, 1879-08-03
THE REMOVAL OF CAPT. HOOD.

Mayor HARRISON boosted before going into
Office that !" he would make the best Mayor
Chicago ever had" What he really meant
was that as mere partisan spoils-grabber ne
would throw all his predecessors into the
shade: that be would be the most ultra
partisan Democrat that ever held the Office
of AIayor Of Chicago. And he is rsdeeming
that pledge.
Capt. HOOPS interview published in TIE
TRIBUNE shows that the Mayor offered to
bribe that officer; that is to say, suggested
that promotion might follow his conversion
from Rspublicanism to the Democratic party
faith. But, failing in this, the Mayor said:
ss Captain, consider you as one Of the most
intelligent men We have On the force, and
YOU need not have any fears about being re-
moved" If Capt. HOODS statement is true,
and it has not yet been disputed, Mayor
HABn1sox has broken faith with one
Of his very best subordinates. And, if his
word to Capt. Hoop is not good, the pre-
snmntion lies that he is liable at any and all
times to break faith with any and every per-
son sustaining either official or other relations
to him. Mr. .HARR1sox's word given to Capt.
Hoop was his official promise that he (Capt.
Hoop) should not be disturbed. For the Of
ficial assurance he gave q reason, namely:
the officers superior intelligence. This cir
cumstance gave an especial sanction to the
promise. It was equivalent to saying: Cspt.
Hoop. YOU cannot be removed without an
injury to the service; hence you will not be
removed, because I shall do nothing to i'm
nair the efficiency Of the service. Six weeks
nfter coupling with the assurance that Capt.
HOOP should not be removed the best of
reasons, namely that the good Of the service
reouired his retention, Mayor HARR1soS de-
mands his resignation peremptorily, without
assigning any cause.
Capt. HOOP may be very Insignificant
person. He is, in fact, only humble police
man: but his case, by reason of its environ
mept, becomes very conspicuous. Says the
hlayor, in substance, to the Captain: am
sorry YOU are not Democrat; you are en-
titled to promotion by virtue of your intel1i-
eence and integrity, but cannot promote q
Republican, however high may be his stand
ard of intelligence and integrity. The Cap
tain replies: have always voted the Repub-
lican ticket, although I am no politician at
a1l, I prefer to forego the opportunity OF
promotion rather than be false to my princi-
ples. Il was then that the Mayor gave his
promise that Capt. HOOD should not be re-
moved. Six weeks later be broke his word
II is quite impossible that Mayor HARR1soS's
official word should pass current after this
elaring case Of bad faith. Suppose Chi
caeo merchant should, OF the request OF
country customer, agree to ship him certain
merchandise at certain price tomorrow,
and tomorrow should write him, saying:
"I decline to ship the goods sold yesterday
and promised to be shipped to-doy, and
decline to give you reason Tor TINS
refusal to abide by my contract" The effect
would be the ruin Of the city merchants rep
utation with the country customer, not only
for ordinary fair dealing but for verac'ty;
and if knowledge Of the transaction extended
to the whole community his reputation
would be utterly destroyed This IS Mr.
HAnn1soN's position. ..'
II Capt. HOOP tells the truth, the Mayor,
in his official capacity, pledged to act up
rightly, has been guilty Of the grossesS du-
Dlicity in q case, too, where, on his own
showing, the highest interests Of the police
service, no less than the dictates OF common