St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-24
deadly Assaults and Public
Robberies Almost I'm
e.S. known"
no BETTER P0LicED CITY nv
UNITED STATES"
"Reign of Terror Would Fol,
low Appointment Green
- ~. - Police"
SMITH, FORCE "DLO ITS DUTY"

In 1890 Robert A. Smith was the
Democratic candidate for mayor for re-
election. lie had then been In charge
of the city for four or five years. and
the selection OF the police force was due
to him. = Col. Kiefer was the Republican
nominee. The Pioneer Press, in graph
ically depicting what would occur if
Col. Kiefer was elected, absolutely FORE
told what actually DID occur when
Wright came in with reform admin
istratlon." II st. Paul people wish the
return of the era of safety to life and
property, they will elect MIR. Smith
May l.
The following is the article COM
mandatory of Mr.. Smiths police force.
which appeared in the Pioneer Press
May 4, 1880.
Pioneer Press, May /, 1890
ST. PAuL's POLICE PROTEC-
t.>tz TON.
--t--g
There Is one feature OF the present
city government which even critics are
compelled to admire. and that is the
protection accorded tolife and property,
and this comparative infrequency OF the
more serious forms Of cri me. 1t Is prob.
ably true that not another city in the
country can show record eQualing
ours in this respect, when all the cir
cumstances are taken into considera-
ton. The police force is small in pro-
portion to the population. Its increase
has been contemplated: but, if we con-
slider the number of off GERS and men
actually on duty and the area and pop
ulation of the territory which they must
cover, they will be found to have rs ar
duous task as any force in the country.
Notwithstanding this, the preservation
of public order is marred only at long
intervals by the occurrence of notable
crimes. There is an occasional drunken
shooting or stabbing affair in the shady
quarters of the city, and little pilfer-
ing here and there from time to time.
Butit5astonishes the resident OF Chicago,
ST. Louis or any other large city who
removes to st. Paul to find that these
are so infrequent as to be the subject OF
extraordinary sensations when they
occur. Deadly assaults and public rob-
berries are almost unknown. while it has
been long since single case of success
full burglary was heard of. Life and
property, always held by sliyhter ten
ure in large cities. are almost as secure
in st. Paul as In the quiet of some
country village.
We may boast. therefore, that we
have succeeded in achieving one of tho
two purposes of city government-tho
financial purpose and the protective.
And this happened. not because the
criminal element of our population is
less numerous and active than that of
other cities, but because the repression
of crime is stern and intelligent There
IS no better policed city in the United
States than st. Paul. Every rascal il
spotted as soon as he enters the city
and gets his orders to leave, If a dan.
gerous character, before he has been
here half a day. The native criminal
element is kept we'll in check and under
such close and constant surveillance
that it dare, not venture far. For this
we are indebted to the existing manage.
ment of our police force, of which, to
whatever criticism it may be open, il
may at least be said that it does its duty
and saves us from evils that beset other
great cities. 1t would be a calam.
ity. to have this police supervision,
made effective by years of tile
most careful building up and
by familiarity with the situation,
broken down for no worthier object
than to make places for new men.
Other Departments of the city govern.
ment might be better for change, but
a revolution III this could scarcely fail
to be for the worse. And especially
must this be true of any reconstruction
of the police force for the mere purpose
of filing election promises. 1t is valid
objection to the candidacy OF Col. Kie-
fer. aside from those already presented,