The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-22
PALMER AND PIFER.

PALMER AND PIPBR.
Among the curious and often ludicrous
side skirmishers in the great political bat,
tie now being waged for political suprem.
acy In this country, none is more comically
one sided than the tilt between Gen. John
NJ. Palmer and high private Joe Fifer for
the governorship of Illinois. The one is a
man of commanding ability, ripe states.
manship and natural reputation; the other
a mediocre precinct politician, whose
speeches read like the graduating essay at
a country high school.
In the course of the stump duel now
waging between these dismally unequal
rivals, the former made an assault upon
the Pinkerton police system, which, by the
connivance of the Republican Governor
and authorities of Illinois, was allowed In
all important cases, and solely as money
making speculation, to push aside the req
ular police authorities and constabulary Of
the State. and to exercise full powers
though under no bonds, anywhere, not oven
under oath, amenabls to no constituted au.
thority and wholly irresponsible.
The latter replies that the talk Is "all In
the air." as Gov. Palmer ought to know tina,
the private police complained of had been
made unlawful by an act Of the legislature
which punished with heavy penalties "all
persons assuming to act as officers of the
law without proper authority, except by
special permission from the Governor"
To which Gov. Palmer forcibly responds
"Of course know thst this private police
is unlawful, except by special permission
from the Governor. What l complain of
and charge Is, that the law Is never enforc-
ed-in other words, that the special per-
mission of the Governor In favor Of the
Pinkerton's is never refused If asked, and
10 seldom ever asked, because 1t Is assum-
ed as . matter of course without check OF
hindrance."
Gov Palmer has since gone much fur
Their, and shown that by another law,
passed by our Republican legislature sub.
sequently to that quoted by Private Fifer,
unlimited authority Is given to the Pinker.
tons without the necessity of even saying,
"by your leave" to the Governor or any
authority In State or Nation.
The law is worthy Of first place among
the curiositles of legislative legerdemain
as master piece of shyster ingenuity.
Under the pretense of authorizing the for
nation OF companies for the detection and
apprehension of horse thieves and other
felons," 1t really authorizes the Pinkertons
to organize, as occasion may require, spec
ial police forces anywhere in the State, of
any number from 10 up to thousands, the
only formality necessary being, that when
ever special Pinkerton police of 100 OF
1000 may be needed to put down, for ex.
ample, a coal diggers' strike in Streator
the names, or assumed names, of the Pink.
erton hirelings shall be filed in the office
of the Recorder of La Sale county. After
that the company" is not only invested
with all the powers of the regular con-
stabulary of the State, but their powers are
above and independent of the regular con.
stables, sheritfs, or even the Governor and
his militia. In short, In all matters per.
tanning to the arrest Of criminals, or sus-
pected or alleged criminals, or the suppress
sion of riots or disorders of any kind, the
head of the Pinkerton organization is made
the supreme power In the State, and by
organizing his companies" in every
county, can enroll under his authority the
entire fighting population-half million
of men, If he wants them.
No wonder Gov. Palmer insists that a
CHASTITY imperium in imperio like this shall
be utterly suppressed and wiped out.
1t is very probable that the law In guess
ton was struggled through the Legislature
without one member In ten having the
slightest notion of its real character; but
such ignorance cannot be pleaded as an ex.
cuse by the Governor, for the fact that he
was fully cognizant of the character of
the bill is evidenced by the circumstance
that he allowed 1t to become law without
his signature. He was ashamed to sign It,