The daily gazette., 1882-06-15
Dailu gaxette
WnMINGToN. THuRspAY, JOSE 1s.
No Coiored Police.

Mayor-elect Wales positively announces
that he viii appoint no colored men on his
police force.
His reasons are that tho people are not
vet ready for such a positive change; that
the colored people are poorly fitted for such
responsible positions; and that the white
Republicans bore the heat and brunt of the
political battles In this city and State long
before the negroes became possessed of the
elective franchise. These and other reasons,
which the Mayor-elect gave in detail to
GAZETTE representative, will be found In
another column.
The new Mayor is undoubtedly sincere In
his motives, and may be able to keep an un-
mixed police force until after the November
election. But negro policemen are bound
to come, as the party cannot afford to lose
the colored vote, and it will not remain
solidly in'the Republican ranks unless it is
appropriately rewarded in the distribution
of official favors. The Republican party, If
successful, must place eolored men in office,
and the mere appointment of one negro as
BailifF of City Council will not satisfy class
of voters who represent nearly one-half of
the numerical strength of the Republican
party in this city.
The interview with the Mayor-elect also
discloses some of the many annoyances he
has been subjected to by importunate
seekers after positions on the police force.
1t is almost disgusting to think that
reputable Republicans Will recommend to
the new Mayors favorable consideration
men who are known thieves, and who, in
DIR. Wales opinion, are unfit to be dog
catchers. The Office of policeman is
very important one, requiring
nerve, courage, prudence and judgment,
and it is dsgraceful for men calling them
selves good citizens to recommend totally
unfit persons simply to get rid of their tire
some and persistent applications for favor
able word or signature to a petition
These men should consider that the appoint
ing power is largely influenced by political
recommendations, and that they incur
serious risk of having bad men appointed tt
responsible positions by recommending then
recklessly and solely because they lack tn
coura ge to refuse.
The extent of this evil practice is show
ny lllS DOclOT : Lldb Ill Ont Cus
where the recommendations of the appl
cant were SO strong that he had decided
give him position on the force, he afte
wards learned that the man was THE
This shows that the party at large has bl
little regard for the character or ability
the new police force about to be appointe
and that the new Mayor will have to exc
else the greatest caution in order to avo
being deceived by his own party FRIEND
1t is evident that the new Mayor is c
deayoring to make personal fitness pal
mount to party services as recommendatio
for official favor, and that heelers and wa
strikers must have some substantial quail
cations in order to secure their prefermel
Very naturally Doctor Wales desires to Ina
a good force, and as will be seen by c
representative interview with him, he "
protect himself against the mistakes he N
make owing to reputable members
his party recklessly recommending III
men by publishing these favorable lett
and petitions should he discover afterwa
that any appointment due to these inluen
proves an unwise or disgraceful selecti
The GAZETTE will cheerfully aid the n
Mayor in this task by promptly pointing
the unfit members of the force and publish
the names of those who recommend tht