Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-08
CHIEF TO DEFEND The CITY
Donahue Accepts Challenge from the
Memphis Chief Of Police.
COMPARISON OF THE FORCES
Efficiency In Making Arrests and In
Securing Convictions AFTER Ar
rest Subject Of the
nehrfe.

The fur will fly when Chief OF Police
Donahue and Chief Of Police W. c. Davis
OF Memphis Tenn. get together on the
mat Chief Davis. who directs the desti-
mics of a prohibition city in the south that
Is as much prohibition as any southern
city is-hss challenged Chief Donahue and
his helpers and allies TO a friendly COM
paison OF the police forces Of the two
cities
In his challenge the southern chief specl-
fies efficiency together with standing, rec
ords. conduct and results in convictions
after arrests during any period Of six
months or more
Chief Donahue will accept the challeng-e
That goes without saying. for anyone who
knows the Omaha chief knows that he
loves a good, clean fight better than any
thing So Chief Davis will be taken on as
soon as the preliminaries can be arranged
And the details will be arranged as fast
as the malls can carry Chief Donahue's
acceptance.
Only one thing in Chief Davis challenge
will be ignored That is the clause. added
no doubt after the main challenge. which
provides that Il shall be discussed whether
Omaha or Memphis Is the better town to
1--we I'm. Chief Donahue says there is no
argument as to that. ANY one knows that
Omaha is the better town to live In. so
what's the use Of discussing a mere mat
ter OF fact" said Chief Donahue
Chief Davis challenge was received Fri
day morning and his acceptance was
started on its course Immediately.
Basis OF the Bout.
As 70 what Will constitute the basis for
the friendly bout, Chief Donahue could not
say, Until 1 receive a reply to my ac-
ceptance, I will be unable to formulate
any conditions which should govern a con-
test OF this kind" said the chief. "A con-
test OF this sort is new to me. Since I have
been on the Omaha police force ] have
never heard OF such a contest But 90 sure
am ] OF the Omaha force am willing to
let Chief Davis suggest the conditions
under which we will battle, as Mr. Davis
Is pleased TO term IT,
Aside from the personal appearance Of
the men who form the rank and file there
can be but one thing on which q contest
oan be had That is results The condi-
lions OF the two cities must be considered
For instance, In Memphis they do not mako
arrests In cases OF drunkenness Here we
DO, though personally am not in favor Of
It. Yet that will likely be one point which
Mr.. Davis considers In his favor. The
records, no doubt will show a larger per-
oentage of arrests here than in Memphis.
They have no saloons in Memphis. BY
that 1 mean licensed saloons, SO naturally
mere should be decided advantage in
favor Of Memphis in this line.
But considering the general efficiency Of
the two forces and the results obtained
from arrests I have not the least doubt
that the Omaha department will easily
prove It's superiority"
Chief Davis challenge follows;
The police department of Memphis ana
myself challenge city police department Of
Omaha and yourself to friendly, but frank
and fearless comparison of the two DE-
partments and peace efficiency, together
with standing and records. conduct, ana re-
suits In convictions after arrests for am
period OF six months OF more and assert
that Memphis Is a better city TO 1--we IN
and better policed than Omaha"