The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-08-23

ed to get after the fast women and rid
the town of them. Most people do
not like job of this kind, and it
is as difficult to get the right kind
of men as it is to get dog catcher
who will be satisfactory. l told Smith
to keep away from the saloons, and
to report regularly to the chief OF
police. Reports that the chief of po-
lice did not know about the appoint
ment, are absolutely false.
Daily Press Criticized.
Il highly respect the daily press of
the city, for it has done much for
Mankato. / am public servant and
the press not only has right, but
it is it's duty to criticize my public
acts, but when it goes beyond that
and stoops to filth and SANDER it goes
way beneath it's dignity. 1t is the
duty of the papers to go to the mayor
! and learn why he did so and so, and
then roast him if they want to. 1t is
not for them to 60 here and there
and pick up reports and then roast him
IfleIely vi lHtSc IlS 10 anu
unmanly. l have given to the papers
all of the news that l could. 1t
defeats the object of appointing special
police to make the matter public.
am not generating this man Smith,
for he has been relieved from duty
and his star taken away.
Council Gave Consent
Before l appoint my special police
/ called the council together and told
it of my plans, and said that there
would be some expense, but that the
fines would probably pay it, and all
acquiesced in the plan. All were pres
ent at that meeting except Aid Atchi-
son.
'.The papers should be wary and con-
suit the mayor and chief of police
before they publish articles of the
kind mentioned. If the papers and the
citizens want houses running in Man
kato, they should say so. But while
/ am mayor, if it is necessary to APP
point special police to root them out
/ will do So The council can do as it
pleases about allowing this bill, but l
will make appointment whenever ne.
eessary. 1t will soon be fair time,
when there will be large crowds in
the city, and special demands will be
made for police service. When the pe-
lice department thinks it necessary, |
will appoint special police. 1t is not
only my privilege but my duty to
appoint special police when the occasion
arises. 1 have no objection to the
council knowing when special police
are appointed, but | do object to
councilmen going around and denounc-
ing it when they have aequiesced in it.
Il hope that when things 60 wrong
again the papers will use judgment
enough to consult the mayor before
they come out with flaming headlines.
If | had gone to the editors previously
and told them what | was going to do,
[ think they would have said that it
was all right. Why, then, do they
let the reporters get it and flash
it in the papers? 1t is the duty
of the papers and the public to criti-
cize my public acts, but they should
find out what they are first.
Appeals of Mothers.
GIN view of the appeals of mothers
and fathers that have been made to
me, the papers and aldermen might
look upon it differently if they knew
what | have learned! If you have
sons who are about nineteen years old
and who have temptation thrown in
their way you will understand why
these appeals have been made. While
am mayor, if L have the authority
and power, 1 will stamp these resorts
out"
Selection Was Unwise.
Aid. Eichstaedt: "You said at the |
time of our meeting that the special
police would be appointed only for a
few days. l have not peddled the
matter all over town, but | thought |
it was an unwise thing to appoint
pool players as detectives, and boys
rather than men,"
Mayor Andrews: "YOu are not the
mayor, and cannot understand the diff
ficulty of getting good men to serve
in that capacity. | admit that l ap-
pointed poor man, as it turned out,
but he did some good work, and was
well recommended. He made more
for the city in the way of fines than
his wages come to-" $3.50
Not the Right Man.
Aid. Gary: "All of us felt the same
way. | favor the move, but do not
feel that he was the right kind of
man for special police. He was APP
pointed to save young women, but his
acts did not tend that way. As to
the saloons, the police can attend to
them as stated. This man was heard
to remark to saloonkeeper, L am i'll
position to do you dirt. Be good to
me- 1t was known in five minutes
after his appointment that he was APP
pointed detective"
Mayor Andrews: eff you had re-
ported these things to me | would have
rescinded the appointment in five min
utes."
Aid. Gary: 81 did not look upon it
that it was my duty to do this" t
Mayor Andrews: 'The aldermen
/