The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-06
POLICE DEPARTMENT. RUMoRs.

It is rumored that in pursuance Of a
Z suggestion said to be embodied in the
opinion relating TO the police depart
ment which City Attorney Hail fur
nished Mayor Clark, the mayor has
decided to ACCEPT that construction Of
the law, and that in the very near
future he will proceed to reorganize
/ the police force. in so far as ne has the
power, by sending in a list of ap-
/ pointees to the council. 1t is not the
+ purpose to dictate to the mayor what
/ course he shall pursue in relation to
the police department in general, nor
is Il TO be understood that We accept
: the statement of Dame Rumor, but it
has been suggested that there is a
strong desire on the part of those who
favor Mr.. Pratt for chief Of police, to
wreak vengeance upon some of the
present members of the force, for the
reason that they think some of the men
are not in sympathy with Mr. Pratt
in his effort to gain control OF the de-
partment as chief. and that an effort
has been made, or viii be made to
induce the mayor TO punish several of
the men now on the force by dismissing
them.
Regarding the truth or falsity of the
rumor and suggestion, we viii not at
tempt to decide; it only furnishes the
text for what we wish to say at this
time, and it is this:
Mayor Clark has had considerable to I
contend with in this police contro-
versy and the general public IS willing
to admit that he was under more or (
less obligation to befriend Mr.. Pratt .
because OF the Iatter's service to the d
non-partisans. Regardless of the fact
that he (the mayor was elected as a
the rules governing parti-
san politics apply, and have applied,
and he is naturally inclined to help
those to positions OF profit and trust
who labored in his behalf before the
election. Recognizing this fact the
people generally have not been inclined
to blame the mayor too severely for
what he has done in Mr. Pratts in
terest so far. Most people think now
that the mayor has done ali that Mr..
Pratt or his friends can expect OF him.
and the public viii regard with dis
favor any further efforts in Mr.. Pratts
behalf; and the people certainly win
not hold the mayor blameless if men
now on the police force. whose records
IRE above reprOach. are dismissed. or
an attempt made to dismiss them, be-
.ause there may be a suspicion that
hey are not enthusiastic supporters l
# NIr. Pratt. Because there is a gen ]
.ral desire for Mr.. Pratt's retirement {
loes not imply that all the men on the Q
orce today are Objectionable and ought :
o be retired. There may be some ex- {
options. but. generally speaking. the I
men now doing duty as policemen are r
worthy of both confidence ana respect. e
nd the only wonder is thar with the #
eneral turmoil and trouble which have 7
entered in and about the department O.
Or the past two years, that the men. q
ers of the force have been aD.e 10 -
old together and perform Their duty =
$ well as they have; the fair record o.
the department speaks well for the
ldividual members
The public has considerable interest >.
the police department, and the =.
ayor must remember that the demand A.
" Mr.. Pratts retirement comes from =,
Re people, not because OF personal =,
slike of the man, but because the -
ought prevails that owing to the cir =,
instances surrounding the whole DO
,e muddle. he has become so en- ~
ngled that mis- day of usefulness has ID
-ssed. The sentiment regarding lIr. on
att does not extend to the police y"
roe in general. ~
Tt may be that there is nothing in - ~
q rUmor as above suggested, and we -,
Ist there is not, but we venture to -
axe these suggestions to Mayor ss
ark in the kindliest spirit, believing W
at he VIII receive them in the way au
ey are meant. IS