The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-03

to call upon the mayor to ascertain
whether or not the laws should be en-
forced. The city charter gives the
mayor Of Walla Walla no authority
over the police department, although 1t
must be admitted that in a city OF
10000 people the chief of police should
be appointed by the mayor. 1t is plain,
therefore, that Chief Brown was
wholly responsible for the continued
existence of gambling long after the
law making it a felony had gone into
effect and after several gamblers had
been sentenced to the penltenlary
from other towns because Of their vio-
lation of the law.
1t does not take very good men,
DRY to recall that year ago games
were running in many saloons of the
city, in saloon Easements and in one
or two cigar stores in open defiance of
the law. When questioned by MEM
bers Of the council in open meeting
about the reported existence of gamb-
ling. Chief Brown ON more than one
occasion stated that SO far as he
knew no games were running.
1t was not until October that the
games were finally closed upon the
emphatic demand of the mayor, who
gave Chief Brown to understand that
if he did not enforce the law, the may
or would call upon the sheriff's office
to see that all games were closed I'M
der the state law. Sheriff Painter was
ready to act and in fact did notify the
gamblers that the state law would be
enforced whether the chief Of police
chose to act or not. Under this pres
sure Chief Brown did at last tell the
operators of games in an apologize
way that gambling must stop, but he
must have winked the other eye, for in
December the council revoked the Ii
censes of five saloons for allowing
gambling to b conducted in connection
with their business as late as Novem-
Der. showing that Chief Browns order
was not obeyed, the gamblers merely
keeping a trifie more quiet. Even now
poker and several other gambling
games are openly run in places which
any man seeking a game can easily
find.
The little Boxer dodger which has I'M
dertaken to champion the cause of
Chief Brown speaks in a familiar
tone about deals with gamblers and
prostitutes to levy tribute to allow
them to remain in the city," and in the
managers open letter to Senator An
keny he accused a certain person
connected with the senator of having
collected this tribute in the absence of
the regular collector. Every one knows
that such tribute would have been
paid only for police protection, and
the charge that it was paid is a Sc
rious reflection upon the administra-
ton of Chief Brown. He should, there
fore, call upon the manager of the
dodger to prove his statement or else
admit that it is utterly false. The
charge made by the manager of the
dodger against Chief Brown by in
ference is far more serious than any
charge the Statesman has made of
mere dereliction in the performance
of his duty and the chief should de-
mand an investigation that he may be
indicated. 1t amounts to an accusa-
ton of levying blackmail upon gamb-
lers and prostitutes for police protec-
ton. The Statesman is not prepared
to believe the charge on the naked as
sertion of the manager of the little
dodger. but now is Chief Browns OPP
portunity of making him make good or
back down and out.