The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-21
POLICE OFFICERS
ARE IN 4 PICKLE
Continues from mage one !

~
mittee he is not a politcian ana I DO
not believe he understands, or cares 10
understand, practical politics.
chairman Luther Is a man OF deep
convictions. He has doubtless given earn
est consideration to this question OF
changing the present life-tenure OF police
officials and both commissioners want 10
see the experiment tried before they will
be willing 10 accept an adverse judgment.
Certainly they must be convinced that
some radical remedy for existing cond-
tions is necessary or they would not have
supported the new rule II might be just
as well TO suspend popular judgment un-
I'll after the fall election any way"
Discussion in police circles over the
verdict and adequate penalty in the
Cristy- Matthews case is still rife.
While more than half Of the officers
initiate Chief Matthews and declare
have nothing TO say" some OF them do
not hesitate to express great dssatis-
faction with the verdict
See where II puts u.s." said one mem
Der Of the department who holds high
position. I'VE are left 10 believe the
chief TO be guilty or TO be martyr. II
we believe his story. then we are dis
respectful 10 our superiors the commits
sioners. who have declared him guilty.
IF we believe that he Is guilty. and
head OF the force. as he himself said he
would be. II guilty. we again impugn the
wisdom OF the commissioners for not re-
moving him.
Moreover. how can we conscientiously
have confidence In chief OF police whom
the police commissioners have convicted
of attempting TO conspire against a rep
resentative of the law and order ele
ment?
fT,, t.,Ier I,n lot
compromise one, and probably no more
satisfactory to the police board than 1t is
TO us.
About the only member OF the de-
partment who appears to be satisfied with
1t is the chief himself. who promised TO
make a statement and has not yet seen
fit TO do so.
This promise of a statement came
when Il was reported that ne had been
convicted and the expectation was that he
would be bounced. When he discovered
that the penalty was less drastic than
every intelligent citizen expected. he evil
IDENTIFY changed his mind about fling any
protest with the police commissioners.
$50 far as | have been able to learn,
the chief has not made any protest
against the verdict in public or In private.
oi this coupled Wit his persistent
silence, ! am forced TO believe that he
feels that he ought 10 be satisfied. And
who wouldn't be In the chiefs shoes?"
Chairman William III. Luther was asked
today IL he had any further explanation
TO make OF Rule s. which so many think
will put the police force back into poll
tics and said:
"For practically nine weeks the busi-
ness OF tho department has been neglect
ed and now we shall try to catch up. |
am looking up matters personally 10 bring
TO the boards attention and presume the
other members are doing the same thing.
1--WE are taking no interest in news
paper discussion of the past; that Is dead
and buried. our eyes are on the future;
and we are doing our best In the present
that the future may show desired i'm
provements"
Chief Matthews seemed to be really In a
jocular mood today, and bent upon trans
acting police business with all possible
alacrity
He had an interview with Chairman
Luther and put in n good word for tho
Providence department as compared with
other departments in cities he has visited,
but refused 10 discuss the verdict in the
Cristy case.
Evidently for some time 10 come. At
least that verdict is closed book I'm po-
lice department circles; but outside II
will stlll be discussed and I'm the fall cam
paign promises 20 figure I'm an even
stronger light than perhaps some OF those
most Interested may expect.