The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-12-05
A CALL UPON JOHN LATTA.

A CALL UPON JOHN LATTA.
The Mt. Pleasant Chroni Gle of last
week says:
"Since the sudden death of Capt.
Jas. Frlel leaves Mt. Pleasant with
but one policeman, and as the Board
will be called upon to elect some one
0 fill his place. the editor OF The
Chronicle desires to place in nomina-
ton q candidate tor the place, provid-
ed he could be prevailed on to accept.
At recent meeting of the Columbia
Board OF Mayor and Aldermen. gen.
tleman by the name Of John Latta :
better known as Johnny Slick, the
terror to Inv brsakers-severen his
connection with the police force OF
that city. He might be prevailed on
to come to Mt. Pleasant for few
months. ut least. and we need him.
Why n,s make an effort to get him?"
The above is very nice compliment
to Mr.. Latta, and is characteristic OF
the discriminating judgment and good
sense Of the editor of the Chronicle
whose good suggestion was informally
acted upon and the office virtually ten
dered Mr.. Latta; but Mr.. Latta,
though he appreciates the compli-
ment and kindness Of the Chronicle
and the good people Of Mt. Pleasant.
cannot accept.
The. fact is, and now is perhaps a
good time to make it known to the
public, Mr.. Latta has been wanting to
retire from police service for severa
years and nothing but the insistence
OF his friends and his own punctillious
regard for duty, has kept him from
doing 30.
Four years ago when Mr.. Hight was
elected Sheriff, Mr.. Latta had pri-
vate. satisfactory business OF his own,
with no disposition or notion OF apply
ing for any Office. But Mr.. Hight,
acting upon the advice Of his Chi eff
advisors offered MIR. Latta a deputy
ship, which office mutual friends of
Messrs. flight and Latta, prevailed
upon the latter, though reluctantly, to
ccept.
Again two years from that time,
when the Cameron board came into
office, Mr.. Latta was in demand. Mr..
Cameron had served with him in for
mer boards and he said openly-and
will say today-that he has never yet
seen his equal as a police officer. Came :
ron wanted him, and wanted him
bad. But Hight had him and didn't
want to give him up. Mr.. Latta plac.
cd himself in the hands Of his friends
and said he'was willing to serve where
he could do the most good. And his
friends decided that he should go on
the police force.
His present retirement, therefore, is
entirely to his satisfaction ; and to the
satisfaction OF perhaps majority OF his
friends who are tired Of seeing him
waste his efforts in futile endeaver to
punish the worst class of offenders,
while other officials, higher in author
ity than he, stand READY to thwart his
efforts by nolle pressing the cases.
Mr.. Latta has been of inestimable
service to this community. No man
can compute the good he has done.
His sobrequet Of Johnny Slick" was
given him because of his special care
Of Sunday tipplers and tony gamblers;
ana children yet unborn will hear with
admiration of Johnny Slick and his
achievements. But that Is a mere
bagatelle of what he has done. While
others loafed and warmed at the court
horse ana in the corner saloons, the
town was his beat, and he walked it.
In the long, lone watches Of the
night while others oozed and slept, he
waited and watched. When he heard
angry words he stepped in and stop
ped the quarrel. When he knew Of
hard feelings, he became peace max
or and healed the breech when he
could. When he saw boy starting
downward, he would bide his time
and warn him and plead with him
and that failing. he would go to the
parents and tell them what he had
seen while they were asleep. And
when these milder methods failed, he
applied the whip of the law. And the
good that he has done. no man can
tell And he mas as his reward the
approval ~ his own conscience, and