The San Francisco call., 1909-11-24
COOK'SREMOVAL
CONSIDERED BY
MAYOR ELECT
interests Which Aided in Nc
Carthy's Election After the
Scalp of Police Chief
Captain John Martins Appoint
ment as Successor Declared
TO Be Plan

Regardless of Mayor elect P. H. Nc
Carthy's telegraphic denials, it may be
positively asserted that the removal of
Chief Of Police Cook and the appoint
lnent Of Captain John Martin, retired,
in his stead has been considered. II
may also safely be assumed that short
" after Mccarthy assumes the reins of
government the work of clearing away
the legal barriers to Cooks removal
and Martins appointment will be taken
Up
That the removal of Cook and the
appointment Of Martin has been under
consideration is evidenced by the fact
that interests which contributed hand
somely 10 the election of Mccarthy are
for Martin now as they have been for
i've or six years The only material
difference in their situation is that
they stand now better chance of
landing their man.
The proponents of Cooks removal
and Martins appointment realize that
their task would become of more than
average difficulty if Cook decided TO
make a fight for his rights. They rely
somewhat, however, on the theory that
If il is put up TO him in the right
way Cook viii resign, go back TO his
sergeantcy and the prospect Of speedy
retirement.
COOK Is UNDECIDED
Cook himself has not decided what
ne viii do. he said last night that he
had paid more than passing attention
TO the discussion Of his proba bic rele-
cation, but that he had decided not TO
map out q policy until the matter was
put up to him. If when it is put up
TO him he decides TO fight. his decision
may result in forcing more rapid re-
organization of the board Of commits
sioners than may be contemplated now
by the mayor elect.
The charter provides that the chief
shall be appointed for a term Of four
wears In the case Of the chief Of po-
lice. as in that of any other member OF
the department, the charter provisions
touching removal were framed meas
urably 10 protect the policemen from
political vengeance or partisan expe-
diency.
The chief can be removed only as
the result of written charges and after
conviction had At an open trial The
Affirmative votes Of two Of the four
members Of the board would not sus-
tain a motion for conviction. ---
The result of the Dinan trial indi-
Gates that with a fair trial ii is not
easy TO convict an Indifferent or bad
officer Cook is neither Indifferent nor
bod His is a splendid record but the
interests which seek his scalp have no
fear Of getting him with a recrganized
board The establishment of charges
Of dereliction of duty may depend very
largely upon the friendly or unfriendly
attitude Of the board. It has been dem
onstrated repeatedly that il is com
parstively a simple matter TO uncover
infractions of the law which have es-
capped the eye of the chief of police.
COVERED up GAMBLING
There is always more or less covered
up gambling or vice, which can be un-
covered for the purpose of serving the
ends Of the interested parties. but
which are conducted in a manner to
evade the watchfUlness of the police.
For instance. while IL is generally ad-
mitued that Chief Cook has done more
than any one man in San Francisco to
break up Chinatown gambling, none
pretenos TO believe that there is no
more underground gambling in China
town. Mar Len Geet could furnish
evidence if need be. and no harm would
come 10 his Chinese exhibits either
The politicians have passed on two
rumored appointments in q manner
which, so far as the politicians are
concerned. makes those appointments
as good as certainties. The first is the
appointment of Jack Williams to the
sherins attorneyship unde Sheriff
elect Tom Finn. Williams was one of
the machine republicans who conducted
Finn's fight north Of Market street
The other rumor gives Edward F.
Moran the berth Of attorney for Au-
ditor elect Thomas F. Boyle. Moran
and Boyle have long been friends. both
in and out Of politics. Moran was
prominently Identified with Francis J.
Sullivans quest for the union labor
nomination for mayor early in the pill
grimage. He severed his relations
with the Sullivan campaign, though,
before the supreme court made il pos
sible for sullivan to get on the primary
ballot