. (Signed)

The following is the statement of Chief Miller. The appointment of Mr.
Miller as chief was unanimously endorsed by the press and public. He is
the first chief in Des Moines selected from the ranks and appointed
entirely on his merits.

STATEMENT OF CHIEF OF POLICE MILLER.

I have been a member of the Des Moines police force for over seventeen
years, filling every position from patrolman up. I was appointed Chief
of Police on October 14, 1908. I have pleasure in submitting the
following conclusions, based on my experience as a police officer:

Segregation never segregated in Des Moines. The most prosperous houses
with the high-class patronage absolutely refused to enter the segregated
districts, and were always able to command sufficient influence to
enable them to defy the police.

Landladies in segregated districts, by reason of severe competition,
were compelled to resort to all means of advertising, which included red
lights over the doors, the serving of liquors and other refreshments,
orchestral music, persistent displaying of charms by women in the
windows and other means of making their business as conspicuous as
possible, and thereby attracting even innocent spectators to the
vicinity who were often robbed by attaches and hangers-on from the
resorts. The segregated districts always became notorious and the evil
was greatly augmented thereby.

Property in the segregated districts was manipulated by money sharks for
the purpose of securing complete financial control over the women, who
in their slavery and despair were often driven to commit desperate
crimes in their futile endeavors to free themselves from the hands of
their masters. The cleaning up of the resorts freed between two and
three hundred of these women, who immediately left the city and have not
been replaced. As they were well known it was impossible for them to
locate in residence districts and citizens have taken pleasure in
keeping us posted with reference to suspicious persons in the suburbs.

In conclusion will say that the remarkable freedom of the city from
crime, immediately following the closing of resorts, the boom in
residence and city real estate and business in general, also the higher
moral tone of the city, is so pronounced and apparent to all in Des