The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-18
HOW TT "pETERs ouT.Y

Spouse that the G l o be may choose to
make to the last article appearing in the
Pioneer Press on the subject of non-par-
tisanship in local government, that the
game is hardly worth the candle. In
the degree in which commencement of
the proposed quo warranto proceedings
has grown less probable the contributions
of our contemporary to the literature
of the subject have grown more and
more attenuated, until it has practically
left itself nothing to argue about. It's
closing contribution to the subject, print
ed on Saturday last, revealed an advo-
cate who had effectively argued him
self out of court.
But, as there were certain statements
Of fact contained in that article winch
should not be allowed to so unchallenged.
it becomes necessary to take some notice
of it. For instance, our contemporary
says, speaking of Mayor Wrights police
appointments:
Except the chief Of police and the chief
detective, Mayor Wright did not remove
a from the police force except for
cause sh0wn-that is to say, except upon
cheney after que hearing of witnesses on
both sides. Nor was any one appointed
by him on the police force for partisan
reasons. The applicant was duly exam
1ned as to his physical fitness, his COM
potency and his character. No questions
were asked as to his politics. If any OF
Mayor Wrights appointees turned out to
be incompetent or misbehaVed, they
were. upon sufficient proof of this.
promptly discharged
AS a plea these statements may be ac-
cepted as in part foolish and in part
false. The bulk of the removals made
by Mayor Wright We're accomplished
through the agency of designations"
No doubt the great number of efficient
officers who resigned Immediately fol-
lowing upon Mr.. Wright's installation
in Office were Influenced wholly by
desire to better their positions in life.
The fact that they were subsequently
reinstated by Mayor Smith might indi-
cate that there was some pressure not
wholly non-partisan in character in Sc
curing their designations. Specific
charges of misconduc'Nindeed! Our con-
temporary must regard itself as address
ing the marines when it urges this state
PiCOA
of the police appointments of Mayor
Wright. No; the resignation" was a
most effective instrument in the hands OF
the reform mayor. When it was not
found as effective as it might be, the
record shows that dismissal for the good
of the service" answered all REQUIRE
ments
Then the Pioneer Press adds, with be-
coming simplicity, Nor was anyone ap-
pointed by him on the police force for
partisan reasons. No questions
were asked him as to his politics. No;
certainly not No questions were needed.
The record OF police appointments shows
that any questions as to the appointee's
politics would have been in the nature
of the most delightful persi1age. That
record presents the names of the gentle
men who recommended the several Of
ffcers appointed by Mayor Wight. There
are Lightweight of those officers in all.
Here is a list of some of the citizens
whose names appear most frequently
among those who recommended Mr..
Wrights police appointments:
Il 4 ! R seIi 4 4. E R. 6 Eiefer.
George n. Warren, w. Il. Johnson,
Harry Franklin, D. +. Reese,
John 9andell, W. ]. Freaney
~ II. Wolterstorff, f. G. IngersoiI.
What questions could be asked con-
corning the politics of police officers ap-
pointed on recommendation of gentlemen
50 commercially active In political life
just at that time, and, in many ca.es.
since?
It would not be difficult to show from
the police records that this talk about
specific charges and trials OF offending
officers before witnesses, etc, ETC., is
sheer nonsense. But why cumber the
subject by needless proof?
The Pioneer Press shows a very poor
understanding of the facts which it es-
says to dispute when it represents the
Clio b e as claiming that the reign OF
partisanship in the police department be-
gan with the Republican Mayor Wright. -
OF course we never made any such state
ment. But the statement we did make
was much broader, and sufficiently sig
nificant to cause our contemporary to try
to parry it by denying what we never al
legged. Our statement was something en-
tirely different, as the Pioneer Press will
find b. looking back a little, that Is, as
Stunning that it has not known right along
just what that statement was.
It IS altogether a fruitless pursuit to
follow the piddling details to which the
Pioneer Press has been reduced in its
effort to maintain a position incautious-
ly assumed and recklessly maintained
We would respectfully advise our con-
temporary to stick to its enunciation OF
the legal principles involved in the pros
pective quo warranto proceedings. There
It shines, as a great legal Iuminary
should shine. When 1t gets down tc
facts III its plea for non-partisan Re-
publican city government, to be called
into existence by judicial decree. it does