Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-12
NO INTERFERENCE
COMMANDER
SAYS
Declares Stern War
on Gambling
yiolatOrs of Speed Laws
Must Beware
Head Of Department Calls on Citizens
to Aid Him In Clearing City Of
Crln1lnsls-Has Made Deep
study Of Social EVIL


States"
This was the reply Chief Walter H.
Auble made just after he was pro-
NOTED to a query as to what he now
intended to do. He was sitting in the
front room of his new offices in the
stone building in First street, which the
new police reporter delights to call
the "bastile," and his view was partly
cut off by curtains which were drawn
up from the bottom of the big WIN
dows. What he did see was a vista
of frowning clay banks, houses perched
on shelving sides of steep hills, green
foliage made yet more green by the
bountiful rains, and a few stray
chimneys.
But the chief wasn't looking out
of the window; he was humping his
big desk and gazing keenly at his in
terrogater, between telephone calls.
He had no need to search the out
of-doors for beauty; his desk was
crowned by a wealth of flowers, sent
him by his friends. who felt-as even
his enemies acknowledgement he de-
served the promotion that came to
him and that he would make good
use Of his opportunities in the broader
field. And half the incessant telephone
calls were messages of congratulatiOn,
though this was several days after
he had assumed de 1ure the duties al
ready his de facto.
VIII Not Brook Dictation
"That is, If the politicians will let
you," was the saving clause his in
terviewer inserted-not because he be-
lieved that the politicians would have
any great let or say in the matter,
but because his predecessor had been
badly hampered by them, and it was
good to hear from Auble that such
would not now be.
N that's jItSf hot
THE politicians won't have anything
to say about it'll" he declared, with a
flash of his keen eyes. "The minute
l find that such a condition threatens,
/ will resign and go back to my cap
taincy. 1 will neither be hampered
nor dictated to by politicians Of any
sort or kind.
IT wasn't put in here by politicians.
didn't play politics in any way; I
didn't even get out and work for this
place. I wanted 1t, but I wouldn't and
didn't make the slightest effort to OBJ
tain It, l felt that If 1t didn't come to
me unsought and because 1 was felt to
be the man for it didn't want 1t.
1T having come, and in that way, 1
am free to handle it for the best in
terests in every way, and intend to do
So"
The chief sat back in his chair as if
he had relieved his mind. One could
well imagine that he had; possibly he
had been waiting to say those very
things and only wanted the opportun-
ity. That was just what was now pre-
sented him.
1.-The Herald doesn't want to bind
you down." he had been told, ito say
what you are going to do, but it would
like to know what you hope to do, and
what your ideas are in making your
tenure of office a success" He was
he able to carry them out is another
proposition; no man can foresee the
future.
II hope" said the chief. mildly, and
as If thinking afar off, "to make this
force model one. 1t is fine one now;
don't mistake me on that; we have an
excellent police force in Los Angeles.
But 1t could be better.
'That Is not crticizing any of my
predecessors; they undoubtedly did the
best they could. But I have been n
policeman for the better part of my
life, and there are certain things that
I believe ought to be enforced with the
men, which have not been.
"In the first place. Los Angeles is
peculiar as a place to police, and diff
ferent from any other city. We have
tremendous floating population. 1t
isn't steady floating crowd, but it all
comes at one time of the year. The
rest of the time 1t isn't here, but when
IL comes it is all here at once.
PatroInen Must Be Courteous
almost all these visitors are in need
of care. They are strangers, never have
been here before. and they need infor
nation. Where do they turn for it?
To the nearest policeman.
$50 one of the first things I am going
to insist upon is that our men must
know the city thoroughly and be ready
to reply to these queries; must do it
readily and courteously. They must
spruce up, be well looking and neat;
they must be oblging and careful in
their treatment of strangers. That is
thing that I will have.
"This same floating population nat
urally brings with 1t large percentage
OF crooks and undesirabes. 1t is a sure
sign that a city Is prosperous when the
crooks come here. These fellows don't
go to a city that is a dead one; they
follow the rich people and go where the
men with money go. We all know that
thousands of well-to-do and rich peo-
pie come here every winter; the thieves
and crooks also know this and the
opening of the season means an influx
of these gentry.
'Now, / want to show these fellows
up, not only to the detectives but TO
every patrolman on the force. There
has been too much back office handling
of these fellows and the man on the
beat hasn't had his fair chance at them.
OF course, they have been shown up
whenever caught but no great and de-
termined effort has been required of the
patrolman to remember these crooks
and keep them moving. l am going to-
try to impress these men on every pa
trolman on the force; l want TO make
It so hot for them that they simply
can't stay here. ! don't want a man
I'm Los Angeles unless he Will go to-
work and earn an honest living. and /
intend that my men shall get after
these fellows and keep them going so
fast that they will either go TO work
honestly or leave. That's one thing
that will be done.
"Then, too, l want these men TO take
an interest in their work, and the best
way TO do that is to inspire them with