The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-16
INDORSES THE SYSTEM
COL. CHARLES e.. WILSON ON METRO
POLITAN POLICE BOARDS.
He Gives Ohio Newspaper His
Views on the Subject-Has Watched
the system Closely.

Col. Charles E. Wilson. secretary to the
an Ohio newspaper, a statement of the ad-
vantages of the Metropolitan police sys-
tenn. His paper is an unqualified indorse-
ment of the system as tried in Indiana and
other States, and Colonel Wilson takes the
position that the metropolitan police sys-
tenn is now so firmly established in Indiana
that the law is as solid as the State Con-
stitution.
After saying that as editor of the la
fayette Courier he had advocated legisla-
ton which would free the cities of the
State from the evils of police administra-
ton by partisans, Colonel Wilson remarks
his official position has given him an OPP
portunity to observe closely the workings
of the system. 1t has been godsend he
says, to the cities that were dominated
previously by political cabals. conspicuous
for their utter disregard of the rights of
citizens, their primary object being to build
up a machine to be used in promoting pure
ly selfish interests.
THE law as it now stands" says Colonel
Wilson, docs not favor either party ma
terially. Almost without exception the
various police boards have acted in perfect
harmony. In Republican cities one-half the
force is made up of Democratic patrolmen
Including officers of rank and vice versa.
THE idea that the control of a city police
force is helpful to party in power is not
true. On the contrary, such control is posi-
lively harmful, and in time il is certain TO
react with terrific force. There are many
reasons for this. In the first place, large
majority of the cosmopolitan population of
cities are innatey opposed to authority of
any kind. For example, the stage police
oil IL,
like cut-throat. and the galleries and a
good part of the lower floor feel that they
are getting their moneys worth when they
join in kissing him vociferousy >
There Is a formidable undercurrent of re-
bellion that does not tend TO increase the
popularity of policemen as a political fac
tor. Local politicians may be slow to agree
with these conclusions but the experiment
of establishing nonpartisan police forces in
Indiana cities has demonstrated such vast
Improvement over the old spoils system
that IL has row the practically unanimous
Endorsement Of our people. 1t was not so
at first. Many well-meaning persons Sc
riously argued that the metropolitan sys-
tenn was serious blow to the principle of
local self-government but that assumption
is not sustained by experience. logic or law.
policeman is a part of the official ma
chinery of a state government a member
or a IRE department, on the contrary, per-
forms duties of a purely local character
and. as recently decided by the Supreme
Court of this State. his appointment can
not nc utlSl bg SldlC Inc
distinction between these two classes of
public employees is so obvious that the ar
gument that the State has no right 10 con-
troll the police administration is disproved
'TO be sure, satisfactory police service
cannot be assured or expected unless
boards of commissioners are in hearty ac-
cord with the spirit we'll as the letter OF
the law. u was the policy of the late
Governor Mount. as it is the policy of Gov
ernor Durbin, TO appoint first-class men as
commissioners-not professional politicians,
but business men who are we'll known 10 be
i'm harmony with those who are convinced
that the metropolitan system is in line with
practical reform-not the long-haired kind
of so-called reform, but the kind that
counts
There IS little or no opportunity for any
of the authorities, from the Governor down
TO reap political advantage. and, on the
whole. the system. now thoroughly tried is
heartily Endorsed because Ii is based on
principles OF common sense and enforced in
a manner TO win the appreciation of al
right-thinking people. The people
are satisfied with ii and il IS so generally
approved that il may be safely said that II
is as firmly established as If IL were en-
bodied in the State Constitution"