Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-03
HACKmEN AND THE POLICE.
They Ask for Change OF Officers at the
Depot.
To the Editor of the Glnha

They Ask for a Change OF Officers at the
Depot.
To the Editor of the Globe.
1 have noticed the reports and comments of
the city papers upon the recent fracas between
certain hackmen and Officer Calvin, and as an
cold settler" one who is familiar with st. Paul
from an early day, wish to say word
There is always two sides to story, and now,
Mr. Editor, as an outsider-an old settler and
an eye witness of the whole ARRAY, desire to
give the other side and ask the public to give
me hearing. Officer Calvin, it is true is the
oldest policeman in st. Paul. l was going to
say that he was on the force before some of its
present members were born. Is it not little
singular that with all his long experience and
constant service that he has not been promoted
from the position of patrolman? Other men
who entered the service of the city years after
Calvin was on the force have been promoted
from patrolmen through all the grades
up to chief, while Calvin remains
where he started. Can you tell me
'swhy these2things are thus Mr.. Editor? Is there
no cause for this seeming injustice to the old
est man on the force? All I have got to say is,
TASK each succeeding mayor of the CITY,"
each and all of them will tell you, that while
officer Calvin might perform his duties in a
subordinate position, he could not be trusted
in place where cool Judgment is required and
demanded. He is sOured disappointed, dis
coetentented man, and his impetOus tempera-
ment is totally unfit to occupy even the posi-
tion of a patrolman on the force. He has not
the faculty or disposition to deal with men
with whom he has no sympathy, a public
officer should do. His disposition
is that of tyrant, and clothed
with the authority conferred upon
him by the city, he has become convinced that
he is an aut ecrat, whose word is law and whose
oa%1. ha% hot oil
right. There is nothing conciliatory about
him. He takes it for granted that he is an
Ishmaelite and that his hand should be against
every man. He is, by nature and disappointed
hopes of promotion, totally unfit to occupy the
position he holds. He makes desperate effort
TO do the right thing in the wrong way. He
should have been removed from the force years
ago, but as he has not been, ask you, Mr..
Editor, and all other lovers of peace
and good order, to join with me
and use your influence to have the mayor or
the chief, whoever has the authority, to make
change in the policemen stationed at the de-
pots. Officer Morgan has never had any such
difficulties, and never will have. Neither will
any other officer of the force. There are hum
dreds of others who have business at the depots
beside hackmen, who tamely submit to the
overbearing and insulting conduct of this Off
Ger, but they have their views all the same, and
while they make no formal complaints their
grievances are quietly laid before the mayor;
and this will account in some measure l pre-
sumo, for Mayor Dawson's action
in ordering the release of the offending hack
men on bail. have nothing to say in extern
uation of the men who committed the assault
on Officer Calvin, but 1 do ask
that Officer Calvin be transferred to
some other beat, and my word for it
there will be no cause of complaint
against hackmen or any other persons, except
confirmed criminals. at the depots on the arrival
or departure of trains. Men who live and
earn a livelihood in the city, and have done
so for years, are not brutes, neither are they
slaves to be domineered over by man
clothed in little brief authority. They re-
spect the law but despise despot and will re-
sent an insult whenever offered, and SO would
an OLD SETTLER.