The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-11
MAKES A START.

NAMES a 3lAE6As
Mayor Davis announced his first and
more important appointments at the
council meeting last evening. The
particular ones about which interest
centers are chief of police and the two
sergeants With the latter it is not
likely that the mayor could have done
better. Tim Donovan is very generally
recognized as one of the best criminal
/ detectives in the west. His usefulness
on the staff in various capacities has
been repeatedly demonstrated. He
has the general confidence of the pub
lie based on his record. Years ago
under John Gardiner the police de-
partment made its best showing.
Gardiner is a man Of character and
police experience.
It is unfortunate that right at the
start so good an appointee as Donovan
should decline to serve. but the city
cannot cordially invite good detective
and patrol ability by the niggardly
salaries which are fixed for the heads
Of the department. Good men com
mand a good price. and while economy
is desired. it should be praeticed In
other directions for the good of the
town and the protection Of its people
If the expense of the department itself
cannot be increased it is well to re-
member that few good men are bet
ter than a larger number Of poor ones.
The appointment of Goodwin is
necessarily an experiment, as he is
without experience as q police officer
or in charge of policemen. He is
man of fine physique, full of energy,
and, Mr.. Davis believes, has the execu-
tive capacity which will put life, vigor
and efficiency into the entire force. A
number of stories adverse to Mr..
Goodwin were put into circulation. A
number of these were explained to the
satisfaction of the mayor, and the 9TH
ers seem to have been discounted
Mr.. Goodwin has a reputation to make
as the head of the police department.
He finds many things at loose ends A
slack rein drives criminals to boldness.
Crime needs to be jerked with a short,
quick, effective lariat. Joints and dis
reputable places have increased in
number under a lax and inemeient de-
partment too narrow in its scope
Exposures recently made in these col
umns, and admitted to be true by the
most reliable authorities and witnesses,
caused the blush of shame to spread
over the faces of Topekans who thought
such a condition of affairs in Topeka
impossible and improbable. A majority
of the. people who viewed things on the
surface and believed the city to be as
rule in exemplary shape were astound-
ed at the revelations.
Protection of person and property are
the first duties of the police and then
comes the suppression of dives and
breeding places of vice which operate
by weakness in the laws enforcement
Mayor Davis realizes that there is
a big job of cleaning up to be done.
Chief Goodwin is fully aware of the
situation It remains for the mayor
and the chief to protect the people
and to clean out the joints and dis
reputable places, scatter lime and dis
infectants about certain localities, and
create a condition of things which viii
command the gratitude of all good
people Thus only may we substan-
tiate the claims we make that Topeka
is really one of the best cities in the
country. morally, materially, and in
all one which make this an ideal COM
munity for the home and for business.
Chief Goodwin is on trial. It is for
the public to give him every assistance
and fair show. Mr.. Davis has de-
clared that if his appointees do not
perform their duties in a satisfactory
manner off will go their heads. Mr..
Goodwin's head seems to be set rather
sauarely on his shoulders. It is for
him to say whether it will stay there
or go into the basket.