The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-16
"ME AND GRIFFIN"

The announcement made by Mayor
Doran to his police force, dissolving the
partnership in the government of st.
Paul between himself and Red Grif-
fin, and the preparatory and apologetlc
notes sounded by his organs, "reputed'
and otherwise, are among the most
amazing documents in all the literature
of politics. We think we may say with
safety that the records of municipal
administration might be searched IN
every city in the United States without
discovering anything to compare with
these shameful and shameless declara-
tions. It is now confessed, by the
plain declarations of the organs and
bv the terms of Nh DOran's address,
that for sixteen and half months
there has existed close alliance be-
tween the police force of st. Paul and
the criminal classes. Law w-breakers
have been protected, in consideration
of furnishing evidence against any who
did not belong to their gang, and help
ing to run them out of the city. AS
consequence, there has been built up
here under the wing of the admins
tration. and with it's full knowledge
and approval, a system of criminal
domination which has ended in an cpl
demic of offenses against law and
property. So notorious has this be-
come, so loud and universal are the
Of no r.
ing election, some action must be TAX
en-. Inspired solely by fear Of the ven
geance that popular Indignation has
prepared, one Of the partners turns tail.
and the alliance between ME and
Griffin is to be dissolved-until after
the election crisis is past.
Let it be understood that this is no
Democratic SANDER" The G o
facts as they are now admitted. 1t
showed up the system of fostering
crime that was established by official
consent and approval. 1t exhibited the
depraved bargain by which favors were
distributed and immunity granted to
the lawless and the dissolute. 1t told
the truth, and the people knew it.
But election was a long way off, and
the only answer was flood of billings
gate from the mayor and his organs.
Now the politicians have sounded
warning. They have told the leaders
that the people of st. Paul will not
stand another term of Red" Griffin
as mayor So retreat is sounded.
With crime multiplying and a member
of the detective force under indictment
and in hiding, the offense is too rank
for either silence or buster. Some
thing has to be done. The Dispatch
comes out with an article rehaShing
what the Glob stated long ago, and
tells the people thai we have too
much Griffin" The Pioneer Press adds
it's minor voice to the chorus, and ad-
mits the worst ever charged or hinted
at against this administration, by say
ing that the mayor has determined to
break up the partnership of the police
department with crime or criminals in
any form" Mr.. Doran, frightened out
of the little sense which nature gave
him by the vanishing prospect of that
second term" gives way, and makes
O. full confession to the public He says
that "temporizing with violence and
lawlessness' has not prospered as he
thought it would. He declares that
compromising with robbery is fail
ure. His officers are instructed that
from this time forth they must not
''loiter" in "haunts where criminals are
wont to congregate.' And Red
Griffin smiles a calm and expansive
smile.
If this record, confirmed out of their
own mouths. is not enough to damn
any man, any set of men, any political
party to whom the people have en-
trusted their government, then all
government is a mockery and a by
word There is just one touch of in
fanny to be added to it; just one more