Milford chronicle., 1905-10-20
CRIMINALS ON
POLICE FORCE
Sensational Evidence at Investigation
of Philadelphia Offices.
MAYOR WEAVER TURNED DOWN

TO investigate the affairs of the various
departments of the city as conducted
BY Mayor Weaver and his directors
began the taking of testimony. The
meeting of the committee was not
without its sensations. chief of which
was the request to Mayor Weaver and
three of his directors to leave the hear
ing room, and the statement Of John
B. Taylor, superintendent of police,
that David ]. Smyth. former director
of public safety, had told him not to
molest election repeaters. Superinten-
dent Taylor's statement was made des-
pite the vigorous efforts Of Milton Q.
Work, the chairman of the committee,
to confne him to the questions pro-
pounded by the committees attorneys.
The committee brought out statements
from witnesses that policemen attend
ed a meeting of a political club when
they should have been on duty Mayor
Weaver and the City party insist that
the police are not in politics, while the
leaders of the Republican organization
claim the policemen are as much in
politics now as ever they were.
The first witness called was Superin-
tendent Taylor He testified that he
was president Of the oath Ward Repub
Iican club and that the greater number
of the policemen of the district in
which the club is located were mem
bers of the organization. In answer to
Questions he said on the, last meeting
night of the club 40 or 30 policemen at
tended the meeting, some of them leav-
ing their beats to do so. He said the
absent policemen's beats were covered, |
but refused to answer in what manner |
The policemen attended the meeting /
by permission of the lieutenant of the |
district, who had received orders from
former Director of Public Safety 1
Smyth that policemen were to be per-
mitted to attend political meetings if |
they wanted to- This order he said,
had not been rescinded by the present
director.
The superintendent was pressed SC
hard by counsel regarding police in
politics that he became angry and
started to make statements that startl-
ed the committeeman. He said if the
committee wanted to know the whole
truth about the police business he
could tell them how Director Smyth
told him to take care of repeaters and
how he had to take from the rogue's
gallery the photographs of men who
were on the police force.
In vain the chairman tried to check
him and threatened to eject him, but
he kept right on.
One Of the attorneys said the COM
mittee did not want to know anything
about that, but wanted TO know how
the homes of the people were protected.
'I'n tell YOU" exclaimed the wit
ness. "By men who have spent three
and four years in the penitentiary, and
whose pictures were taken from the
rogue's gallery by Director Smyth."
Lieutenant Thomas Campbell con-
frmed Superintendent Taylor's state
ment that the men were permitted to
leave their beats under an order of ,
Director Smyth.
After the hearing Superintendent
Taylor in explanation of his statement
on the witness stand regarding repeat
ers said that Director smyth when in
Office told him not to let the policemen
molest repeaters on election day.
JOSEPH FOLK ON CORRUPTION
Governor Of Missouri Makes Reform
Speech In Philadelphia. c
Philadelphia Oct II. - The great \
battle between the local Republican a
and the City Party. the S
reform organization re- o
Gently formed here, was enlivened by a
the visit of Governor Joseph Folk, of Il
Missouri who cana to lend his voice t,
n the interest of good government. o
The Missouri governor addressed s.
arge and enthusiastic audience in the 1
academy of Music. He spoke under
he auspices of the City Club. which a
,laims no connection with the City Il
Party. Governor Folk said in part: t.
"The most conspicuous fact of mu- Il
licipal governments in the United
states today is that they are govern
nents by the few and not by the peo- M
lie. There is more aggressive rotten
less and less aggressive patriotism in
ur large cities than anywhere else. d.
the patriotism can be made as ag Ii
ressive IS the rottenness, the prob al
am Of good government would be W
olved by the people taking the gov q
rnment into their own hands. If cor as
upton exists in Philadelphia, the peo
lie are to blame; if corruption is to
e eradicated the people alone can
o it. The fight you are making here II
a battle which will be felt by every oil
1wn, city and state in the land. The al
eneft of a victory for good govern nc
lent will be universal. and the evil st
forts OF defeat will demoralize II
lose who believe in good government co
y the people. The average man does tn
OF appreciate the solemn duty he w
ives his city. state and his country. on
Il have spoken of corruption. brtb- TX
~ and grating. using the terms as
icy are commonly used Bynony-