The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-22
MAY GUST The CHIEF
City Council Could Remove Both
Fred Ames, and Fitchette.
MAYOR MAY GIVE UP THE FIGHT
In an interview at West BADEN
He Raises the Cry of
- .-.5 Mistreatment.

If the police committee Of the city coun-
Gil will but take the initiative at it's meet
ing Thursday, the names of Superintend-
emit of Police Fred Ames and Captain
John Fitchette may be missing from the
August pay rolls of the police department.
According to Mayor An1es own state
ment, Superintendent Ames was granted
fifteen days leave OF absence, and
should, therefore, report for duty to-
MORROW. If he should fail to show up on
schedule time, the strong sentiment IN
the city council may result in definite ac-
tion at Friday nights meeting looking to
his removal Similar sentiment may re-
suit In action against Fitchette. 49,.
Under the terms of the city charter any
member Of the force can be removed from
office at the pleasure of the mayor, or by
the city council, for cause, by a twothirds
vote Of it's members. If Colonel Ames
fails to show up for duty to morrow. it Is
contended that the council will be amply
justified in proceeding to remove him:
that sufficient cause will then exist. In
the case of Captain Fitchette 1t is held
that his conviction In the district court
is cause enough on which to base his re-
moval.
The aldermen interested declare that
they are not actuated by malice, but
wholly by a desire to purge the pay rolls
Of names that have no business there.
The saving effected would amount in five
months to S1,750, which would wipe out
about one-fourth o. the probable deficit
in that department at the end of the year.
While there are a good many aldermen
who stand ready to take positive action
at Friday nights meeting, they are not
likely to do so unless the police COM
mittee leads off with a recommendation
to that effect, .~'>f'-
May Quit the Fight
Mayor Ames is said to be, considering
the advisab bility of abandoning the field
ing a talk with a correspondent Of the
Louisville Courier journal at West Baden
yesterday, he declared that thieves were
being used as tools by his enemies to
ruin his administration and destroy the
character Of himself and brother. ''To
fight these human hyenas," he is quoted
as saying, will mean the surrender OF
am wondering If the result will justify
IT. He again admits that his police
force was more or less corrupt, but nc
more so than, the police departments in
other cities.
After reciting the facts of the indict-
ments against himself and his desire fol
an immediate trial, Mayor Ames discusses
the situation with the correspondent as
follows: ~
was acquitted July on the accusation o
receiving money to protect big mitt" man
The truth is that the man threatened to ge
even with Superintendent Ames. He told mel
Of yeracity that my brother had interferet
with his business and he would have re
venge.
We have been mistreated by the Mime
arolis papers. 1t was my brothers veracit.
against the periured statements of thieves
These blacklegs are the tools Of our enc
n;ies-men who have declared their intention
to damn my administration and destroy GU
characters ..s:"s.. a., e..
1t is fact and deplorabie one, tha
rolice forces in cities the size OF Mime
apolis are more or less corrupt. There ar
officers who take bribes, and,- I am sorr.
to say. some Of the subordinate officers II
Minneapolis are among the number.
I~was thrice elected mayor Of Minneapoli
as u democrat. - War issues made me are
public an and the people elected me mayor 70
the fourth time by majority of $500. I wa
elected governor Of Minnesota and also
congressman, but was robbed Of both offices
7 an, done with politics. I believe it was
Kentuckian, Judge Jewell, who said "politic
is HI" That man knew his business.
I am going to locate in West Baden, an
will bring my wife and 5-year-old daughte
here this fall. am going to be. chief sur
| geon at the West Baden Springs hotel. i will
| have two assistants. ..t:-,' =.
Still Says Husband Will Return.
Rumor now has 1t that Superintendent
Fred Ames is In st. Louis and that b
| intends to make that his future home
Mrs. Ames, however, declares that thi
is not so, and she reiterates her forme
statement that her husband will be hom'
| the last Of this week.