Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-26
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
"W." Resents the "Pioneer Press Insult
Another Correspondent Takes a Similar


"W." Resents the "Pioneer Press" Insult
Another Correspondent Takes a Simila,
View.
To the Editor of the Globe:
ST. PAUL, March "A, 1881 dislike to
trouble you SO soon again upon fire de-
partment matters, but think the ''bulr'
Of the fire underwriters agent in this
mornings Pioneer Press justifes me in ask.
ing the favor. That 1 may not do inius-
tice to any one 1 clip from the Pioneer
Press sentence which is prefaced
by the reporter who has eyi.
IDENTIFY been selected to bolster IN
the recent work of the agents of the fire
underwriters agent in the fire commission
THE commissioners say they do not feel
like preparing any answer to this query
(why st. Paul does not furnish some one
capable of filling the position of chief en-
g1neer,) but they ask in reply" and then
gives the following as the words of the
commissioners:
where is there man in the st. Paul DEPART
| ment, sober, Intelligent and active; mechanic:
one who has had experience of many years as a
fireman and commander; who has successfully
COPIED with fire; who has no connection with anv
or the chques IN either the fire department or
| In local politics, and who can command men
ana orlng thorough change for the better in
| the department."
The attempt to credit the board of fire
| commissioners, as a whole, with any such
| statement as the above, is an outrage as
damnable as is the libel it enunciates 4pon
the character of st. Paul fremen for So
| briefly, intelligence and knowledge of the
d1fTn e
personal knowledge that two of the mem
bers of the board of fire commissioners do
not endorse this wholesale SANDER upon
the members of our fire department. On
the contrary they know, and are free to
affirm, that some of our most honored and
respected citizens have been members of
the department., and that the pres
ent force, for sobriety, intelligence, knowl-
edge of details and loyalty, will compare
most favorably with any like number of
men IN any department in the country,
and that if there was honesty of desire and
purpose in selecting chief engineer, there
is not the least necessity for going outside
the city. So much for this.
The reporter then, speaking the thought
of the underwriters agent says: 'sThey
referring to the commissioners say that
the st. Paul department is badly damaged
by the rings within it." etc. True, too true:
but it would furnish interesting reading to
set out in detail just how far the parties
referred to have helped to foster and keep
alive the jealousies they found in the de-
partment; how they have improved their
time in backbiting Chief Strong; how they
thwarted his efforts to improve the depart
ment in every way possibly, and how they
have, to put it plainly, conspired-con-
splred is strong word and means en- Of
Tense that lands men in the penitentiary-
to disgrace and depose him from his
office to carry out their own personal ends.
Yes, this would be good reading and it
may come if necessary.
And then again this mouthpiece of the
underwriters agent, goes on to say on the
supposition that Marshal Shay is to accept
the Office, that his position is to be soup
ported by the commissioners" and that
fireman, hossmsn, or foreman who dis
putes the chief in his actions or orders. or
who is found negligent, will be required to
give up his badge at once, without further
remarks"
In view Of this pronunciamento it is
proper to ask why if the good of the SER
vice was really desired, if it was really de-
sired to provide greater security to prop
erty and reduce the fire risks, Mr.. Strong
has not been given the support as they &C
knowledge they have not done. It is
this attempt to kill off Mr. Strong without
fair trial, to which 1 and thousands of
other citizens of st. Paul object. Give him
the backing of the commissioners,
and the increase in the ma
chinery and the full paid force prom
ised Mr.. Shay as an inducement for him
to accept the position, and then if he fails,
remove him, but not until then. This is
decency, honesty and justice. The present
course is contemplate and dishonorable.
Since writing the above I learn by the
evening papers that Mr.. Shay has declined
the appointment. I am not surprised at
this. He was too experienced fireman not
to see that the theory upon which the St.
Paul department was run would result in
his downfall-that his intimate knowledge
of the duties of the position could not
make up for insufficient machinery and
men and that it would be forced to give
way for some other as Chief Strong had
done for him. W.