Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15

'
The real issue Is whether or not it
was a public duty to at once make a
change in the Police Commission. That
in certain very grave respects there was
a reprehensible situation in the con-
duct of the Police Department, with
which the commissioners seemed un-
willing or unable to deEl is fact of
general uotoriety and nui1ic knowledge
in this community. This being an IN
controvertible fact the time for action
had come. unleBH the legislative pur-
pose in creating the commission should
be nullified, and the commission itself
become shame.
Tho question that now confronts
this community and the General
Assembly is whethor the plain lettor
and purpose OF tho statutory law ahall
be defiantly and fagrantly violated, or
whether the judge who, upon grounds
which are undeninble. discharges the
duty imposed by Law, shall be suB.
tained by the people whose welfare is
promoted, and tho Legislature, whose
mandates are enforced thereby.
Ii the people and their representa-
tives in the General Assembly shall re-
verso the decisions Of thsir judges
whenever they are contrary to the
wishes or the interests OF lawless or
misguided men. then there will be
little hope for good and decent govern
ment in the future.
Mr.. sAULsBuRy's STATEMENT.
Willard Salisbury, whose name was
used in the Monaghan statement,
makes the following reply
Tho article which purperta to be
an Interview with Acting Police Com
missioner Monaghan is cunning at,
tempt to create false Impressions by SLY
inuendo and to bemuddle the question
which Judge Grubb, l nope. has just
settled, that is whethor the police force
can be used to carry Democratic pri-
mary elections or must be kept out OF
politics. IL Judge Grubb had re-
appointed Mr.. Monaghan he would
not have done his judicial duty, for it
would have meant that the police were
to be allowed to run nomination
elections iu this town.
81 have the kindliest feelings toward
Mr.. Monaghan personally. and cannot
but. think that this attack on Judge
Grubb is inspired by others, and that
Mr.. Monaghan Is but their tool.
Judge Grubb inquired about the
part the police took in politics last
year before mentioned the subject to
him, and told him some details Of
what was matter of public notoriety
ut the time, and that the police, not
withdrawing the fact that the COM
missioners were told Of what was going
on, practically ran one of the nomina-
tion elections last year in way that
could but be hurtful to the force.
II strongly recommended to Judge
Grubb the appointment of q friend Of
mine rs police commissioner, and
am afraid the fact that he was a we'll
known friend OF mine injured his
chances. for he was not appointed, and
Isaw that the judge was determined il
possible to give no one ground for COM
plant, and at the same time to keep
the police out OF politics. / could find
no fault with that, for he was acting
as judge, and certainly from the
pursst motives that can ever animate
q judge-to preserve the discipline aud
good name Of the guardians of the
peace. st
1.-The man who wrote the Monaghan
article very cunningly seeks to give
| the impression that sent for him and
Mr.. Lawson (who in fact came to my
office with Chief Dolan), to get them
| III dSSiHt III btuy buh AL
| tho Legislature. This is absolutely un.
true, and told them frankly in so many
words that it was we'll known that the
police we're working against him, and
| they ought to stop that, as we'll as keep
them out of politics. on the day of the
approaching primary election. and dis.
| tinctly requested them to do SO. Know
ing the way they felt, that was all
| could expect. 10 try to get them to
help nominate Mr.. Stayton would have
| been rank foolishness, even IL | desired
it, Which did mot. simply wanted
them to keep hands off. That the
police did not do 30 is matter oi
public notoriety, and it would be very
easy TO give a good many rather rank
details.
~ am really sorry for Mr.. Monaghan,
| but il he was my best friend, and, as q
Judge 1 had to do my duty, should
have to hold him responsible for the
actions of those he in part controlled,
and appoint some one else. The picture
| he, or rather the man who wrote the
article, draws, is amusing, in so far as
| it relates to his visit to my office, hui
a phonograph would give decidedly
different version of the interview"
Mr.. MONOGRAM REPLIES.
Police Commissioner Patrick Mona
CHAN, in reply to Judge Grub and
Willard Salisbury. has a letter in th'
Morning News Of Tuesday, in which b,
relates the following conversation
between Judge Grubb and himself a
the Court House, denying, however
that he sought I'm interview:
81 said: Judge, am very sorr,
that you are so incensed against the
Police Commission for alleged inter
ference in politics.
"To which he replied: 'Dolan has n,
business TO tell you anything about it.
"To which / said: y Judge, excuse m!
indiscretion. thought the interview
with Dolan was for the commissioners.
Continuing Mr.. Monaghan says il
his letter:
"As / had learned from Dolan wha
bis attitude was toward me, l sais
(lest he might think wanted to speal
of mysclf): Judge. this meeting il
purely accidental which was true
What was said after was entirely on hii
own motion. Not having tbesadvantag
Of legal training, and lacking judi
cial mind, / will not attempt to follow
his honor in the interview published il
your issue to-day, but will content my
self by saying that nearly all of it i
new TO me. For instance, his statemen
that ! manifested great sensitivenes
about my appointment is certainly
iroic OF his brain. The fact is, neve
directly alluded to it in either of ou