New-York tribune., 1901-10-26
THE UyEscAPABLE QUESTION.

Mr. Shepard ventures the prediction that he
will not hear much more about the removal of
Murphy and Devery. II is TO be feared that
the wish is father 10 the thought and that he is
doomed TO disappointment. II is one thing for
Mr. Shepard 10 say he has disposed of the mat
ter and that nothing more need be said about
IL, and another thing 10 stop people from think
ing and asking questions.
The more strenuously Mr.. Shepard protests
that his own doubts, the constitution or the
Governor absolve him from declaring his atti-
tude toward the system OF police administration
described as "Deyeryism'' in that Kings County
Shepard campaign book which Tammany caused
10 be suppressed, the more earnestly will people
demand knowledge Of what his election would
mean Mr. shepard says il would mean Mr..
Shepard's police policy. but he declines TO say
how that would resemble or differ from the
Murphy -Devery policy. which Mayor Van Wyck,
who is Mr. Shepard's fellow candidate, and their
common Tammany platform proclaim 10 be
excellent. Mr.. Shepard knows as we'll as any
body else what sort of police administration
this city has If he approves Of il let him say
so frankly instead of doing so indirectly by
sneering about the one wardman convicted as
| the sole outcome of all the charges OF police
corruption. II he does not approve il let him
say that frankly instead OF lodging about pro-
claiming that be means to give a good govern
ment. but refusing TO offer a concrete illustra-
ton of his views on the most absorbing topic of
public interest in this campaign.
If Mr.. Shepard thinks he can hide behind the
Governor he Is much mistaken. Mr.. Shepard
asks TO be intrusted with power over the Police
Department, and the people who are to choose
or reject him have a right TO know what he will
do with that power il he gets it; whether he
usa in to keen in offiee the head frOut
of a nOtoriously corrupt system, or will conduct
his government with the aid of other men. Mr..
Shepard would not be performing a judicial
function at all in deciding that question, as Mr..
HOrnblOwer has pointed out. He would be
merely mapping out the policy Of his admins
tration. The Mayor under the charter has a
| free hand to make or unmake heads of depart
ments. Changes. particularly at the beginning
of term, are not expected 10 be the result of
hearings and trials, but 10 be determined by
personal preference and judgment These de-
| paFtment chiefs are the Mayors cabinet, and
there is nothing 10 prevent Mr.. Shepard, except
the fear Of losing votes Of either Deveryites or
reform Democrats, from saying that he will
have a cabinet which stands for Devery or does
not stand for Devery.
The Governors position is entirely different.
His interference would be the extraordinary
| exercise of power, warranted only as a last
| resort He may not rightly, merely because he
does not like police management here remove
q commissioner, while the Mayor may. The
case must be stronger 10 justify a Governors
actiOn-particularly if. with Mr.. Shepard, he
believes in home rule-than TO Justify a Mayors
declaration of policy subsequent action in
accord with II. The Governor can remove a
District Attorney, but even Mr.. Shepard would
not argue that reasons which the people might
well consider cause for their refusal 10 elect a
man 10 that office would be sufficient cause for
removing him If he were elected. The Mayor
is the representative OF the people In choosing
the police officials, and in choosing them he
does not act judcially, like the Governor when
exercising a power of removal which he holds
| I'm reserve for use in emergencies when the city
is threatened by evils which the people them
selves cannot, or their unfaithful local officers
will not, cure. The people can cure the Devery
evil, and the local officials should cure ii. There
fore, according 10 home rule doctrine the Gov
ernor should leave the case in their hands. The
people are now aroused TO effect their own cure.
| Their instrument for the work is the Mayor TO
be chosen. Mr. Shepard asks TO be made Mayor.
Will he do the work? VIII the people get rid OF
Deyeryism if they elect him? Yes or no?