The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-13
MARTIN FOARDSAYS HE
WON'T Be CATSPAW
DEMANDS THAT THE POLICE
CHIEF BE A FIRST CLASS
MAN.

yesterday, and will attend the meet
ing Of the police commission tonight.
Mr.. Foard says he has been out Of
the city 40 days since he was here
last, and be Is disposed to laugh At
the attempt made on the part 81 d
few to have his seat as a police COM
missioner declared vacant
Mr.. Foard states that he is not to
blame for the lack Of action on the
part Of the police commission, AZ for
example in the appointment Of chief
of police. He says he should be held
blamcIess ID the matter Of the ap-
pointment 81 chief. and the Astoriaa
thinks he Is right.
For years the police commission
has been in the hands Of Democrats
The police force has been Dcmocra-
tic. AT the last municipal election
police officers worked for the sue
cess Of the Democrat ticket. OF the
three police commissioners now Mr..
Foard IL the sole Republican. thus
leaving the commission Democratic
"A il has always been
Between the two Democratic COM
missioners there has been a deadlock,
that has lasted six months already.
Commissioner Gordon would not
stand for Commissioner Logan's man,
and vice versa. Ii Is understood that
Commissioner Gordon has been will
ing to appoint Fred Oberg, while
Commissioner Logan has kept his
choice close secret, though II is said
he favors Police Officer Joe Wilson.
II Commissioner Foard should tie
UP with either one Of the two Demo
Gratis. il would simply be to elect a
man as chief who is Democrat and
who Is put up as a Democrat, now
getting the Office as a reward for po.
IiticaI favors The question is natur-
ally asked by Mr. Foard, why should
he, the Republican, be used to put in
ia Democrat chief Of police. who is
put up as a Democrat. Mr.. Foard
simply says the two Democrat com
missioners have the majority of the
board and II Is up to them to act.
Not only does the Astorian think that
Mr. Foard should be held blameless,
but il admircs him for the good sense
he is showing in the matter in not
permitting himself TO be used by the
Democrats for merely political pur-
poses. Let them fight out their own
little squabbles.
Y will vote for any man whose
name is suggested, providing he is a
6rst class man for the place." said
Mr. Foard yesterday. "But l am not
going to be used to put in some man
simply to please some of my good
friends. the Democrats. If they put
up man who is first class, strong
man, the right kind OF man for chief
Of police, will vote for him whether
he is Democrat, Republican, Chris
'ian Scientist or Baptist or anything
else. But they have got to show me a
good man. Until they do put up a
good man, let the other two com.
nissioners fight out their own SQUAD.
bles."
# Mr. Foard permits himself to Be
used to put in some man who is not
we'll qualified for the place, he would
be blamed on all sides, he says, and
She contention appears strong. He
would be blamed by Republicans, he
would be blamed by all good citizens,
and he would be blamed by all those
Democrats who thought their toes
had been trod on.
But Mr. Foard says that as chair
man Of the commission he will insist
that some action be taken in the way
Of appointing chief Of police.