The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-18

4 personal friend OF the present chief or
| police, who is not in the best possible
odor with the police commission III Alder
| man Dunn were elected a police comnlis-
sioner the chief would Immediately be-
come person of the greatest Importance
| in police administration. lie would be de-
ferred TO by majority OF the commis-
sion If he did not become the actual ruler
OF the department.
whether that would be a good thing
| for the police force, I'm view OF his con-
viction by majority vote Of attempting
| TO conspire against a minister or the gos-
pei, who represents the forces OF law and
order, need not be discussed. This OF itself,
many will believe. should defeat the as
plrations OF the alderman from the Third
ward.
This brings me to another point, which
! consider very important: Does the may
or-elect believe that there would be the
| slightest doubt OF the reelection OF Col
Gross IL he would indicate, as he certain
| ly would not do, that he intended 10 help
re-elect Chief Of Police Frank A. Mat
! thews? There are some Republican alder
men who would not be Influenced by such
a consideration; but enough members OF
! the board could and would be found 10 re-
elect Col Gross, II he so pledged himself,
regardless of the mayors desire for a
Democrat OF any stamp for police commits
sioner.
Believing this as the mayor-elect must
do, on what ground could he allow such a
puny consideration as the slogan TO the
victors belong the spoils' 10 influence him
in nominating a police commissioner?
Boiled down, that is what his expressed
desire for Democrat must mean. He fa-
vored the reappolntment OF Chairman
Luther, i understand. AS this chance OF
nominating Democrat comes 20 a DEM
ocratic mayor he seems TO think that as
a Democrat he must take advantage or IL,
IL he can 10 the advantage OF the city.
CThis should be. and undoubtedly Is, his
mental reservation).
IF the Republican majority OF tho
board (mind you, 1t stands to 81 should
in the event OF the nomination OF a de-
cent Democrat, take advantage of the
| mayor-elects political argument. based
entirely on the assumption that board OF
| honest Republicans is not so good az a
mixed board OF Republicans and Demo-
Gratis. and act on partisan lines, there
would be only defeat for the mayor-elect
In the selection over his nominee OF any
kind OF a Republican
IF a majority OF the Republican mem
bers do not believe in the brand OF good
government we have besp having under a
majority OF the police commission. they
would welcome an alliance with the two
Democratic members who do not want
Col. Gross chosen again TO support Chair
fan Luther; and the result would be to
defeat by vote OF s to 4, the policy with
which all decent citizens have been fully
satisfied during the past three years.
For this defeat the mayor-elect would
be wholly responsible, since II would be
his action entirely that gave the partisan
majority In the board an opportunity to
turn down Col. Gross, the representative
OF law and order; 10 turn down the may
or's Democratic nominee, too, and to elect
some individual who would be satisfactory
to the demi-monde, the ex-proprietors of
suppressed kitchen barroomS the poker
and horsepool rooms and all the other
forces OF disorder, vice and graft.
II hope the mayor-eect will sec his
duty, as all the decent people of Provi-
dence see II. and will have the moral
courage to do II. have never yet known
him 10 fail in a great emergency. He is
about 10 realize his life ambition, to he
mayor of Providence. the second city in
New England. hope his first action will
not prove that the people were mistaken
in him and that he has made the greatest
mistake Of his political life"
number of other prominent citizens
expressed themselves as follows:
Acting Mayor William X. Reynolds: Il
viii act as the conscience OF William *
Reynolds directs. and ii may be taken for
granted that l Will consider the best in
terests Of the city of Providence when
cast my vote
Col. George II. Webb: "Col. Gross is a
close personal friend 70 mine. and
l would much prefer To- have a Repub-
lican as n member OF the board"
Albert o. Coates: II favor the retention
of Col. Gross"
Eev. A. B. Cristy. superintendent of the
Rhode Island Temperance league: From
the start / have favored the reelection
OF Col. Gross, and believe that his service
ha aiGSio np ph
and recognized"
Councilman j. o. Darling: Mayor Nc
CaIthy was elected as a Democrat. If /
were elected mayor of Providence 10y any
Larty / should appoint a police commits
sioner from my own party"
Col James II. McGann: Il have the
utmost confidence i'm the ability OF
Mayor-elect Mccarthy 10 choose "A
competent person"
Cen. William Ames: In the case il was
choice Of "A whole new commission /
might favor making IL bipartisan, but
in the present instance / believe that, as
Col Gross is desirous Of reelection. he
should be given the appointment. He is
a member of the commission. Is familiar
with the duties and has been an able and
impartial member OF II. II Mr.. Mccarthy
de tires to APPOINT the best man for the
position. think that Col. Gross should
be named
Alderman John c. Dunn: 81 think
that the Democratic party should have
representation on that board, and as
IL was shown i'm the past election that
the city is strongly Democratic justice
calls for man OF the party to be ap-
pointed"
Councilman Adolphus j. Evans: MY
opinion I'm regard to the appointment
OF n police commissioner Is that he
should be man who has not large
business TO look after. and one who
can give the office all the required time
Personally ] do not see anything that
would commend the reappointment OF
Col. Gross. and ! care not who his
successor may be, as long as he Is a
man who will serve the people faith
fully and In the best interests of the
city"
Thomas Flynn. councilman from the
THIRD ward: 1T Is the duty OF Mr. Me-
Carthy. who has been elected by the
Democratic party OF this city, TO APP
point man OF that party TO serve
on the police board"
Col. r. II. 1. Goddard I'D rather not
express an opinion. I think there's a
good deal in what Mr. Mccarthy says
about having a non partisan board OF
police commissioners, but I'd rather
nat ofv Onfpf,n