The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1905-12-08
hot One Handed Folk.

hhnlOn Resigns Is roiice
Commissioner In 81. Louis and a
few OF his reasons z a. follows,
after calling attention to the fac,
that his selection as commissioner
by Governor Dockery was ap.
proved by Mr.. Folk, Hanlon says /.
"Evcn then I doubt that you
would leave to the judgment Of the
police board the conduct Of police
Affairs In st. Louis. was shortly
undcccived, however. The first
vacancy that occurred In the de.
partment was that Of private sec
rotary to the chief Of police. Il
was reasonable to be presumed
that the chief Of police, or any
other man in a similar capacity,
would certainly have the right to
select his own private secretary
without outside interference. But
we soon learned that the matter
had to be submitted to you before
anything could be done by the
board, and that, In the meantime,
your political friends here were
strongly urging the appointment
OF a man whose occupation was
that OF n butcher; who probably
had never been In the police de-
partmcnt In his life; who knew
nothing OF police work. and his
appointment was urged. not upon
the ground OF fitness, but upon the
grounds that II would be POLITICAL
~ useful to you.
"Bc II said to the credit OF Mr..
Steuart, the president ofthc board,
that he would not consent to this
programme OF your political
friends, who claimed that 1t re-.
ceived your endorsement; but |
notice with what reluctance and
timidity they proceeded to the
selection OF u competant, capable
man, who had had long years of
experience In the department
whose only recommendation was
that OF competency and know
ledge.
81 then learned that the police
Affairs OF this city would be dircc-
ted from Jefferson City and that
the long distance telephone would
be used to Issue commands, while
the police board would be hcld.ac-
countablc for your personal poll
cies. discovered that, instead
Of taking the police department out
OF politics. 1t is your intention to
take 1t In, and that Il Is to be mad
a Folk political organization.
Those men who talk the most and
with greatest favor Of your candi.
dacy for higher oflce will be found
to be most efficient and deserving
OF promotion. Each man In the
department who supported you for
governor now believes that he
ought to be made q sergeant or
promoted to higher rank. You
have made Fork politics and
Folk ambitions the consuming
Of the department.
"This ought not to have occas-
Toned me much surprise, when
consider the fact that during your
as president Of the Jefferson
Club all the police officers were
taken into the club at that time,
with your consent and approval,
and that, during the campaign last
fall, when you were q candidate
for governor. Your friends were
comforting with the heads
Of the police department about
matters relating to that
campaign, and that the state COM
mittee, with your knowledge, re-
from the police department
nearly $22 900, to be used for poll
'ical purposes. You knew about
his before the collection was made.
You discussed It with the leaders
II your campaign committee and
with others.
~ have sometimes wondered
whether you ever stopped to con-
sider. In talking about politics to