The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-12
MR.. ARTHUR PRATT WILL SUE.

Mr.. Arthur Pratt will file a suit
against TIE city today, which is in
tended . restore him to his former
position as chief of police. We have
10 desire to question Mr.. Pratt's right
to pursue every means at his command
TO obtain this position, but he ought to
understand by this time that decent
regard for public sentiment should in
drce him 20 retire.
It was expected that he would make
an effort TO he appointed chief Of police
under the present administration, and
that he and the mayor had arrived at
the conclusion that he was no longer
chief OF police is evidenced by the fact
that the mayor. in pursuance of the
power vested IN him under the code,
sent the ex-chief's name to the council
and asked that the nomination be con-
frmed This the mayor did twice, and
it was confidently expected that both
the MAJOR and Mr. Pratt would abide
the decision of the council.
1t would seem that Mr.. Pratt has no
regard for the public welfare, else he
would cease his efforts 20 gain this
position. Regardless OF the statements
TO the contrary, the opposition to Mr.
Pratt uD to the present time has not
been for personal reasons, but it is pos
sible to so arouse public sentiment by
this long-continued litigation that al
most every citizen will rise up in right
eous indignation and demand that Mr..
Pratt cease from troubling
1t is understood that Mr. Pratt has a
perfect right to go to court TO establish
his legal rights in this case, if any he
has, but because a thing may be legal,
does not mean that it is wise or right;
and without prejudice, without malice,
but speaking for the public good and
believing that we voice the sentiments
of al least two-thirds of the people of
this city, we say that even if the law
should decree that Mr.. Pratt is actu-
ally chief of police, he should not at
tempt TO perform the duties of chief.
1t is rather strange that Mr.. Pratt
should be willing TO embarrass Mayor
Clark and the non-partisan party by
inaugurating an aggravating lot Of liti-
cation at the expense of the taxpayers
at this time. 1t would seem from pres
ent indications that the main purpose
Of the non-partisan party was to make
Mr. Pratt chief of police, and having
exhausted that means. he resorts to
the tactics which were in vogue during
the last administration and proposes
to law it out.
As mayor of this city, it is the duty
of Mr. Clark to send in the name of
some suitable person to the council for
the office of chief of police, and thus
put a stop to this controversy.
Mayor Clark has stood by Mr.. Pratt
up to the point where it would seem
that forbearance ceases to be a virtue,
and in justice to the public he should
act IN such a way that there could be
no doubt that the matter is settled
once and for all.
The Herald has been as considerate
as possible in the discussion of this
matter, more considerate than the facts
of the case warrant, but it has been the
hope all along that the end was near.
Il seems, however, that the people are
to be annoyed, not to say incensed, by
what promises to be another long series
of lawsuits, with charges and counter
charges; and all because Mr.. Pratt in
sists on being chief Of police. To be a
successful head of the police depart
ment man must possess the conf
de-ce of the people. Mr.. Pratt cannot
claim that confidence to the extent that
he could one month ago. 1t is certain
that it has not increased any of late.
and if he persists, the day will come
when he cannot claim it at all.