Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-21

THE OTTUMWA COURI1
hereby declared guilty of a rhisde-
meanor and upon conviction therefor,
shall be fined not less than $40 nor
more than 500 and costs of prosecu-
ton, and in default of payment shall
stand committed at hard labor until
fine and costs are paid
Revised ordinances of 1898, page
ITS"
would like to point out the fact
that this ordinance is much like an
axe, 1t may be used either to stimulate
vice, or to wipe it out It was I'M
doubtedly enacted to do the latter, but
in the hands of friendly administra-
ton may be used for the former pur-
pose. This is what mean. You may
take an axe and go into your orchard
and prune the trees SO that they will
bear more fruit and not destroy any
OF them in the process. Or you may
use the same axe to utterly destroy
| the tree. So here. You may fine Of
tenders the minimum sum at suffi-
GENTLY distant periods and you do not
hurt them, you only stimulate them.
Or you may fine them the maximum
| sum every day and you wipe them
out. Which have our officers done?
| 1t is necessary for me to be even
more explicit. When I say the city adj
ministration would have you to I'M
derstand that l mean three officers,
! the mayor. the chief of police and the
police judge. Let me here also dis
eliminate. have no quarrel with
these men personally. I have no con-
troversy with T. H. Picker, citizen Of
| Ottumwa. I want to say on the other
hand that hold him in high esteem
for the virtues that know he posses
SEES. Against his private character 1
know not thing On the other hand
do know that he has some admirable
personal qualities. 1t has been my priv
| ilege to have enjoyed measure of &C.
quaintance with him during my resi-
dence In this city. A year ago last spring
when the high water wrought such
havoc in our midst 1t was my privilege
to serve on the committee of relief
with Mr.. Picker and two other citi-
zens.. l want to say that kinder
hearted man I have never known. No
one could have been more sympathet-
ically responsive to the sufferings of
the unfortunate at that time than he
was. For four weeks we met every
day, some days working together for
eight hours at the desk on that dis
tressing occasion, and l have nothing
but good words to say for the spirit
and zeal he manifested at that time.
But while am pleased to say that
and ready to say more If it is neces-
sary, I want to say on the other hand
that I have an issue with the mayor
of the city of Ottumwa. I do not
agree and cannot agree with his the
DRY of city administration. | believe 1t
is fundamentally wrong, and it ought
not to be perpetuated either by the
party he represents or by any other
party 1t is vitiating to every whole
some and safe condition and if carried
on must result in the direst state Of
things. I first lay the blame for this
condition of things on the mayor of
the city.
The second officer that hold
responsible for this condition is
the chief of police. 1t is true he is
an appointive officer and Is supposed
to carry out the wishes Of the mayor
in his conduct of affairs. Again let
me say that have no Issue with MI.
John Gray as a citizen. do not en-
! JOY as personal an acquaintance with
him as l do with Mr.. Picker, but /
do know that he Is a man who is ex-
ceedingly kind in his family and is
regarded at home as an excellent hus-
band and kind and indulgent father.
4 | regret most exceedingly to give any
pain to these homes. If / am COM
PEELED to do SO in the course of my in
vestigations. But again l say that 1t
is not Mr.. Gray that is in contro.
versy, but 1t is the chief of police Of
our city. I hold that he has not adj
ministered his office touching some
matters in way that Is to the salts
faction of the public. If I have al
luded in playful way to the opera
tions of the police force of the city, /
would be understood as implying that
they are deficient only at the matter
of REFRESHING those places of vice
which seem to hold an especial i'm
munity. l take it that the rank and
file of the police officers do as they
are told in these matters and ought
not to be censured
Opinion Is Divided.
| When / come to the third officer in
the case am somewhat at sea in the
matter. While there is no disposition
on the part of the public to screen
either the mayor or the chief of police,
there is division of sentiment rela-
tive to the police judge. On the one
hand, there are those who stoutly in
sist that he is as deep in the mud as
these other men are in the mire, and
to prove their assertion point to the
fact that his books are SO kept as to
screen the identity of evil doors. What
is more these unwarranted transac.
tons could not be carried on without
his knowledge and consent. On the
other hand there are those who take
the more charitable view of the case,
and point to the callow youth of the
judge, his manifest inexperience in the
world, and confirm their convictions