The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-04-07
DOCKERY REPLIES
TO GRAND JURY.
Doubts That Inauguration Ct
NonpaTtisan Police Board
Would Remedy Exist
ing Evils.
If State Convention Declares fol
"Home Rule" for Cities, He
Will Call Special Ses-
sion Of Legislature.

SS' W SSS'SeeS' "
Jefferson City, Mo-, April 2.-dov-
ernor Dockery to-day gave out the
following interview concerning the re.
cent report of the st. Louis Grand
Jury:
"The salient point in the report Of
st. Louis Grand Jury to Judge Tay-
lor is the recommendation for a non
partisan board. The proper police
control OF the great municipalities Of
commonwealth is a subject worthy
the serious consideration OF all citi-
zsns. In the opinion OF this intelli-
gent bodya nonpartisan police board
is the best solution OF this problem
"The report expresses grave doubt
as to the wisdom of taking from the
State It's restraining influence in the
control of the police of the large
cities and placing it in the hands OF
each municipality. we lean to the
theory says the Grand Jury.
"On the other hand, there is a de-
mand now championed by men prom
inent In public life for what is popu.
luarly known as home rule'-thatis is,
that the police control of the cities
shall be wholly under the domination
OF the municipality, and that all re-
straining power shall be taken from
the Commonwealth.
"The report makes unstinted re.
cognition of the efficiency of the Police
Department. The bravery, seli-con.
troll and iaith'ulnets nf the force IA
frankly admitted. The only critic.
ism is based on the absence OF non.
partisan control
DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
at would be difficult matter in
deed to devise any plan for the con-
troll OF the chief cities that would be
entirely faultless. 1t is equally true
that il the most perfect system ofpo
lice government known to the ingen-
uity OF man was adopted, there
would still he defects in the admins
tration of the law.
"Good citizens differ upon this i'm.
portant question. 1t is one of the
most vexing problems of municipal
government.
81 am a firm believer in the policy
of the State exercising a restrainif 9
influence over its great municipal
ties.
"Not to do this would be to give
the cities unbridled power and to sub
ject the remainder of The Common
wealth to their possible domination
'"The present system has been or
the statute books of Missouri, under
all administrations, for more than
forty years.
"At no time have men OF higher
character or more exalted citizenship
constituted the Board of Police Com
missioners than at the present.
"In the control OF the large cities,
deplorable as it may be, there is not
always perfect enforcement OF the
law. But l do not think this would
be remedied by the Inauguration oil
a nonpartisan Police Board.
BELIEVES IN HONEST PARTIsANS.
81 believe in robust, vigorous, hon.
est partisans. There is no more
cogent reason, as | see it, for a non
partisan Police Board than there is
for q nonpartisan Governor, a non.
partisan Mayor, a nonpartisan
Judge, nonpartisan Sheriff or Other
like officers.
"This position is not inconsistent
with the fearless and impartial ed.
ministration of the law. The police
should protect the rights of all vot.
ers at the primaries and elections
Any failure to do 80 must be follow
ed by dismissal But the party in
power is responsible to the peoplefor
good government. 1t ought to have
absolute control in the selection oil
those who are to discharge the pub.
lie duties.
"lf, however, my party, which has
had the grave responsibility Of gov
erning this State for the past thirty
two years, shall now decide in it's
State Convention that the present
system Is bad and that the State
should surrender its restraining in
fluence over the great municipalities
and give to them absolutely what Is
lpopularly known as home rule, then
/ shall not hesitate for a moment in
|convening the Legislature in extra
session, that an opportunity may be
afforded to promptly repeal the pres.
ent system"