The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-08-12
POOR OLD MEMPHIS.


So long as the people relied on the
promise of their InvertabTate VICE
mayor to make good his promise OF
turning Chief of Police Mason out.
they looked to his action as the hrst
stem toward securing the desired shake
up in the police department. IL was
felt that the removal of Mason would
lead to a virtual reorganization oil the
police department and to the exl osure
of the officers guilty of the fearful sins
charged against them by the CONNER
cial Appeal in its memorable editorials
of the 18th.
For fear some of our readers have
not vet learned that famous arraign-
ment by heart, We repeat some choice
extracts from it:
Long immunity from inter-
ference had made the law breakers
arrogant. The stamp and majesty OF
law was to them a joke. They winked
at policemen while they dosed the
deadly knockout drops across their
counters. Cheek by jowl with detec-
tiyes, hand in glove with patrolmen.
the innocent and unsophisticated had
paid their tIlbute-a tribute OF blood
sometimes-to the bold and braZen
tlesperadoes whose influence has
reached the highest seats. Good citi-
zens of Memphis have stood appalled,
at the effronteIy of these evil doors.
The trail of the serpent has 6een per
ceptible IN the police affairs OF Mem
Dhis fol years. Political loyalty has
been rewarded with immunity until
the line of distinction Is lost between
the master and the man. Inc
poor paIiahs of the tenderloin, sad In
their social isolation, tell pitiful tales
of tribute levied and a despotlsm
worse than Nero's. They dare not
complaint would make their burd-
ems worse. To carry their grievances
to those who have the power OF redress
would be to invite the spoliation OF
their quarters.
That was on the 18th. On the 10Th
the Commercial Appeal said:
There are great many rumors about
the police department in this city,
and in order that we may get at the
truth of the matter, we would suggest
I0AL Juu26 MOS5 ullCCt thO 3 e&AAA JcA )
to make a thorough investigation OF
that body.
These rumors are to the effect that
tribute ia levied regularly on the out
lawed classes, who cannot afford to re-
sist any demands of this kind. We do
not know whether these reports are true
or false, but they ought to be investl-
gated thoroughly, in order to punish the
guilty ones, II there are any, or to reas
sure the community il all is we'll.
The grand jury ought alec to inyes.
tiQate the magisterial junk shops that
round up negroes for gambling, or FOL
venial offienses, not for the purpose OF
breaking up the evil done, but to secure
the fees.
Make it thorough, Judge Moss.
The Commercial Appeal has had othel
editorials along the same lines since.
Now that there is NO hope of getting
the expected shake.up in the depart
ment through Henderson, we join tn
Commercial Appeal in urging this in.
,estigation, and here suggest that tn
grand jury summon the Commercial Ap
peal as the first witness. If it can maxi
good its accusations against the cit.
ronstabulary in it's article on the 18th
ssd its suggestions in it's subsequen
editorials on the same subject, tn
grand Jury can do more effective worl
In satisfying the Memphis public thai
any other agency.
We stand ready to aid the CONNER
cial Appeal by every means in our pow
or to persuade or prod the grand lnr.
uto the desired investigation. Let
lead out as it started to do. This Is on
case in which we will follow withoo
the least quarrel as to precedence o
prestige. Let us hear its clarion voic
urging that the whole system be probes
by the inquisitors to the "highes
seats as we'll as to the lowest rounds.
The people are not satisfied. In
FIRST step toward satisfying them
through the means you suggest, mos
aealous contemporary. Lead the way.
Astonish the people by helping t