The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-08
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8. 1907.
COURAGEOUS ACTION.

BY reappointing Colonel Harold J. Gross TO
the police commission Mayor Mccarthy has won
and deserves the sincere gratitude OF every right
thinking and law-abiding citizen of Providence.
His action makes it evident that his non-partsan-
ship is of the real and substantial sort and not Of
that false and habby kind with which seekers after
public. office too often befool the people.
The continuance of Colonel Gross on the police
board confers distinct benefit on the whole COM
munty because it nsures a continuance of that
efficient and thorough administration Of police
affairs and that impartial and fearless enforcement
OF the laws which during the past three years has
been source of satisfaction to all good citizens.
Confidence in Mayor McCarthys determination
to make his administration notable for its non
partisan and businesslike policy will be strength
ened when the public realizes the seriousness of the
problem that confronted him in this police COM
mission appointment and the wisdom and courage
with which he solved il.
Only man of irmness OF character and
soundness of judgment would have ignored the
strong claims of his party to preference in filing
such vacancy. Only possessing right and
deep convictions concerning his duty would have
placed the public welfare above party considera-
ton and made his selection from the ranks of
opposing political organization.
man of less sturdy character and weaker
fibre would have yielded to the call of party and
would have sought to Justify his action by the
undoubtedly valid contention that the police board
should be bipartisan.
Happily Mayor Mccarthy, although firmly
believing as do all honest citizens, that the Demo
cracy is of right entitled to representation on the
commission realized that any attempt TO enforce
that right at this time and under existing condi-
tons would inevitably fail, and that such failure
would open the way for the consun,maton of the
plot Matched long ago by notoriously corrupt
machine to gain control of the police department
that it might employ it in furthcring its mschev-
yous political schemes
From the peril of such sinister domination,
from the danger that threatened to plunge the
police department deep into the pool of dirty poll
tics from the menaced Transformation of a clean
city into wide-open town with its brazen vice and
impudent lawlessness Mayor Mccarthy has saved
the people of this community and whether they be
Democrats, Republicans Independents they
applaud him for his courageous devotion to the
public veal.
For two years at least Providence is assured
an able and conscientious administration of police
affairs, but year hence another vacancy will
occur on the police commission by the expiration
OF the term OF the man who sat AT the nearing
and who is accredited with close affiliation with
Che machine.
AS it is the habit of the electorate of Prov
dencc TO return TO office an executive who during
his first term gives satisfactory administration
it is reasonably safe assumption that Mayor Nc
Carthy will still be in office when the next vacancy
on the police board occurs.
If he is he will be fully justified in making
strong endeavor TO place upon the commission
capable and worthy Democrat and thus make tha
body what il should have been from its creation
but which because of the narrow partisan spirit o
the law it never has been--a bipartisan body
And in that endeavor he will have the heart,
sympathy and active support of the intelligent ant
reputable citizenship. The same sentiment whicl
applauds him for his timely and courageous actor
OF Yesterday will be behind him then, because h
will be seeking in proper way and by legitimat
methods to render unto the dominant politica
party in this municipality the justice which has s.
long been denied il through the malehc machina
tons and evil domination of partisan machine.