Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-31
PALM Err
Should be Elected,
Says a Second Ward
Republican.
r
In a Position to Act
ImpartiaI|y
With Reference TO the Fire
Department.
One Of Best Known Citizens In the
Ward.
To the Editor of Democrat:

| To the Editor of Democrat:
Your editorial in last Wednesdays
paper on the councilmanic fight
in the Second ward has opened the
eyes of the voters of that ward to the
importance of the situation. After
reading il / made some inquiry and dis
covered that you had not told all the
facts in connection with the matter.
am informed that Mr.. Rice. the Re-
publican candidate for Council, is not
only the fircmen's candidate. but that
he is brother of Fireman Rice. sta
toned at Engine house No. [. This in
itself ought to be sufficient to defeat
him. Besides I understand an ordi
nance to increase the salaries of Akron
tlremen will come before the new Coun-
ell.
1t is well known rule that no case
can he tried before n judge related to
one of the parties to the action. And
this same rule ought to apply with
equal force to the case involving the
efficiency. capabilty and the compen-
sat ton of our fire department.
If one-half of what has been reported
concerning the department rs true,
there ought to be some radical changes
made in It.. But 1t would be the height
of folly to attempt any investigation
with the Board of City Commissioners
and Council pledged in advance to
stand by the present department.
l myself had a talk with several Of
the Commissioners and they have said
frankly that the department lis not
what it ought to be. that the present
head of the department. while an excel
lent man personally, is lacking in exec
utive ability and has no control what
ever over his men; that there is no
real head of the department and that
it would have, long ere this. heen to-
tally demoralized and disorganized,
had 1t not been for the fact that Me-
chanical Engineer LoOmis assumed
duties not belonging to his position
and usurped authority not rightfully
his; that while nominally he holds the
position of Mechanical Engineer, he is
in reality, the chief of the department
They admit that this is not as it should
be. but still they have not the courage
to make change.
IF the department is MS 1t should be,
its members ought to court an investi-
CATION. No capable, efficient man ever
objects to turning a search light upon
his official conduct. He Is perfectly
willing that every nook, corner and re-
cess should be subjected to the most
scrutinlzing search.
The Republican candidate In our
ward. II elected, will use all his efforts
to prevent our citizens from arriving
NJ the truth, while on the other hand,
I am satisfied that II Mr.. Palmer is
elected, he will demand that the truth
be revealed, let 1t hurt whomsoevar it
may. He will be the friend of every
member of the Are department. worthy
of his friendship eenemy Of every
member incompetent and inefficient.
If, as is rumored, some of the mem
bcrs are too freely addited to the drink
habit. Mr.. Palmer will insist upon its
being known who these members are,
and thus relieving the sober members
of the department from an unjust
odum, that under present conditions,
is attached TO ALL
) A member Of the department who
gets under the influence of liquor
whether OF duty or off duty or a
member of the department who
} goes into saloon wearing his uniform
ought 10 he dismissed from the service.
A fireman has just as good right to
partakc of Il glass of beer or whisky
as any one else, but he has no right,
while member of the department. to
ever tccumc intoxicated, nor has he
any right whrtever, while wearing the
} uniform of the department to enter n
place where drink Is sold.
1t is high time that the truth or
falsity of these charges against the
! members OF our fire department should
be known. Mr. Palmer Is the man who
will. If elected TO the Council, insist
that they he known aud tho people of
: the Second ward are more Interested
at the present time in knowing Me
) facts in this matter than the people of
any other ward In the city.
, am Il Republican, but snall vote
for Mr. Palmer and know scores of
} other Republicans who will do the
same. And shall not he at all sur
priscd Notwithstanding the normal Re-
! publican majority in the Second ward,
TO see him elected.
Very respectfully,
Second Ward Republican.