The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-11-23
(Continued.)


This council was taking no part
in this matter; it had not invited
the filing of these charges: it would
have liked to have got out of it, but
1t was public act that was re-
quired of them, and they stood by
what they had a right to stand by.
And what was done? Without any
authority from this council, the
mayor of this city, the spokesman
of John T. Sullivan, the man who
has discredited everybody as far
as he could Connected with this
proceeding, in opposition to the
statements that had been made
here, who never has in any manner
assisted in this prosecution, pro-
cured what? He procured some
copy of this procedure and went
and laid it before the board of po-
lice commissioners, his own crea-
lures by appointment; and they
proceeded to do what? After OBJ
lection had been made by Mr.. Ell
liott to proceed, and when they
knew he would not be before them,
because he had notified them in
writing, after an opinion by the
corporation counsel that they could
await the action of this council,
and in face of this hearing being
set, and the council asking them to
wait, they rushed down with an at
tempt to make a record here that
would preclude this council from
removing this unworthy officer. l
say, gentlemen, that very much
has been proven. l submit to you
that when you started in this case,
and now. your minds are clear. But
you are representatives of the peo-
pie. The people have paid these
men for unfolding the law, for do
ing their duty fairly, for not be-
coming partners with law-breakers
and not fighting everybody that op-
poses them. John Sullivan has
gone out and fought every single
man that has dared to question any
act of his in his official capacity.
John T. Sullivan at every step and
every turn has fought this hearing
under the pretense that this coun-
Gil was not fair, but the true and
inward reason was he did not dare
to face cross examination; he
would have admitted the entire
charge with reference to his
knowledge of these houses of pros
titution, because the statement
made in the public press that Marie
Taylor was running one would have
been an absolute silence to his
claim that he did not know they
were being run.
And now, gentlemen, but few
more words. l believe that Ameri-
can cities must purge themselves
from time to time of improper, in
efficient men who are incapable of
performing their duties, of men
who have surrounded themselves
by men who are inimical to the
public veal, by men who sleep at
the post of duty and permit crime
to flourish and flaunt it's hideous
head in the face of the decent peo-
pie. Such man, it seems to me.
II this evidence is believable, such
man as is unfit to occupy the
high position of chief of police was
John T. Sullivan.
Now ] contend, and I submit il,
that if these acts were performed
while he was chief of police, and
if as chief of police he had all
! power to suppress these acts, these
Erimes, and if he committed these
acts, that this attempted evasion by
him of stepping down and out for
the purpose of evading the force of
the findings of this council, will be
of no avail. ! believe if this coun-
Gil passes resolution, if they be-
lieve these charges are well found
ed, and / think they are beyond
question In every particular, that
he be dismissed from the force.
That if that were not availing. it
is at least a notice to the board of
public works that this record is
here. l believe, however, that it
has ample power, ample power to
deal with and dispose of this man.
And If he was faithless in the trust
OF chief of police, a position of po-
plice sergeant, that he stepped
back into, is triable by this coun-