Evening journal., 1902-02-01
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Chose chlef from the Rank


ways interesting paper, / seldom find
In IL anything TO which / feel inclined
to take exception. After reading your
editorial leader in yesterdays Journal
headed Wanted. a Chief of Police
could not feel otherwise than that your
editorial Judgment is at error in the
matter Of the police situation
First / would dispute your con-
/ tention that our Wilmington police
force is torn to pieces by factions,
cliuues or feuds. AS a matter of fact,
believe there is less jealousy and fac
ltionalism in the police force Of this city
than in any other city of our size.
Such being the case, you do great in
Justice to both the Police Commission,
and the force itself. in publishing the
statement that there is nothing but
chaos and Generalization in the police
force of our city.
Second: Your proposition to ap-
point as chief of police an outside
man entirely unconnected with the po-
lice force and inexperienced in police
matters, can only tend and lead in the
direction of tie deplorable condition
that you now wrongfully state to be
existing in the force. The one thing,
and indeed the only thing. that police
men can look forward to is a better
ment of their condition by way of pro-
motion when vacancies arise. Deprive
them of this and there is taken from
them the greatest incentive to earn for
themselves by good and efficient SER
vice. faithfulness to duty, the favor
and good opinions of the head of the
Police Department.
To take an outside man for chief of
police would be nothing short of an
open and public confession by the
Police Commission that there is not
in the entire force a single qualified
and trustworthy man for the position.
II cannot be that the police force of the
city of Wilmington is composed entire
ly of such unfit. untrustworthy and in
efficient men. nor can I believe that
the Police Commission will make such
a confession and admission to the pub
lie.
The natural and logical successor of
Chief Massey is the senior officer of
the force. This is so by reason of the
fact that by many years of experience
and faithful performance of duty he is
supposed to have earned the ranking
position he holds. Should the Police
Commissioners take an inexperienced
and totally untried man from civilian
! life. it would in effect be a decision
/ by the Police Commissioners that they
have good reason for not promoting
Captain Black Such good reason
could only be that in the opinion OF
the Police Commissioners, Captain
Black is an unfit and unworthy man
for the position Of chief of police
The public have a right to expect the
Police Commissioners to make known
their reasons for so doing. should they
pass over the heads of the two captains
who are and have been in their turn
for sometime the acting chief of police
The objection urged against the pro
motion OF Captain Black seems to b,
based upon political and factional pre-
/ iudice, and periuries and cOnspiraciei
of the gambling element, which stands
in such dread and fear of Captain
| Black. That il would be wrong, ant
shamefully wrong. for the Police Com
missioners to recognize in any wa!
either of these two discreditable ele
lments cannot be questioned by an,
Just and fair-minded persos Their
have been shot from ambush all kind
of imDutations and charges agains
Captain Black. Without questioning
the motive of such charges, and tn
y instigator OF them, the charges mus
be either false or true. and if the Po
, lice Commission is going to give then
Iany consideration whatever in justic
, to the Commission itself, and in fair
ness to Captain Black, a thorough an
exhaustive investigation should b
b made. He is either a guilty or an in
81 nocent man. and the investigation
should decide this matter both def
nitely and justly. If he is guilty. h
should be treated as a guilty man; bu
on the other hand. If he is innocent, h
should be treated as an innocent maj
If the Police Commissioners are cor
' vinced that Captain Black is not guilt
of the charges made against him an
he is worthy of their confidence an
d respect. the least they can do is to al
y point him chief for a probation perio
r. and if at the end of that time he shoul
e not measure up in every way to II
d requirements of the position the Con
+ missioners could then very proper
x appoint another person to the pos
; tion. Juno.