The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-07
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT AND TAM


The prompt and effective manner in
which Governor Roosevelt brought Mayor
Van Wyck to time jp requiring him 20 re-
woke the order of Chief of Police Devery
relative to the action of the police on cleo
ton day was very Rccseveltian and very
admirable. To understand the true inward
ness of the situation it must be remem-
bered that the chief CT police Is a tool of
Richard Croker, and Mayor Van wyck is
also a creature of Tamrnany. The mayor
chief, and IS the responsible executive head
of the city government The election laws
of the State of New York provide for the
appointment of superintendent of cleo
tons with power To- appoint deputies to
protect voters, preserve peace and prevent
illegal voting. On Sunday last Chief of
Police Devery issued the following instruc-
tions to all commanders of police in the
city:
Tactics and methods of intimidation per-
petrated upon RESI- ectable citizens who
have been enc yea in the State, four
months in any of the four counties of New
York city, who have resided thirty days
in an election district and who are legal
voters, by John Mccullagh, superintendent
of elections. will not be tolerated or per-
mitted by the police department
This was plain defiance ty the chief of
police and notice to the State superintend-
ent of elections to keep hands off of the
election in New York city. TIE order was
undoubtedly inspired by Boss Croker,
and was calculated if not intended to
bring about collisions and violence be-
tween the police and the deputies of the
superintendent of elections. As the State
law makes it penal offense to resist or
| interfere with the superintendent of cleo
lions or his deputies in the performance
| OF their duties the defy issued by the
| chief of police made case for the action
| of the chief executive of the State Gov
ernor Roosevelt promptly assumed the re-
| sponsibility. and instead OF warning Chief
Devery he warned Mayor Van Wyck that
he would be held responsible for what
! ever breach of the peace, infraction of
the law or intimidation of voters might
| occur under Deverys order. In his com
| munication to the mayor the Governor
| said:
| / will not fail to call to summary ac-
| count either State or city authorities in
| event of either being guilty of intimidati or
/ or connivance at fraud or failure TO protect
1 every legal voter in his r'~hts. I, there
| fore. hereby notify you that In the event
/ of any wrongdoing following upon the fail
| ure Immediately TO recall Chief Devery's
| order or upon any action or inaction or
| the part of Chief Devery / must neces-
sarily call you to account.
The effect of this communication was tc
bring about hurried consultation be.
tween the mayor and chief of police. and
an order from the former tor the revoca.
ton of the order of last Sunday "Yot
will at once wrote the mayor, "revok;
the order issued from your office on the
| 4th inst relative TO the duties of the DO
lice force on election day and you will
issue Immediately such further orders a.
will require your subordinates to cooper
ate with ana assis- i'm the execution ans
enforcement of the metropolitan election
district law and amendments thereto
Thus the Tammany mayor was brough
10 see the propriety OF overriding hi
chief of police. who was preparing to MAX,
trouble in the interest Of Tammany an,
Bryan.
The American people admire man VIII
Ia willing to assume responsibility wheI
the law requires him to do so. Governo
] Roosevelt II that kind Of . man. and. be