The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-12

we were very anxious to have this
char kept secret til Saturday" said
the mayor to Stale Journal reporter,
so that Mr.. McCoIlum would have
time to hook into mis- duties a little
Turning to Mr.. McCollum, the mayor
said:
When do you want to be sworn in?"
ANY time"
"Wen. In going right UP to my
office. Come along and Wei have it
over with"
Mr.. McCollum took the oath before
City Clerk Squires, and then had a
short con- erence with the mayor in the
| iatter'S office. At $50 this evening the
new CHIEF will go 10 the police station
with Mayor Bergundtnal, where he
Will be introduced to the officers, very
few OF whom he has ever met. He
will not take active charge of the
force, though he is actually at the head
OF the force, until after roll call this
levaning es
Bk.tIGUNDTHALS STATEMENT.
IN Mayor Bergundtnai claims Mccoiiun
: piece CT material out of which to make
! - chief of police.
Nobody recommended McCollum to
me-" said the mayor this morning. Il
got acquainted with the man. liked his
style and his energy, and decided that
/ he would make a chief of police suit
able to the city McCollum used to
come into the Office frequently and
make inquiries ABOUT now Things We're
getting along. He also gave us a lit
tie information about things now and
then In many ways he showed his
sympathy and interest in the work I
| have been trying to do. / decided to
give him the job of chief"
What were the reasons for Chief
COTS dismissal?''
| This joint business" said the
time to shut up the joints, and let out
! Goff. I had to make a change"
| What about the charge that Golf
was found drunk. and had to be taken
home a week ago Sunday?"
| Il heard that Golf was drunk but this
/ had nothing whatever to do with the
action have taken had already de-
cided to let Golf out when this report
came to my ears"
will you require that McCollum
place his resigna ton in your hands be-
fore taking Officer"
| Nothing has been said about that.
However. 1 believe that McCollum is
the kind Of a man who would not want
to stay in the Office if he was not want
ed. l think it won't be necessary for
him to give me his resignation"
rs McCollum a DemocraJ!-
Il don't know what his politics are.
have never inquired the politics of any
| force
What will be the plan Of handling
the joints, under the new regimen"
lun1. I have placed the police force en-
tirely in his charge He can change ii
around to suit himself. and adopt any
plan he plesses to suppress the Joints.
What am after is results
McCOLLUM IS CAUTIOUS.
Chief of Police McCollum is little
bit oTerawed by hi- Nv job apparent
~. and is H. 3ly at himself yet in
ing something which will hurt him, or
tangle him up in some way. He acts
like a man who has jumped into pool
of icevater and is gssping for breath.
Hove you any statement to make in
regard TO your policy of handling the
joints?'' he was asked this morning
No, no. I don't want to say any
thing
lice force?"
"Oh, 1 couldn't say; don't expect to
make any very radical changes. But ]
don't want to talk; 1 might say some
thing 1 hadn't ought to-
Are you in sympathy with the joint
cloEing policy OF Mayor Bergundthal?' %
If 1 hadn't been. I wouldn't have
taken the job, that's a cinch-''
When Goff was sworn in as chief
began the reporter as the preface to
another question
There. there, 1 don't want to talk
about Goff.' interrupted Mr.. McCollum.
Il don't want to get mixed up with Gof7
at all If I should say anything, he
might think had been butting in and
trying to get his job away from him. ]
didn't ask for the place
When Golf was sworn in he had to
place his written resignation in the
hands of the mayor resumed the re-
porter Have YOU been required to dc
similar thing?"
mo. indeed, 1 haven't declared Mr.
McCollum with emphasis Nothing
has ever been said about It, and IL he
had asked rne-there, almost said
something I hadn't ought to- You
mustn't print that
Mr. McColIum seems to be a very
nice sort Of q man, but he suspects ev-
arybody having evil designs on him.
When he has been chief for q while
ana gains confdence IN himself he VIII