Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-25
MAYORS EXCUSE.
Explanation of His Action on Co.
lumbus Day.
THE POLICE AND THE PARADE.


With Father Mackin and Why the Police
Were Not at the Head of the Z Procession
A Weak position.
the Union mas done the mayor the
kindness to solicit his explain
alton of his action on Columbus Dsy in
failing TO keep his engagement with
Father Mackin TO appear on the platform
in Court house square. and also to head
the procession or authorize the police 20
he'd the line. Referring to Father
Mackin's remarks. Mayor McCunochie
says:
Now | Will give you my version of II
so far AS myself AND the police are con-
Cerued. When | came down town Thurs
day afternoon near the High school,
met Miss Hirkp t;Tiok, principal n }. 6
and whom am well acquainted with. l
vas present at y fig raising AT No TWO
year sgo She agnin invited me 70 be
present ut T. fi4g presentation in connec-
ton with tneir Columbian celebration.
ana she said she would like 10 have me
make :. few remarks. l accepted her TO-
vita'Ion but declined to speak, hay
ing no tine Tor preparation
and bel too poor an imprOmptu speak
er 40 entertain ADV one. DURING the #
sernccn Father Mackin called for file OF
polce 10 head school pav d. | said,
certainly, call aud see The marshal " hen
gnIng ou, ne ask d ne L. come down
~ - or he ST. d With Dr. + sdsle
rnu make few rema ks | asked bin
wh., t-0ur hey net, rs / tao an appoint
menu al 10 O'Clock, hut failed TO tell him
what is was | said he Ne d not expect
De spe CHI from me, hut thar | would try
TO get arou' if possible d not get
away from Ne. 6 until near noon,
and wet directly home. Now as TO the
police. l rogue sted the marshal 20 send
a. many as he could spare. He intimated
after con> ultation with the officers that
they did not want to go. | said it would
be well TO do so. but if not agreeable 10
them 10 go voluntnrily,I would not order
them to go. where duty does not Call
them, and the law does not require it.
unless the streets were blocked and re-
quired their efforts 20 make passage
way. In such an went l woulG soon
ORDER them aud if necessary go WI
them TO open up 3 pgssaSe for any peace
ful parade"
The mayor would have adopted n more
digpified position. one mere calculated
lcsi and unreasonable, had he come out
squarely and stated that because of per
sonal prejudice or the weight of intlu-
epce brought TO bear upon him he failed
20 set p bis promise with Father Mackjn.
Instead of his explauation. l.
nigh, have been no distortion o.
ihe ruth on the mayors part had
he said that be really expected TO speak
81 n p. 6 when he went there, and was in
fact disappointed when he was not urged
10 d. so. and further than that be was
GLAD enough 30 accept the conflicting in
vr,r''np to 90 TO tina. building after
if.viag receiv d wa ming from
il,'le man down town who
uosses thl republican party aot to ap-
pear on the stand with Fa,her Mackin IN
Court house square.
The attem pit on the part of the mayor
to shirk he responsibility of the f'ilurG
OF tire police 70 turn out at The head OF
the Catholic procession is an evidence
of COW ardice and IN this assertion too
;hr MAYORS memory may be at fault. AS
= te as 10 O'Clock FYidiy morning Chief
Miller inform an ARGUS representa-
tive shat the mayor b. given
him no Instructions to have the police
turn out, and that he could provide
but few men if he bad, as two of the
policemen were sick. At the same time,
however. number of the police had
com out expecting Instructions to
head he procession.
The mayors assertion that the police
did not turn out because they did not
want TO is ridiculous. The police are
paid by the taxpayers, and the mayor
also paid by the taxpayers. is their chief
1, is not likely that any of the force would
question his authority. or seek discre-
Ilouary right with reference to his or
ders when properly made, no matter
what might be their individual preferen
ces.