The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-16
MAY RECA[[P0[|CE
COMMISSIONER
PETITION BEING CIRCULATED
NOT YET FlLED-COMM ISSlON-
Err lkARD TALKS.

For the past two or three days a
petition has been circulated upon
the streets and among the business
and professional men of the city
asking the recall of NJ. Ikard as po-
lice commissioner The petition sets
forth the charges that Commissioner
lkard is incompetent, that he has
accepted pay while actin gas COM
missioner, from a contractor working
for the city and that he participated
in the recent riot in the council
chamber in the city hall.
City Clerk George Henry Bruce,
! stated to an Ardmoreite reporter
this morning that the petition had
not yet been filed. Mr.. Bruce said
that he had heard that there was
such a petition in circulation, but
that he had not seen it himself and
knew nothing of it only from hear
say. IF such a petition is in circu-
lation, and | have no occasion to
doubt that it is Mr.. Bruce said
it will have to be filed with me
as city clerk. When it is so filed |
will take the proper action as the
law provides in such cases. Further
than this | can say nothing now
NJ lizard, the police commissioner
of the City of Ardmore and the man
whom it is sought to recall, when
seen by an Ardmoreite reporter this
morning said that he had heard of
the petition, but, of course had not
had the opportunity of seeing il.
II guess it is out, all right" Mr..
Ikard said A fight has been waged
on me now for some months, prin-
cipally, I think by those who do
not want to see the laws of the state
enforced. Charges of all kinds have
been made against me and baseless
innuendos have been cast against
my integrity and my everyday ac-
tions. 1t has been charged. among
other things, that have given the
members of the Ardmore police force
orders to watch out for and seize
shipments of beer and whiskey re-
ceived here by private persons for
their own use and consumption.
This assesrtion is absolutely un-
true. / am not United States
official and have nothing to do with
the enforcement of the federal laws.
If man ships wine, whskey or beer
into Ardmore with the intention OF
selling it, or "boot-legging" it, then
it is up to me as police commission
er of this city to get busy. | have
always instructed the members of
the police from the chief down
to look out for "boot leg" shipments,
but to let the private shipments alone.
The shipment of intoxicants, by pri-
vate parties for their own
use. is not a violation of
the city orr state laws. The parties
so shipping ntoxcants into the state
and city are amenable to the fede-
raj government. but not to the city
government, and as a city official,
as police commissioner | do not
think it my business to have my po-
lice officers meddling in private
shipments. or the violation of gov
ernment laws.
Whe asked as to what he had to
say of the charges made against
him in the petition asking his recall,
Mr.. lkard said that so far as the
that he is incompetent
is concerned. he had nothing to say.
Il have handled the affairs of my
department in businesslilie and |
economical manner since | have |
been in office and the chances are |
that had | have winked at violations |
Of the law, there would never have |
been any charges preferred against |
me. ! have tried to enforce the law |
since | have been in office and in
it have stepped on a num-
Der of feet and hurt someone's corns.
The man with the sore corn will nat
lrally howl"
Regarding the second charge,
hat ] have received money from the
,ity for work done by me-" Mr.. Ikard
such charge is absolute
y false. have never drawn one
penny from the city except my sal