Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-08

d q W. y
Standing room was at a premium ut
the rooms Of hnpolice commission Inst
Monday when tho body met to hear tho
delegation Of citizens who desired tho
board to reconsider their action in no
oepting tho resignation of Chief OF
Police Dolan. 5. tsH
The delegation included workingmeu,
manufacturers and merchants, among
thym being Peter ]. Ford. Magistrate
Lewis Sasse, Edward Fl. BrenpaD,
Morris Ieyy, William II. ,Blaks, Walter
III. Hayes, DR.. Howard ogle, a. j.
Kooch, Phillip Plunkett. Owen j. Hes.
sion, Daniel McCusser, George ". Gray,
Robert Cottingham, John Gibbons,
James P. Winchester, Michael Newell.
George D. Ward, ]. P. 4, Feufel.
Daniel Bickta, Louis Hutten; Samuel
Mitchell, j. W. Aydon, William Reilly,
S. II. Durstein. John Magarity, S. j.
Baeringer and William Willis. a
Speeches wore made BY several Of the
delegation and number OF latters were
also received by the commissioners.
Magistrate Lewis Sasse began tho
speschmakiug. He referred to the pres
snt excellent standard If the police
force and could confidently say there
was no better force in any city of tho
size Of Wilmington In the country.
John II. Dolan Is to he credited for a
great deal of this efficiency, for 1t has
been through his efforts that the force
has attained such an excellent reputa
citizens would like to see the chief re-
tnt thx u +. 4 ~
themselves and the Taxpayers to recon
slider their action and reinstate John
F. Dolan as chief of police.
Magistrate Sasse was followed by
Walter II. Hayes who said: ''Dolan Is
my friend. Perhaps ] am a little preili-
diced in this matter. but it's your
duty 10 select the best chief possible,
and don't know where ypu could get
a better one. His experience fits him
for the position better than ANYONE else.
It's part of your official duty to appoint
him. I've been around and about the
City Hall for number Of years, and
never haa my business been better ut
tended than at present. / don't think
you would make any mistalse In retain
ing him. There are no charges against
his efficiency and / think YOU owe it to
the citizsns to reconsider your action. I"
p. j. Ford followed Mr.. Hay es and
said in part: ~ am here, tonight,
recognizing. as we all do, the condition.
surrounding this question. | am not
Eere to condone any failings Ut the
chief of police OF this city. We are NIL
human. We are here--l think voice
the sentiments of alive are here as
taxpayers and citizens, Regardless of
any political affiliations. care nothing
for John +. Dolan personally. care
nothing for him officially or otherwise.
/ am familiar with the history OF the
police force ever sincelI was boy and
at no time has such excellent discipline
prevailed. l recall the time when a
man couldn't go In obtain quarters of
the city after nightfall. That isn't rho
condition to-day You can go any
where without the reinotest possibility
OF being interfered with. A good bit of
this ia attributable TO this man who is
chief. Thore has been no demand for
his dism ssal. | recognize his faults.
but the commission owes it to the citi-
zens to reinstate this man. believe
there will be no cause for contention in
the future. With all his faults the
people love him still. / speak to- night
as q taxpayer and / can say have felt
more security under Dolan than under
any other chief, without rejecting dis
credit ON any of his predecessors.
Should you sec your way clear to recon
slider the action 80 per cent of tho peo-
plo Of Wilmington will back up what
you have DONE"
DIR. Howard 0gle said: "1'he com.
ing together OF theee men is not at the
request of John IT.. Dolan, and Is not
In the nature of delegation as ielega
tions usually are. IL is thu iesire OF
people generally that he be retained. -
A. ]. Koooh, editor OF the Freie
presse said II represent two bodies.
Tho newspaper writer's who have bust
ness ut the City Hall and, the German
American citizens OF the city, / have
circulated among the Gormahs of the
city for two weeks past and have
learned that Dolan has more friends
than / had thought. He has many
md all cannot be pleased. That is i'm
posslble. lie has done his duty we'll
and 10 my four years experience in The
newspaper business have been treated
In the boat possible mannef by this
man, as ! belieye every newspaper man
in the city will say. Ninety-nine out
Of every hundred citizens desire his re-
tention md ! will respectfully ask you
to reconsider your action" n FL
Morris Levy said ha was present to
represent the Hebrew clement of the
city and would safely say that lper-
chants Of this city, both largo and
small, feel better satisfied and more
secure under the police force as at
present constituted than at any pre-
vious time. lie would ask tho com
miaHion to reconsider their notion.
Spenches were, also made by e. II.
Brennan, Phillip Plunkett, William
Willis, William II. Blake, o. j. Hes
sion, Daniel McCusker and Robert
Uottingbnm. E4l
The commissioners did not take any
action 10 the matter.