Gerrymen
In the late 1870s Gerry persuaded the Police Department to allow Society agents (nicknamed "Gerrymen") to keep children away from "immoral" activities such as the theater, amusement parks, penny arcades and poor and immigrant neighborhoods. Gerry was keen to enforce child labor laws regarding performance. Moving beyond street theater and acrobatics, he turned to Juvenile theater. This caused controversy with those involved in the theater. Anti-gerry campaign groups formed, and the mayor of New York was persuaded to limit Gerry's power and set out proper regulation of child stage performers.
Read more about this topic: New York Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Children