The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31

in our municipalities is due more to the
selfshness and cowardice of the upper
classes than to any other cause The sub
sthntial business man, particularly II
he has large interests at stake. lives In
moral dread of offending the influential
politician: Every one who has engaged
reform work has often found that such
men, while willing to contribute thou
sands OF dollars to the moevment. insist
upon having their names withheld.
The corrupt politician has received con-
slant announcement in not only the re-
spert with which he Is treated, but also
In applications for irregular favors. 1t
is common for him to be treated by men
of high standing as social equal on
those public and private occasions when
they are brought together He is np-
pealcd to when the law places 1t In his
power TO exact n duty. and asked TO
waive 1t, although perhaps IL the clti-
zen submitted to the law the inconve-
nienco or expense would be comparatively
trivial, and certainly so when compared
to his civic duty.
have known such citizens TO bride
policemen TO refrain from performing n
duty aud at the same time join earnestly
in u movement TO attack police corrup-
tion The relation Of the two things was
utterly overloolsas In trials affecting
public officials 1t Is always most difficult
| to get jurors because Of the fear of pro-
| seculion BY the. defendants political as
| socates, And yet the average politician
| is wholly without courage, and IL con-
| WINGED that the law Will be detcrminedly
| invoked he VIII quickly surrender
| When the representative citizens shall
| stand shoulder to shoulder in maintain
| ing the law no matter--what the conse-
| quences may be, we VIII have hiSher
| standard of official duty and not before.
! The first cost Will be more than made M
/ ,.,,, Ia, iiI,tl and
from biaekmuil, Let us not demand en-
forcempnt OF the general law while We
ourselves seek evasion
1t is safe TO say that New York city
has never had until now thorough bus
| lness-lilSe administration of the police DC
parlment, In the years past the exist
ence OF IA board of four commissioners
representatives of the two great parties
made compromises frequently necessary
ana 1t Is doubtful II at any time sucl
body had four men VINO were all unset
nshly devoted 10 public interests llnde
such conditions 1t Is nothing less thhi
remarkable that the police force OF TO
| day is even as efficient as II Is.
An opportunity Is given 10 the pfesen
head of the police department to put !
In a better condition than " has eve
known ana there Is reason 10 believe tina
before his term of office has expired u
will have accomplished that result. IL
| has in the hundreds of patrolmen on III
force, a nucleus for Il capable and iailh
ful body. Mhie 1t is true that there ar
among The pauomen some vicious AM
wholly dishonest men, yet the aVeIas
man will readily respond 70 the demand
Of discipline and give good and eificien
service.
ii was expected when took Office tina
Investigations through the grand lur
would al once be Instituted as To the va
rious municipal departments, and whe
month afteS month passed without an
such proceeding besng iaken there wa
a feeling that WAS uesleating the OF
portunitles my position presented INT
nations to this effect came 10, me cor
stantly from even those who were 'sr
cerely and unselhshly Interested in mum
clpal reform. and attacks We're mad
upon me By the newspapers. ] made u
attempt at explorations or defense, ~
J adhered to the policy that had adopte'