Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
TO AID GANG POLITICIANS.
FIRST MANIPULATION OF POLICE
FORCE As A "MACHINE."
Democratic Nominee for Alderman in
the Second Ward Secures the Re
movnI to other Beats of Po-
lice Opposed to Him.

The Democratic political machine which
controls the police department has re-
moved two policemen from the Second
ward because they would not work for the
election of the Democratic candidates. and
has put in their places two men who are
said to be willing tools Of the machine, and
will work for it. 1t is likely that the same
thing will be done in other wards where
policemen refuse to work for the gang.
Jerry Caskey and Thomas Wilson have
walked what is known in police circles as
the "tenderloin. beat" for ten years. This
beat is in the Second ward, and is a part
of the city where thugs and disreputables
congregate. 1t is one of the most dan
gerous beats in the city, and the best men
on the force have always been put there.
Chief of Police Hayes said last night that
Caskey and Wilson were two of the best
men in the department. In all the years
that they have walked that beat not a
business man in the Second ward COM
planned of them.
w. ]. Powers, a s~aloonkeeper at 9 East
Fifth street, was nominated by the DEM
ocratic gang for alderman from the Sec
ond ward. Powers was the partner of
Andy Foley in the saloon business when
Andy was boss of de Second" Powers
is ambitious to succeed him. AS soon as
he was nominated for alderman Powers
told Caskey and Wilson that he knew they
We're not for him. and he would have them
removed.
He threatened the officers more than
once with removal. Powers first went to
Chief Hayes and demanded that they be
removed and men put in their places who
would .'get out and work for the ticket"
Chief HAYES refused tn rpm0ya the men
Powers worried Hayes for several days and
then went to Police Commissioner Gregory
and demanded their removal. Gregory or
dered Hayes to remove Caskey and Wilson
and put Democrats in place of them. Hayes
then put Wilson on a beat on Independence
avenue and removed Caskey to do special
work. He told both men that the removal
was only temporary and they woul be put
pack on their usual beats as soon as the
election was over. The men were SO humil-
lated over their removal without cause
from beats where they had always done
their duty that they threatened to resign
and Wilson actually wrote out his reSigna-
ed it and did not present 1t to the chief.
Officers Whalen and Martin. Democrats.
were put on the Second ward beats in place
OF Caskey and Wilson and Powers has
warned them as to what they must do.
Powers was seen at his saloon last night
by a reporter for The Journal. He was
asked about the matter and said:
or Wilson. My Democratic friends did.
though. They went to the front for me
and asked that these two men be removed
from this beat. They asked for it because
Caskey and Wilson were working for John
Moran. the Republican candidate. against
me. These two policemen worked shame
fully for Moran at the primaries. I didn't
want them to work for me particularly but
1 did not want policemen on this beat who
were working against me. All I want is a
square deal So my friends had Caskey
and Wilson removed. 1t is not true that I
asked Caskey or Wilson to work for me-"
"IIow about Whalen and Martin. it is
said they are working for you?"
Well they amt working for the other
Chief of Police Hayes said last night
that Powers had asked for the removal
of Caskey and Wilson because they were
working against him.
Powers and his friends were making such
a time about it." said the chief. 81 knew
that neither of the men, were taking any
kind of a hand in politics, but ! called
trouble they had better 60 off the beat till
after election. The men that were put on
in their places I called into my office and
told them explicitly that they must take
no hand at all in politics. ] warned them
that they must not work for or against
any candidate"
Although Chief Hayes would not say it
was true. it is well known around the po-
lice station that Powers first worried
Hayes for a week to have Caskey and Will
Gregory to get the order. The removal of
Caskey and Wilson is but the initial step
of the gang" in so shifting the force that
it can be used to further the plans of the
governor of the state, who is bending his
energies to build up a powerful machine
here. 1t is probable the greatest shift will
be made on the first of the month, when
the day and night forces change watches.