The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-13
FEELING THE PUBLIC PULSE.

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TO which any fair-mnded and thoughtful citizen
can offer valid objection In thus laying the case
before the public for the purpose of ascertaining
the trend of popular sentiment as to what action he
should take on matter of vital Importance to the
entire community, the mayor-eect shows will
ingness to be guided by the will of his constituents
that is as commendable as it is wise
His claim that the Democracy is entitled TO
representation the police commission is unan-
swerabe. Every consideration OF fairness, justice
and Of the public welfare demands that the board
should be bipartisan. Every citizen who is not a
rank and unreasonng partisan agrees with Mr.
Mccarthy that there is menace as we'll as gross in
justice in the denial to the Democracy of repre-
sentation in the body that administers the affairs
of the police department.
The condition that has been brought about,
however by law passed by boss-ruled legisla-
ture for the furtherance of the boss maefc political
plottings, renders the securing of justice for the
Democracy through the appointment of commits
sioner by the mayor not only extremely improbable
but almost impossible.
This conviction is based upon the notorious
fact that the majority in the board of aldermen is
Republican and gives its allegiance to the boss
through whose evil Vaccinations this city was
ever since sought to make the police department an
instrument in his political chicane.
Mayor-clcct Mccarthy fully realizes this, for
in his open letter he says: "The boss has stated
that the for vesting the power Of election in
the senate was to permanent board of Re
publicans"
Can it be denied that the power of election was
later vested in the board of aldermen in order to in
n he oil ha n
servient to the boss? Is it not because Col Gross
has refused, member of the police commission,
to do its bidding that the machine is now secretly
laborng to prevent his denomination or reelection
And is not this secret conspiracy against him due
wholly to his steadfast support of Chairman Luther
in his efforts to give the city an efficient police adj
n1instraton and fearless enforcement of the laws
1t is a laudable evidence of Mr. McCarthy's
faith in human nature and confidence in the SINGER
ity of political opponents that he regards as I'm
warranted the assumption that the majority in the
board of aldermen will obey the boss and refuse to
confirm any capable and worthy Democrat he may
appoint.
But is not the mayor-elect too lenent in his udg-
ment? Does he not fail to give due weight to the
partisan spirit that influences the action of Repub
lican majorities in every body over which the boss
body in the state?
From the mayor-elects kindly point OF view il
would have been unwarranted to assume that the
senate would act in rankly partisan manner on
nominations TO the police commission, and yet,
he saws with entire truth in his public statement:
"All appointments of Republican governors
have been confirmed by the senate, but all ap-
pointees of Democratic governor have been
jected or legslated out of Office by the majority Of
the senate, instructed by the boss, and the per-
manent members of the commission have always
been Republicans"
If the senates action thus grossly partisan,
is there any doubt that the action OF the aldermen
will be equally so? Do not both owe allegiance to
the boss, and was it not by the orders OF the boss
that first and then the other was clothed with
the power TO elect commissioners:
Undsputed facts sustain the popular convic-
ton that in the present exigency the mayor-elcct
will be fully justified in regarding the continuance
OF an efficient and non-partsan administration OF
police affairs as of greater importance than an az
tempt to secure bipartisan board-au attempt
that must almost inevitably result in failure
Citizens generally are little concerned over the
noisy candidacy OF Alderman Dunn. They have
too much faith in the mayor-elect's wisdom ant
good sense to believe he would seriously consider
the alderman i'm connection with a police commis
sion appointment
Mr. Dunn is not the type Of Democrat tha