The Detroit times., 1911-04-06

citizens should feel that the police
man Is their protector and friend.
when | came on the bench, four
years ago, ! planned to try each case
as IL II were before the circuit court.
determined that | should give every
person brought before me the most
impartial trial possible. 1 wanted 10
have every defendant, however OBJ
scure, treated with the utmost fair
ness, and | feel that that is just what
society desires. or course, society
should be protected but I'm sure IL
does not wish TO have unfortunates.
men who may be unjustly accused.
given an unfair hearing in court. /
pursued the course of an impartial
Judge and | naturally displeased some
Of the police.
However, | am constitutionally and
in every other way opposed to viola
ton OF the law | think that anybody
who willfully violates the statutes
and ordinances should be punished.
1t has been said that | tolerated the
carrying OF concealed weapons. That
is not so. have been just as severe
as | possibly could be with those who
were brought before me for such viola
that | think that any man who car
ries a revolver for protection Is a
fool and that any man who carries
such a weapon for other purposes is
a dangerous person. The carrying OF
concealed weapons should be discour-
aged and J am anxious to do my part
In doing away with the practice in De
troit
Within the next year | hope to be
able 10 show the members OF the po-
lice department that they have mis-
understood me; that | am not now
and never have been prejudiced
against them, and that 1t Is really my
ambition to work In harmony with
them. Yet, after all, don't blame the
men, themselves, so much for the mis-
understanding We have had, as / do
those who have been over them.
While Smith was the commissioner
the men were encouraged to antagon-
lie me and was drawn into their
Quarrels against my wish. Why.
some OF the policemen who were
friendly toward me were afraid to
meet me on the street; they used to
cross To the other side when they
would see me coming lest some one
see them recognizing me and report
them to the commissioner
However, things have changed
little since Smith stepped out and was
succeeded by Mr. Croul sincerely
believe that Mr.. Croul is not antagon-
istic toward me. Yet, the department
openly opposed me in the election, and
that is surely bad spectacle for the
citizens they must think there is
something radically wrong when two
law-enforcing institutions are opposed
to each other. And the police GER
tainly did all in their power to defeat
and misrepresent me: they not only
stuck together themselves, generally
speaking, but encouraged their friends
10 oppose me. They even made a
house-to-house canvass and intimidat-
ed saloonkeepers in the hope OF pro-
noting their plans. Then there were
two newspapers which openly opposed
me. Added to all this opposition was
Republican majority OF 10000 TO
overcome Through 1t all kept quiet,
but | have thought that | should make
statement OF my real attitude to-
ward the police department. The cleo
ton is now over and | am frank to
say that | hold no ill-feeling against
any member Of the police department.
| shall always treat the members OF
the force fairly and courteously.
There is just one thing that
want to say further, and that is that
in all the time I've been on the bench
have worked in harmony with that
splendid man, Justice Stein. And IT
is not often that a Democrat and a
Republican can get along as harmoni
ously and as we'll as we have. That
is complimentary to Justice Stein
Our working SO well together surely
shows that there is no friction as far
as the police court is concerned |
want to add, too, that throughout the
campaign, and al all times, Justice
Stein acted the part of gentleman
toward me-