New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-09
RepubIican Candidate Promises
Quick Action if He Is Elect
ed Governor, and Law
Is Not Enforced.
70 MAKE CITY LIFE SAFE
Voters Told the Issue in New
York Is Whether There Shall
Be a Republican or Tam
many State Admin
istration.

frYorn Staf Correspondent OF The Tribune ]
Troy, n. Y. Oct. S.-Declaring that
the police were not enforcing the laws
IN New York City. Job e. Hedges. Re-
publican candidate for Governor, prom
,,ed tonight that his first official set.
IL elected, would be to remove the Po-
ice Commissioner II the laws were not
.nforced better at that time. He said
this would be the kind Of executive ac-
ton warranted in the situation.
The candidate prefaced this utter
arce--which he said ne considered as
,mportant as any likely to be made in
the campaign-by the remark that no
was not talking to the people of any
one locality. but to the state at large.
Hs said he was running on platform
which recognized In the most definite
ard specific way the desirability OF
esnulne home rule--freedom for mu-
nIc,palities to solve their problems in
their own way without state interfer-
ence or political dickering. For that
reason he went on, he was opposed 10
A state constabulary. He added:
We are confronting a condition in
New York City now where life is not
safe. Murders are being done every
little while. The police are not enfore-
lna tho law as It should be, whetner
from inoompetency or dishonesty.
The question has been put TO various
candidates for Governor as 10 what they
would do in the premises MT SuIzer-
End I have no quarrel with Mr.. Sulzer-
ssys ne can't crogs this political bridge
until he comes 10 it. He knows things
are not quite what they ought 10 be. and
he promises 10 work industriousiy 10
remedy existing evils. Mr.. Stfaus says
he does not know what the law Is on the
subject. and 50 can't say what he VIII do:
shan't have to wait TO be informed
on conditions in New York; ! know
ben, now. In the morning after ! take
my oath Of office shall be prepared to
act. ard know the law. " the erlr,-
insl laws are not enforced, ! shall act,
and whoever is at heas Of the police
force will account to me at once for
the conditions as they exist.
Duty Of tho Governor.
Under the constitution the Governor IS
commanded TO enforce the law. The
penal laws fall within his jurisdiction.
The Police Commissioner OF New York is
subject 10 instant removal by the Gov
ernor. even without an investigation. He
Is subordinate to the Mayor. who may not
be removed without an Investigation. The
result Is that the force does not know TO
whom 10 be responsible.
know the police force. got to know
Il when was secretary 10 Mayor Strong.
There's no braver force In the world.
Man for man, there's no force in tho
world With higher standards. But there
sre men on II who should not be there.
and there are some who make the force
The trouble 10 the police force Is tho
playthlna Of politics.
Mayor Gaypor's order against i'm
proper force in making arrests, Mr..
Hedges said. was sound as a bell" yet
II had become distorted through igno-
rance and the efforts Of politicians, until
honest policemen were afraid to do
their duty and arrest crooks. lest they
be the object Of complaints and forfeit
their pension rights on thu complaint
Of nonresident crooks. He went on:
j would suggest to the Police Commis-
honer not in any spirit OF political RI
ssity or meddlesomeness, but because !
nave the fair name OF New York at heart,
that he called in all the inspectors and
sad TO them, Now. you drive out all the
strong arm men from this city, and I'll
gys you one week to do II In or prefer
charges against you ALL" there would be
Witnessed the greatest exit that you ever
LIE In New York City must be pro-
sscted. We will not wait TO cross this
Political bridge. We will act the very
minute we have authority. Executive
action 10 warranted In this situation.
IN confde a, little secret TO you: The
Ponce force knows, and the man at the
seed OF II now knows, that there's no
ooanger Of executive action before jan
uery J, for very good reasons.
ih's 10 q question o. common sense
ssd nerve, and there's no feeling here
ier anything but the safety Of life and
ne good name Of tho community. I'D
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