Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-16
NJ 'ALEER MACHINE
IS SAID OF POLICE
SWEEPING CHANGES, MAYOR IS
ACCUSED
CONSERVATION Relgns In Department
and Only Friends of Admfnls-
tratlon Appear to Feel
at Ease

Charges that Mayor McAleer is en-
deavoring to build a personal political
machine in the police department are
being made with renewed force.
Sweeping changes are to be brought
about and those on the wrong side of
the political fence are trembling in the
fear that they are to be derated and
possibly dismissed.
CONSERVATION reigns in the depart
ment. Since the day on which affairs
between Former Chief Hammel and
Mayor McAleer reached a crisis as
sertlons have been made openly that
the mayor was building his own po-
litical machine. Developments of the
past few days are said by politicians
to prove the truth of the rumors. They
assert that as Mayor McAleer is per-
soma non grata with Walter Parker
and other political leaders. he is en-
deavoring to further his own interests
by filing the good" positions with
his henchmen
Indignation over the changes in the
department already made runs high.
Competent officers have been derated
or are scheduled to be derated, sew
eral have been openly asked to resign,
while charges have been preferred
against others are the rumors which
fill the air.
Fear to Talk
Attempts to secure statements from
any of the members of the department
have failed. In nearly every case the
answer was. II would like to accom-
modate you but this Is no time to talk"
No one knows where the official ak Will
fall next and all are in state Of ex-
atk ..,l.- fnr aArslrY
sure" of their jobs now feel uneasy
and only the mayors personal friends
appear to sit back coolly and watch the
result of the change.
Those who were formerly looked on
by their fellow officers as personal
friends are now regarded with suspi-
clon. Filled with indignation many
openly are beginning to brand others
as stool pigeons"
When j. W. Murphy's name ap-
peared among the list of patrolmen the
jealousy existing among the members
of the department became manifest.
Murphy for two years has been con-
nected with the detective department
and from his record has been one of the
most efficient officers in the depart
ment.
III feeling between Murphy and the
newly appointed captain of detectives,
II
listed for some time. Taking advan-
tage of the fact that Murphy was pa
trolman, detailed because of his eX-
cellent work, by the request of ex
Chief W. A. Hammel, to the detective
department, Flammer is said to have
directed his power in that direction,
first.
Fear to Be Derated
Now comes the second blow accord
ing to information that has heretofore
proved correct. Detectives Mcnamara,
Roberds Cowen and Craig are to be
derated to patrolmen. Every one of
these men has proven his worth by a
record in the department, and men un
fit for secret service work are to be
retained because they are Planners
friends and in with the mayor, Is the
assertion made openly.
Possibly one or two of the four pre-
viously named are to be saved but
there Is a strong force working against
them. 1t is understood that the reason
that Detectives Kelly and Moffatt have
not been taken out of the office is be-
cause the plans of the new regime were
frustrated.
More charges are to be preferred
against patrolmen and within a short
time a large number of men now walk
ing beats will be without stars. Some
of these men slated to be ouSted are
model police officers with records be-
hind them, that any officer would be
proud to claim.
1t is general talk In the department
that Mayor McAleer has employed pri-
vitae detectives to act as stool
pigeons"
Detective Steele who was slated for
desk position, will not be placed there
according to the latest reports. Haw
ley will be appointed a desk man in
the detectives department; and as
soon as another can be found to take
Steele's place on the slate Kelly will be
taken off the desk to do field work and
Moffatt will go in Chief Auble's office
as secretary, is the general belief.
Walter Wood, clerk of the West sid,
police station, and Patrolman Bruce
Boyd of the central station are said
to be slated for positions in the de-
tective department. Wood has passed
the examination required by the civil
service and Boyd has been identified
for several days with the detectives. !
Both men are said to be excellent Of
flcers.