The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-18
GROSS UNPLEOGED,
THAT'S THE WHY

"Mayor-elect Mccarthy has invited ad-
vice on the subject Of the police commits
sionership. and am disposed TO give him
some wholesome and practical pointers,
remarked well-known citizen TO News
Democrat representative today.
''I recognize that his quandary Is more
apparent than real. He knows what he
action with the desires of majority OF
the people whose wishes should be ascer-
tained and respected. So he takes this
method of finding out what they want;
and he will then proceed to do 1t prompt
ly, / believe.
Il do not believe that there is even
suspicion OF doubt I'm the mind or the
mayor-elect that Col. Gross is the best
fitted man for the coming vacancy In the
position OF police commissioner in this
city, and also that he is the man who
should be named under the peculiar con-
ditions which confront the mayor-elect.
Like Alderman John C. Dunn. who is
a candidate for police commissioner. II
may be said OF the mayor-elect that he
is a reader OF good books and he knows
OF one Shakespeare who believed in rath-
er enduring the evils we have than flying
TO those we know are worse.
IF he names a decent Democrat. IL
should be because he believes such a
Democrat can be elected. The mayor
should not name any Democrat merely To
answer the requirements OF the machine.
as do certain Democrats now on boards
to which Republicans have elected them.
The mayor-elect. j believe, wants DEM
ocrat who will be acceptable 10 all the
people because of his integrity and not
because OF his Democracy.
"IIe knows that such a Democrat will
have no show OF election by the board or
aldermen. He is no more obtuse than are
all the other leading Democrats of Provi-
hn halt "a tSCi n1
Gross should be named TO succeed him.
self. Such action on the part Of the next
mayor would confound the arch-conspira-
tors who have fattened on plunder for
these many years and would be feather
In the mayors cap that IL would be I'M
possible for petty politicians TO pluck out.
''Why did the henchmen Of the boss
strive TO prevent the election OF Col.
Gross as chairman OF the Republican
state committee for another year? IL was
simply to deprive him Of the political
prestige the position gives. The next
board OF aldermen, elected by the machine
for the express purpose OF doing about
every partisan thing the machine wanted,
could turn down Harold j. Gross, pri-
vate citizen, without compunction.
THE seven Republican members, how
ever, could not, in view oS MIR. McCar-
thy's argument. turn down without stul-
titication a faithful Republican official
who is also the chairman OF their state
organization. When the colonel made his
fight for reelection. as chairman OF the
state committee he undoubtedly did so
bearing this fact in mind. Just as his enc
mics had done; and he won out.
Everybody who knows him knows
that he did not really want the position,
and does not want il now. Ii came to him
at time of great party stress when the
boss needed a respectable fgurehead,
man IN whom the people had confidence.
and who the people believed would do the
right thing. Col. Gross accepted the eau
to help his party out OF a dilemma, and
no act of his as chairman OF the com
mittee during the past year has been
criticised by his worst enemies.
He was member OF the police COM
mission at the time his party called on
him TO accept the chairmanship OF the
state committee. IL did not think he was
disqualified by reason Of his membership
in the commission TO be state chairman.
nor that the state chairmanship would
dIsqualify him for police commissioner.
His party had plenty OF time 10 make up
its mind on this question during the past
year: and yet. last month. he was re-
elected chairman of the body, after he
had announced that he wanted TO be po-
lice commissioner again.
so he will 60 before the next board OF
aldermen. with its seven Republican
members and three Democrats immeas-
urably stronger with the people than he
was last year. because he has now been
tried in the position OF police commits
soner, under exceptionally difficult cir
cumstances, and not found wanting. He
has done nothing OF which any honest.
loyal member of 'thc Republican party
need be ashamed: and he has done much
of which every honest, loyal Democrat
has reason to be proud equally with good
Republicans.
''If Alderman Dunn and his coadjutor
from the Tenth ward were appreciative
Democrats. were not allied with the ele-
ment which tried to defeat the best ele-
ments in their own party during the eau
cuses last October by means for which
the honest police commissioners would
not stand. they would be among the most
earnest supporters OF Commissioner
Gross, instead of heading a movement to
defeat him or any good Democrat, i'm the
interest OF his enemies.
Then, too, Alderman Dunn is a close