Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-13
AW AKENED COMMENT
Announcement Of the Plan to
Gust the Chief.
REV. MACkAY INTERVIEWED
he Denies That lie IL Under Oblis 1t ions
to the Mayor aud Announces
That lie fr"a,o.,s TO
SEQ Fair Play.
REV. MACkAY INTERVIEWED

is now on to GUST the chief Of police
The publication in the Daily Press
yesterday morning OF the scheme
awakened wide common! and called
forth 4 protest from Police Commits
s.Gncd Mackay
The article was written from Il po-
litical staEt:l'nint: that is what oh
jet TO-" said MIR. MacKay.
Rcing informed ii.lt ;hs was rot the
case. ho continued:
You state that am responsible for
the trial Of Officers t'raTold ana Shor-
GER. This is incorrect"
Mr. MacI>ay was Informed that the
Statement still stood and lis vnracity
was matter OF record. that he oriSi-
rated the proceedings agains, the off
GERS: that but for him sner.. never
would have been 4 trial ana that the
chief I'D not want to bring charges
and would never have done so but fol.
MIR. 'MacKay.
Then" said Mr. MacKay you in
timated THAT l was a tool of the mayo;
that was uEder his rhun,b; that was
him. Nov. l want to say that I take
orders from no man: that am pledged
70 no one: THAT propose to DO what is
right regardless CT any man am
artuated only by the best motives:
politics do not enter into my cacul,-
tons at all. The chief OF police will
receive {, fair deal. If the charges
against him are not sustained after i
proper trial. he will get Justice II
they are sustained he will get justice.
NO member of he force has anything
to fear from mo so long as he attends
to his business and does his duty" .
In this connection Mr.. MacI<ay was
informed that the mayor had publicly
stated that his appointee must pledge
himself to remove Chief HARDWOOD: that
shortly after making this unqualified
and uncontradic;cd statement tie
mayor appointed Mr.. MAcKay: the
NEXT thing. the nfayo.. in accordance
with his publicly announced plan, pro
cecded to file charges tthough not in
the proper form) against the chief;
that 1t remained to be seen how the
remainder OF the mayors plans would
work out; the public judged Mr.. Mac
Kay by appearances, his motives were
not known to them; it remained for
him to show that he was not pledged
to do the mayors bidding.
III prepare you d statement show
ing you my POSITION said Mr. Ma
N.iy, aDut - AO w IlVI To SAY lnlS III
conclusion that no man is coming on
the force from the outside and step
into an official position on the force
If there is a vacancy in the office of
chief of police it Will be filed by pro-
notion"
With this Mr.. AIackay cons. derng
that he had been very unjustly dealt
with, went off to prepare the aforesaid
statement. NJ.
MIR. M'ACNl<AY'S STATEMENT.
After awhile Mr.. Mackay handed in
the following statement remarking as
he did SO that he was Obliged to cut
it short owing TO lack OF time:
'"I.litor Daily Press:
In your report Of the proceedings
of the Pclice Commissioners Monday
evening, l beg TO take some exception
and we shall have Il clear understand
ing, Of those matters. and it may be
my fault in not giving the public my
position as 4 police commissioner and
servant of the city. 4 have respect fer
the Daily Press, and feel assured CT its
support IN my work as a minister OF
Christ, and citizen. III this was not
arue I would treat your article With
silent contempt. and allow the public
to do the sa me.
II have always endeavored to enforce
the laws Of the land Why? Because
they are the results Of the enforcement
Of the divine law Of God, and every cit
iZcn Should be in favor OF the enforce
mcnt of law and order.
'fWhen I learned Of the desire of HIS
Honor. the mayor. to appoint me a
police commissioner. ! at once consult
Ell a number of prominent business
men, and found they did desire I
should accept it if ] was confirmed by
the council. as I could then be in Il
position to take the police force out
Of politics. The mayor informed ne
that the chief Of police was not work
ing in harmony with his admnis.rl-
tion, and ] told him to remove him he
must prefer charges ard also prove
them: and I shall say TO his credit that
His Honor would not have the chief
removed in any other way: but he
stated he would prefer charges and re-
move the chief, and His Honor under
stands my position regarding the police
force in politics, and he expressed a de-
sire. to keep it out of politics. The
mayor has acted fair in the matter.
His Honor did express. ! have learned,
desire 10 have Mr.. Pettus chief OF
IIOIiCc, 'lIllS ne lidu q perfect IlSlI ~
do. in the event Of Chief HARDWOOD be-
ing removed. if he did think that Mr.
PeDtus would make his administration
more effective.
This is consideration for the police
commissioners to determine. ard moth
ing Shall! influence me but the best in
terests Of the city. Regarding Ser
geant Reynolds, the mayor thinks, ana
mas SO stated. that there is no better
officer i'm Virginia His Honor shou j
not be charged when not guilty. If 1t
can be proven that the chief is not in
harmony with his administration and
has violated any rules of the depart
ment, j shall vote TO remove him II
not che IN no j,ac NOT ~