The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-10-14
JOBS DEPEND
UPON BECKER
Issues Warning That Schaaf
Sentiment in Depart
D ment Must Cease.

The Becker personal political ma
chine, forced to the last extremity by
the fear of defeat, last night played the
ace of clubs when it compelled Chief of
Police Peter Austgen TO assemble all
Of the members of the metropolitan po-
lice department and duly impress upon
their minds that their jobs were only
good unless Becker is elected.
Under the detailed orders of Law
renee Becker. the chief went even fur
ther. He told the officers Of the law
that they might have private opin-
ions, but if they We're caught voicing
them their jobs would not last twenty
four hours.
The chief said IN the course Of his re-
marks that he understood there was
considerable Schaaf sentiment in the
police department He said he had been
informed that some Of the officers had
even ventured the opinion that they
hoped Schaaf would be elected.
This business has got to stop" the
chief is said to have declared in loud
voice.
Officers Are Cowed.
The result was that all of the repub-
lican police officers got a very vivid
impression that they are in bad and
that they are likely to lose their jobs
unless they right about face and be-
come Becker men,
Last night at about o'clock May or
Becker went to the office of Chief of
Police Austgen and there in an inner
ssofhce had hushed and protracted
conversation with the chief
1t is apparent that Mayor Becker
does not control the police department
through the police commissioners An
ton Taper and George Drackert. Swan
ton having resigned. but goes direct TO
Chief of Police Austgen with his or
ders and to learn how they have been
executed
1t will be remembered that while
the bench and bar of Hammond was
eringing every ounce of pressure to
Al ear to secure an additional court for
: B4Hmmond Mayor Becker was quietly at
~-5rk upon matters Of legislation that
would enable him to build up a political
machine in Hammond
& Grips Police Department.
one of these measures was the re
peal of that feature of the metropolitan
police law. which places the appoint
ing of the police commissioners in tfe
hands of the governor instead Of the
mayor Becker and the other coglets in
his political machine cried that it was
home rule" the people wanted. ant
demagogues that they are they knew
all the time that Becker wanted the
appointing of the police commission
ers for just such an emergency as now
confronts him.
So Becker is putting the screws or
the members Of the police department
II a police officer is caught talking to q
republican he is likely to lose his job.
This will probably be the beginning
of a system of espionage that viii ena
Bile the mayor to keep track Of the po.
lice officers and discover whether Of
not any of them are talking agains
him.
All Beclxer's Police.
The Hammond police department il
Becker's personal police department HI
owns the political opinions of ever!
officer on the force. He dictates the ap
pointment of all officers directly to tn
chief Already he has ignored his po
lice commission and has gone directl.
to the chief of police with his orders
Mayor Becker's personal political ma
chine is surely being built up and is be
ceming so intrenched in power that I
the people do not shake him off during
the coming election Becker will die
tate affairs in every department of tn
city government as absolutely as tn
car of Russia manages his domain.
"Bike" Is Stolen.