The Irish standard., 1906-03-10
THE DISCHARGED POLICEMEN.

revealed by the recent dismissal Of two
police officers and the suspension of
another. These men were dismissed
from the force because it has been
proven that they were in the habit of
visiting q disorderly house and pro-
tecting the inmates from police inter-
ference. There has been q cry in po-
litical circles in this city for many
years to the effect that our police
force is too small to properly police
our city. We are of the opinion, how
ever. that the police force, If composed
of such men as those who were dis
missed the first of the week, is en-
tirely too large. Policemen who pro-
tect crime are, of course, Infinitely
worse than no policemen at all. From
the names Of the disgraced officers we
judge that they are of Irish extrac-
ton. Complaint has often been made
to the effect that Irishmen are unfairly
treated in the distribution of public
office. This may have been true in
the past; it is hardly so any more.
There will be no regret among the
Irish people Of Minneapolis for the
prompt punishment that was melted out
to the offending officers. A man who
proves~so recreant to public trust, so
utterly unmindful Of common decency
and so lacking in manhood that he
will abuse the confidence which good
citizens place in him by associating
with those who are engaged in violat-
ing the law has no right to hold any
place in the public service. In COM
mending Mayor Jones for his action,
great praise should also be awarded
to Superintendent of Police Doyle and
to Captain Quealy, of the East Side
station for the part they took in the
premises. The officers thus removed
will probably now hang around telling
those who will listen to them how I'M
fairly they have been treated and wait
until some new administration has
come into power when they will again
attempt to become members of the
police force.
1t is one of the beauties of our pres
ent system of running the police force
that every offending policeman dis
charged by one administration be-
comes Immediately the supporter of the
opposing candidate in the next elec-
ton, and in case of the success of
that opposing candidate becomes, of
course, one of the first men that has
to be taken care of. The more dill
gent an administration is in wedding
out unfit members the more numer-
Gus becomes this class of ex-policemen
who. in case Of the success of the
other party. Immediately take their
place upon the police force. It is hard
to understand how sensible people will
submit to this method Of running a
police force. It is system which
will in time put all the protectors of
criminals upon the force. The system
has worked out beautifully in Chicago.
They are making the same cry In that
city about too small a police force, yet
the inefficiency of the Chicago police
is directly traceable to the fact that
a large proportion OF the members are
placed upon the force through the in
iluence of political ward heelers.
We have nos found it possible to
agree with Mayor Jones in all his poll
cies, but he should be most heartily
supported by every citizen who be-
lieves in good order for the prompt
method In which ne deals with Offend
ing policemen and others who violate
the laws and ordinances. His concep-
ton Of how large city should be run
may not command the support of all,
or even a majority Of the people of
Minneapolis. but the effective way in
which he deals with those who break
the laws is a pleasing contrast to
much that we have been accustomed
to in this city.