The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-08-27


Regime Couldn't Stand That-The Com
missioners will Wish They were Never
Born when the Methodist Pastor Gets
After Them-He Made, and Can Burst
Them-Being Afraid to Meet Him They
will Probably Reverse Their Action.
The sensation yesterday was the dis
sharge of Officers Ben Downing and
otto kock from the police force. 1t
vas the talk of the town, and there
was more general dissatisfaction over
II than anything so far done by the
new regime. The general opinion was
mat the discharge of Mr.. Downing
was slap at Rev. Don S. Colt, pastor
of the First NJ. +. church, and there
is certainly reason for the opinion. 1t
Is fact that before leaving the most
emphatic and some say the only request
made~by Mr.. Colt was that Ben Down
ing would be left on the force, no mat
ter what other changes were made.
That mis- request was granted at the
time by the police commissioners, there
is no doubt, for Mr.. Colt assured Mr..
Downing that he was perfectly safe,
and Rev. Colt is a man who would
II the statement and assured that it
would be fulfilled.
Yesterday Mr.. Colt was telegraphed
for and Informed Of the facts and wnen
he gets home the police commissioners
Will think they are hit by a flying me-
1eor ~oIn the celestial world.
WAIT TILL COLT GETS HOME
They are, perhaps, more indebted to
him Tor their positions than to any
otner man in the city and his friends
are materially grieved that his favor
lite policeman should be the first to get
his official head cut off. 1t Will not be
necessary for Mr. Colt TO return for
the commissioners already realize that
they must change their views-reverse
their own opinion. They have not the
nerve to face Mr.. Colt, who has made
them, as il were, with the bleeding Of
fcial head of his favorite policeman in
their hands and the prediction is here
by made that Ben Downing viii be re-
stored TO the police force before the
sun sets tonight or very soon thereaf-
ter. IL not the police commissioners
viii think that the thunders OF JoVe are
singing about their official ears. They
viii be made to believe that they were
not chosen police commissioners be-
cause of their own individuality, but
to do the will of the men who made
them what they are.
The general impression is that Tiger
Bill had also some thing to do with
The matter, but that is not so clearly
broven as that the change has a de-
nomlnational complexion. Mr. Cgt'S
friends, especially his church friends,
were highly indignant yesterday and
some of them gave the police commits
tionerS to understand that while they,
THE commissioners could fire police
man that there were men also who
could fire the commissioners or rather
have them fired.
III tell you said one man who is
known To be one of Mr.. Colts friends,
that if Ben Downing is not back on
the police force, and occupying his
old position, that some heads are going
10 drop. They are scared already and
want to give Mr.. Downing a minor
place on the force, but if ] know the
temper and high spirit of Don Colt
that viii not satisfy him.
THEY ARE SCARED ALREADY
1t is a fact that since the great
indignant howl went up yesterday from
the friends Of Mr.. Colt the commission
ers have tried TO skin back their ac-
ton. In the language of one man. they
now realize that they have taken hold
of q red hot iron and they do not know
how to let it go. This is a fact, for
Mr.. Downing received a letter yes
terday from Secretary Lieurence of
the board, he of the Jersey COW fame,
inviting Mr. Downing in the most re-
spectful language possible TO come
around ana see them. For the purpose
OF meeting the man whom they fired
a short time before they called an eX-
traordin2ry meeting of the board and
Ben Downing. knowing the strength of
his friends and the fOrtifica ton of his
grievance. did not go 10 see them on his
knees but rather as a man who held
"A nd had no
manhood and dignity TO maintain it.
He faced them asking for no quarter
and stood his ground without yielding
an iota. for he knew that the only
cause for his removal was that he was
a Methodist and the friend whom Don
s. Colt is most interested in.
They viii tender Ben place on the
police force today, probably as patrol
man, but il is also probable that Ben
will refuse il. He is in a position TO
make demands instead of acquiescing
in compromises. and they will eVentu-
ally yield Is gracefully as they can.
POOR BEN NOT 4 GIANT
Mr.. Downing. his friends say. should
not be asked to strut about the streets
he is not physically adapted for it.
In the dark days of rebellion, when
sir. Smythe and Mr.. Lieurance were
but toddling la abies. he went TO the
field OF battle and fought amid the
storms of war for four years to per-
petuate this country and its flag In
tnat four years Of civil strife he was
not only shot through the limb but
suffered from disease incident to the