The Detroit times., 1908-08-07
AR MY 0FF|C| ALS
FIRED FROM PARK
FOR RECRUITING
COPS BACKED BY COMMISSION
ERs OFFICE REFUSE TO HON.
OR MAYORS PEaMlT-MAYoR
TELLS SOLDIERS TO RETURN.

army. has innocently become factor
In the local mayoral campaign. When
Lieut.. John Rcyden Kelly, of the Sew
enth United States infantry, in charge
OF the local army recruiting station.
recently applied TO the mayor for a
permit to station two soldiers in Grand
Circus park. for the purpose OF secur-
Ing recruits. the permit was readily
granted. Accordingly the soldiers
took their place in the park and their
purpose was made known by means
OF recruiting poster. placed on a
portable easel.
All went well until a park police
man came along and ordered them 10
remove the poster. The soldiers did
80 and reported the mater TO Lieut..
Kelly. The latter looked up the po-
iiceman. showed him the permit is
sued by the mayor, and the soldiers
were allowed 10 return with their post
er. That was last Thursday and they
remained In the park all day without
being interfered with. On Friday,
however. they were again ordered to
|
took the matter up with the mayor
The policeman. 1t transpires, was
acting under section Of the park and
boulevard act OF 1895. which says:
Nor shall any person display any
placard or any advertisement OF any
kind on or upon or along said boule-
ward or any Of the said parks, for adj
vertising only"
The police officer put the question
up 10 the park commissioners office.
and was told that he had acted within
his rights In ordering the removal of
the poster. But Mayor Thompson,
holding that the advertising restric-
ton cannot be construed to apply TO
this case. stands by his permit and,
Thursday morning. told Lieut.. Kelly
that his soldiers were free to remain
In the park with their poster.
They can go back any time you
care to send them and they can stay
as long as they please" he told the
lieutenant In substance.
This courtesy has been allowed the
United States army In every other
city where II has been requested and
am not going to be the one to with
Il
Sam wants to station his men in the
park I. am not going TO interfere. On
the contrary. am only too glad to ex-
tend the privilege and l don't believe
there is any law to prevent II. 1t
strikes me as being pretty small bus
mess for anyone to offer any objec-
ton to the presence OF the soldiers on
such mission
1T Is up to this Office to issue per-
mits wherever the parks and bouls-
wards are concerned and not up To
the mayor" said Park Commissioner
Breitmeyer in speaking of the affair
TT would have been no more than
common courtesy on the mayors part
to have consulted this ONCE before is
suing a permit to the lieutenant. The
park and boulevard act expressly pro-
hibits the display Of advertising mat
ter In the parks. and l don't think
the mayor has any right to give any
one. even though 1t be the United
States government, permit to vio-
late the law. However, II application
were made to me for permit l should
be very glad to grant 1t. II. In my
opinion. the recruiting poster does
not come under the restriction.
"As to the permit issued by Mayor
Thompson, have not. seen 1t, nor has
anyone In my ONCE. and the police
man, under the circumstances. acted
within his rights"
Lieut.. Kelly's letter to the mayor
follows
Honorable VIM. q. Thompson. the
Mayor. City OF Detroit
Sir--I have the honor to inform you
that. taking advantage OF the author
lily you were kind enough to grant Inc.
during the past week, 1 stationed Two
party. in Grand Circus park. for tire
purpose of soliciting recruits for the
United States army. The soldiers Were
uniforms and carried q portable easel
on which was displayed the recruiting
poster. Al least one OF the soldiers
cruiting poster at all times. and 1t wes
never allowed TO degenerate into
sign board. The soldiers were also at
all times yentlemanly and well behaved
as / promised you they would be. There
was nothing In the appearances or the
men or the sign TO offend the most
fastidious.
: On Wednesday last. these men were
ordered by one OF the special policemen
stationed at Grand Circus park. to re-
move the sign. They offered TO show
no difference whatever. that they had
orders TO allow no sign or advertising
matter whatever within the limits OF
the park. The men Immediately with,
drew. When the matter was reported
TO me. visited the park and inquired
concerning this order. and was in
formed that II was due to general IN
structions only. and when l showed
your permit 1 was Informed that they
would be allowed to continue unless
orders came from higher authority to
remove them.
They remained in the park all day
Thursday and nothing was said TO them
but this morning they were ordered. by
special park policeman No. 1871, TO re-
move the sign / believe this officer
was acting upon orders of the Commits
sioner OF Parks and Bouievards.
/ wish to inform your honor that this
method OF advertising for recruits has
and to the best OF my knowledge. per-
mission to display these signs when
soldiers are stationed with them. has
never been refused. rather. that In
every instance. the soldiers have re-
ceived the active cooperation OF all
the city officials and police depart
ments.
The purpose is not only to advertise
for recruits. but to get In closer touch
with the people. TO answer all qu-s-
lions concerning the army which may
be asked. 10 correct any misinrorma-
ton concerning the army. and intti-
Iectly TO advertise the army as u whole.
III ! should have asked my pcrnis-
sion from tire Honorable, the Commits
sioner OF Parks and Boulevards. I con
only plead ignorance OF routine. as I
believed thar had your honor not the
authority to grant the necessary per-
init. tne matter would be referred to-
the proper official but that a permit
from YOU would be received by all sub
ordinates in a proper spirit OF harmony.
! wish to state that. rather than have
been the means OF causing your honor
the humiliation OF having a permit is-
sued by you ignored and uisregarded I
should