Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-13
INTIMIDATING

4tIC0s
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-There was a resolution Offer
ed in Council last Tuesday evening
by Mr.. Warehouse to this effect,
THAT the Chief of Police and his depu-
ties be, and are hereby required to
enforce section 48 of the city ordi-
nance on ~offenses, as long as said
ordinance remains the law Of this city
unrepealed, and further that he shall
not wait until individual citizens make
afidavits before performing this duty
for which he was elected, inasmuch
Els in the Judgment of this Council it
is his duty to enforce the ordinances
of this city, etc."
This resolution was offered in answer
to a petition from forty of the prin-
cipal business men of this city, viz:
that The Chief Of Police and his depu-
ties be required co enforce, more es-
pecially the ordinance against the
slot-machine as a gambling device.
Such a petition, it would seem, should
certainly receive respectful treatment
and attention. 1t should certainly not
be laid on the table or voted into OBJ
livion without sufficient reasons being
given for SO doing.
The Tight of petition cannot be de-
--.-l - 1~>~.l1> 4~~~ o~I %kof
right implies that a petition when
made shall have a respectful and
careful consideration; and, so much
the more so, when made by many Of
the best men of the city, through an
organization representing the moral
and religious sentiment of u citi-
zens.
But how was it with this petition?
The resolution, expressing the senti-
ment of the petitioners and Of the
Federation of Churches, was voted
against by a large minority in the
First Branch of Council and was laid
on the table by a majority in the Sec
ond Branch, and the only a Of
fered was that given by Mr.. Chew,
chairman of the Police Committee,
who said, Il do not believe in trying
to intimidate an officer" No one dar-
ed to say that what was asked in the
resolution was not the duty of the
Chief and his deputies to perform.
This was the issue involved. If in
the opinion of the members of Council
it was not the Chiefs duty to enforce
the ordinances of the city, until some
private citizens make affidavit against
the offenders, then they should have
said so. Their keeping silent on the
very point at issue showed that they
had not the courage to face 1t, much
less to give the real reason why they
voted against the resolution.
Let us now look for a moment at
the only reason offered, namely, the
intimidation Of an officer. The word
intimidate means Ito brighten, to
make afraid" To brighten to do
what? What is it that the chairman
OF the Police Committee does not
think it good policy to brighten the
Chief of Police to do? Why he does
not believe it to be good policy to
brighten him to enforce the ordinances
of the city, Or to make him afraid not
to enforce them. Why does not the
chairman of the Police Committee of
Council believe in frightening the
Chief of Police into enforcing the or
dinances of the city, if he neglects or
refuses to enforce them under the OBJ
legations of the oath of his Office?
| would like to have this chairman
of the Police Committee, whose evil
dent duty it is to see that the Chief
does this, tell us why he does not be-
lieve in the Council demanding of a
city official that he do his sworn duty?
If it is not his duty, why did not the
chairman say so, and thus exculpate
himself and the Chief? But if it is his
duty, why does he not want to have
him frightened into doing his duty?
Let him tell us why he does not be-
lieve it is good policy to intimidate a
city official to do his official duty, If
he fails to do it otherwise? Some
ignorant citizens would like to have
this apparent riddle explained.
That word intimidate has a rathcz
ugly sound at first, it is true, for it is
generally used to denote an effort to
brighten persons not to do their duty;
but it may be used in a good sense as
we'll as in an evil one. l suppose a
father, when his child refuses to
obey him, according to the chairman
of the Police Committee, would not
dare to tell that child he must do
what he was commanded to do, for fear
of intimidating him to do his duty;
and that the government would not
dare to say to the rebel, you must
obey the laws and be loyal" for fear
of intimidating him. That is beauti-
full philosophy and logic. That is al
most equal to the philosophy and logic
- No.