Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-29

Of taking my usual time to sleep, l
hung around the city hall most of the
forenoon to see Archie Hart, and when
saw him he said:
Say, you have been, talking around
town about your uniform. What does
this mean? I heard you said there was
about IS graft in that suit"
"Mr. Hart" said, the only talking
I have done about this suit was done
in the police station. 1 have talked no
more than other men on the force about
the uniforms, maybe not so much as
some"
Don't you think the suit is worth
s2o?"
NO, Mr.. Hart, to tell you the truth,
1 said, 'I don't think that suit is worth
the money The cloth is not right, the
lining is flimsy. and the padding lets
the clothes get all out of shape"
Then he shouted at me. Then you
think there is graft in it,"
ct know nothing about that, Mr.. Hart.
All know, and I'm not afraid to tell
you or any other man, is these goods
are not right for $50 suit. You can
see them for yourself"
Well" said Hart, "Fll see you
later"
After that for several weeks I heard
nothing more about the matter, and
supposed il was all hushed up. l went
along performing my duties faithfully.
Hart falsifies again when he intimates
that do not know the street and house
numbering system of this city. have
L. Tel for
years. In Germany I spent nine years
in school, including two years in the
school which is the same as We call
high school in this country. will set
my intelligence up against that OF
Archie Hart or of Chief Jim Brinn,
or of Night Captain Reynolds. l am
willing to have any comparison made
that will prove my competency or in
competency as a police officer. My
record will stand investigation and
am prepared to defend 1t against the
charges of Hart or any other man.
The clothes, Mr.. Editor, was the
whole difference between Hart and me.
No other matter was talked of. And
II Archie Hart wants the people of
Rock Island to know the facts about
those uniforms. whether l have talked
too much, why don't he take them
around to Griggs' tailor shop over the
Crown restaurant and ask Mr.. Griggs
how many coats he has torn apart and
remade of these $50 police uniforms?
I have served in the German artil
lery for three years and in this country
| was three years in Battery F, 4th |
artillery, L. S. A, Fort Riley, Kansas, |
and l can show honorable discharges !
from my soldier service on both sides |
of the Atlantic ocean. Character ex-
celIent" is the way I am spoken of by |
the governments l have served. 1t is |
true that my training in the army has |
made me particular not to wish to |
wear frayed uniforms. / cannot bring !
myself TO take my pocket knife and |
cut fringes off the bottom of my pants |
legs as some of my fellow policemen |
have done with those $40 uniforms.
While / was on the force / did not |
even take time to inquire at the Rock |
Island clothing stores about the prices |
for uniforms. l did not wish to reflect |
in any way upon the force or my SUI !
periors. But since l severed my con-
nection with the force l have felt 1t |
my duty to investigate the prices of |
uniforms. / called at Sections cloth |
ing store and had my uniform inspect |
ed. Anybody can ask Mr.. Sexton what !
he thinks of my uniform. While in .
his store / was shown his line of /
street car mems and municipal en-
ployes' suits. The very highest quail |
fly in his line, goods which any man
will say are better than our 500 police |
suits. he sells for $3.50. and a second /
quality, which he sells for SIS, is bet
ter material an better put together
than these 500 suits with which the
police OF Rock Island have been uni
formed. / also inquired at other stores,
with similar results. This speaks for
itself Now, what has Mr.. Hart to
say?
The only true thing Hart said in his
statement in Saturday nights Argus
IL that l have a family of six chill
dren. The oldest is not yet IA; the
youngest is 3. My wife passed away
two years ago the coming winter
am doing my best TO bring them up
10 be good men and women. Instead
Of Archie Hart showing me any con-
sideration on account Of my children,
be has singled me out and tried to
make an example out Of me to stop
he police from talking about the way
hey have been deceived. But instead
Of stopping the talk. l think he has
increased the discussion of this matter,
both inside and outside the police
station
Yours for a square deal
MAX LIEDTKE.