The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-10-24
OUR WEEKLY LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent, Clyde
H Tavenner.


of politicians in large cities.
Gang rule has prevailed in Philadel-
phia politics for good many years
and threatens to continue for a good
many more The sewer contractors,
the pavement contractors, aud others,
are in the saddle, and it seems impos-
sible TO depose them. At every cleo
ton the ballot boxes are stuffed at the
command of the bosses Following
nearly every election there is an inves
5iga5ion IN Indictment, conviction
and sometimes SOMEONE goes to jail.
Bur the big chiefs'' of PhiladeI
phia's e. O. J., which IS an important
arm of the national Republican orgaui
zation, are seldom routed.
An election is coming on now Three
hundred thousand dollars must be
raised within "a few days for campaign
purposes. Policeman r. J. o 'kecfe
protests against thu methods used by
the political bosses. In part. his leC-
ter reads as follows:
Hon. John Z. Reyburn. Mayor of Phi
ladelphia, City Hall.
Dear Sir
am a member of the police force of
the First Police District / am 30
years of age, and have a wife and
three children, the youngest one two
years and the eldest six years of age.
4 am a Republican, and have always
been a follower and adherent of the
Republican organization. | have en-
deavored, since I have been on the
police force, to do my duty as an of
ficer of the law in every particular. l
have never been charged with any of
Tense against the law, and have never
been charged with any violations of
the police regulations; consequently
have never been reprimanded by my
superiors nor charged with any dere
LECTION Of duty.
~ had IN experience last Saturday,
which / feel / should. a. an officer IN
der Your administration. bring to your
attention. When | went to House
Sergeant Chadwick and asked for- my
money for the month Of September
the Sergeant handed me my envelope
which / noticed had been opened. -Ns
the Sergeant handed me my envelope.
be- said: They took out SO for the
election / asked by whose author
y my envelope had been torn open ami
SD taken therefrom without my
knowledge.
Sergeant Chadwick replied We'll
You Il better not make any boiler about
IT,. answered: Why shoudn t l
object; this IS my envelope and the S15
was my money; / earned it, AMI 1 oh
ject to ANYBODY taking SD from me
without at least telling me they are
going to do it. No one asked me for
a contribution for election expenses,
and if / am to make contribution |
want to know who gets it.
The Sergeant replied: Well, you
know what will happen il you make 4
holler / told the Sergeant ! would
not receipt for my month 5 pay unless
I received it in full. and I left with aut
signing the pay roll.
u have always made contributions
to the campaign funds whenever
have been notified that | was expected
50 to 10. which, OF course, has been
every election since | have been on the
force. ] have always paid the full
amount taxed against me but always
heretofore have at least had the privi-
lege Of opening my own pay envelope
and counting out my own money IN
my own hands. and then personally hal
the opportunity of walking over to the
person designated by the organization
to receive contributions and 'volun-
tariIy paving my assessment.
Il did this wheteher my wife and
little children really needed the money
or not, and while in most cases it was
pretty hard to get along without the
cash at my home. | made no complaint.
because. while I was really forced to
make the contributions, | was. at leasts,
permitted to feel to a slight degree
that | was not forced TO surrender
every spark OF manly feeling along
with the money.
''If your honor viii take into con
sidcration the fact that we are oblig
ed to buy new uniforms and overcoats
every year. no matter what condition
our present uniforms may be in, ana
are IN this manner obliged 20 pay out
large sums from our salaries, you can
readily understand that many times it
is almost impossible for policeman,
who desires to be honest. to pay his
debts
Respectfully yours,
f. J. O 'kEEFE.
Not only must the policemen contri
butte TO keep the present Republican
administration IN power in Philadel
phia. but every inspector, every fire
MON evprv city hall clerk and even