The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-11-30
CHIEF OF POLICE
Continued From Page one

ness to, make false accusations Is
true. 1t would suggest motives hat
would affect the credibility of the
charges az q whole. The fact that the
chief of police arrested and prose-
cuted with promptness and relentless
vigor the very heads of the graft pro-
motors and before any chages Of graft
had been made, discloses a.. possible
motive for revenge and design to Sc
cure the removal of an obstacle that
further weakens the Credibiiity of such
evidence.
The the chief of police has been able
n willing with instant and open
frankness to submit to examinations
and cross examinations without legal
assistance, that often saves evil doors
from the pitfalls Of self incrimina-
tradiction or false note, shows the
greatest possibility of honesty. That
he has been able to show sattsfactor-
lily and almost without exception, to
furnish evidence and vouchers such as
are now filed with the council, the
source Of practically every dollar used
in building his home years ago. his
barn transferred to a cottage a few
years ago and his wife's small legacy
from her fathers estate, invested in
city warrants. every expenditure link
ed up with corresponding vouchers or
evidence, tearing aside, it Is true, the
privacy Of a mans family affairs, out
disclosing a life OF honest industry,
Jointly with a faithful wife; keeping
boarders to save a little patrimony
that must safeguard the coming period
Of old age. all showing a life long habit
of honesty.
REGARDING the question of gambling,
| find that this vice became suddenly
advertised as of epidemic proportions
a mont or so preceding Nov. 2, due
to the crushing blow delivered by the
chief just prior to that date. It's
greater activity this fall is proportion
ed to the abnormal influx of harvest
hands ladened with earnings, and to
the desperate attempt of the gambling
fraternity to re-establish their power,
which had been Curbed up to harvest
time. 1t Is shown that their success
was short lived, and that the breaking
Up Of the gamblers combing, the flight
Of the tin horns and the clearing IN
or the city was accomplished by the
voluntary action of Chief Keefe in the
lace OF difficulties since disclosed that
would have made a Dreyfus of France
urn pale, because if any attempt to
make false evidence believed had
succeeded. 1t meant a possible ten
years IN the penitentiary and ruin Of a
man and family for life.
S W Tx SLllCISlCy Oh the CnleI OF
police, l have to say there is seldom
a. condition that cannot be improved,
the question in this particular is one
OF degree and intent.
Inc charges have been made that
he is not highly educated, and as a
substitute for the failure to convict
of graft, l fear the substitute might be
sustained, but before carrying out any
plans to get rid of him at any price
and on any preteXt, | have got to con-
slider what he has endured and what
he has lone in the line of duty. l
find that he has worked days and
nights without regard to hours or sea-
son, often twenty hours out
of twenty-fOur, that he has
shown courage in danger, a forti-
tude IN adversely, an anxiety for full
performance of duty n with all, a
heart hat is gentle with worthy dis
tress that should win communication
instead Of the condemnation that cum
ming has accumulated against it. |
find that the police records show for
the period under discussion a far
greater number of arrests made this
year than for the same period a year
ago, that more than double the amount
of stolen property recovered this year
than for the same period a year ago.
That Superintendent Watkins Of the
State Enforcement league, the most
competent. disinterested authority in
the city or state. makes the frank
statement that the suppression of the
red light" district is practically COM
plete and that the moral condition as
to rooms in the city generally show a
splendid improvement, and that he has
given an unqualified commentator
upon the efforts of the authorities in
this particular.
sufficient reasons presented to me that
would justify me in either suspending
or. removing Chief Keefe from the Of
fee of chief, of police.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) William D. Sweet,
Mavor