Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-29
THE POLICE MUDDLE.
What the People Think
of 1t.
FAIR PLAY CALL ED FO X.
The Democracy Only Ask that
Their Chief be Dealt
Justly By.
r PLAY CALL E d FO r.

IHE ONCE Oh OuIel VI L OltCo rs d uont
important one. A mans character is
sacred thing. The office and the char
acter ought not to be molested without
warrant OF truth. The muddle into which
the office has fallen in Los Angeles, and
the programme to assail character with
out word of proof to back up the malign
charges, were the universal topic of con-
versation yesterday. There was not a
man in town who is not actively engaged
in running the Republican machine, who
does not unreservedly condemn the
manner in which it is proposed
to declare the Office vacant.
At the same time there was not dis
covered man similarly unbiased who
did not speak to this effect: The posi-
ton of the HERALD is ours. We have
not the slightest interest in the person or
politics of the present Chief of Police.
Neither consideration is anything to us,
any more than it is to the HERALD judg-
ing by your outgivings. But, as the
HERALD demands, justice should be
done. The only way to do justice in this
case is to probe the matter to the bottom.
But nothing should be taken for granted.
Every allegation should be proven; and
Mr.. Cuddy should be allowed to face his
accusers. The public want to know what
sort of people these are who tell the
Commission these tales. They may we'll
be unworthy of credence. The people
will not take the word of the Messrs.
Book and Sinsabaugh.
One man said: 81 remember few
years ago when the notorious Mccarthy
was Chief of Police. All Los Angeles
knew what sort Of a man he was. No
city ever was cursed by so un-
fit a Chief of Police. He
was charged with imbecility and with
crookedness. This Sinsabaugh was his
chief apologist. He stood by Mccarthy
to the last. When half of Los Angeles
was indignant that such man should be
kept in office, and the other half was
convulsed with laughter at McCarthy's
blunders and weakness, still the Rever-
end Sinsabaugh held out for him to the
end"
Democratic Councilmen were seen By
the reporter. Not one of them was
spoken to who did not say
that if the charges preferred were
proven he would be among the
first to vote for declaring the office vacant.
But those spoken to with one accord de-
clare that they believe Mr.. Cuddy to be
innocent of the charges laid against him.
They say they will insist on having proof
before they will do SO unjust thing as
to condemn man unheard. One of these
referred to an editorial in the evening
Republican organ. He said:
t.Tbot ,,cror hos forfo;foA oil my, ra.
spect forever. 1t stupidity says that
as a private employee to his
dismiss the Chief as arbitrarily as the
employer his employee. Well, perhaps
it can. Perhaps the employer might dc
journal suggests. But is the Express sc
ignorant as not to know that it dare not
dismiss an employee arbitrarily, brand
him as thief and publish its unsup-
ported charges against him in its own
columns without laying itself liable tc
the injured person? What is there
about Book and Sinsabaugh to en-
title them to implicit credence
What is there in the character of the wit
nesses they rely upon to give their un-
sworn statements force? Why, Sinsa-
baugh, in SO many words told Hon. s.
M. White that they had not syllable ol
legal evidence to lay before the Council" !"
A prominent Democrat said: "Now
here is vote by which, according to the
Erpress, the arbitrary and unfair recon.
mendation of the Messrs. Book and Sin
sabaugh is to be sustained: For declar-
ing the office vacant-Humphreys, Bos
byshell, Lowell, nsabaugh, Hitler
Gibbs, Book. Teed and Mathews.
Against Moriarty, Cohn and Hanley.
Doubtful-Barrett, Chandler and Collins.
Now l claim to know these members
of the Council, and here is the
way think the vote will stand: To de-
mand proof of the charges before further
action is taken-Barrett, Bosbyshell,
Chandler, Cohn, Collins, Hanley,
Humphreys, Moriarty, Teed. How the
Republicans will vote do not pretend to
say. Book, Sinsabaugh and Lowell are
on record as regardless of decency, JUS
tice or fair play. They have so placed
themselves before the public. But so
far as the public are now informed the
Messrs. Mathews, Gibbs and Hill
Ter are made of less obfuscated
narrow-minded, ,illiberal unjust and unfair
material. And l, in common with other
Democrats care nothing for Cuddy per-
sonally. All l want is legal proof. All
am after is fair play. Why do think
all the Democrats will vote to demand
proof? Because while l know some of
them are personal enemies of the Chief,
yet do not think any of them are trai.
tors or fools. The whole matter is plain.
There is good deal of speculation as to
who will be Chief if Cuddy is ousted.
That it is Republican ruse to get control
of the police force before election is
patent. That is all there is of
the thing. You are all in the dark as to
who will be Chief. l will tell you. He
is tall, sallow, dark, lame fellow named
Garrett. He is in the Office of the
Superintendent of Streets. He has been
here little more than year. He is a
He came from New Or
leans, and we all know what sort of
come from that quar-
ter as a rule. That is why I
say the Councilmen elected bv
the Democratic party will not vote to
dismiss the Chief arbitrarily with this
all prepared to thrust under
their nose. Do you think any man who
calls himself a Democrat will put himself
on record as being 30 blind as not to see
this or as being SO false to his party as to
permit it. do not look for all these GEN
llemen to vote to keep the Chief in his
place without further question; for some
If them are on record already as being
opposed to Mr.. Cuddv for Ch;af