The San Francisco call., 1913-07-22
Why Was Jones Transferred?

Alter service OF three weeks Corporal Jones
has been relieved of command of the Chinatown
squad. The usual tour of service for the corporal
commanding in Chinatown is three months.
Corporal Jones entered upon the discharge oi
his duties in Chinatown with an energy akin tc
that which marked the service of Corporal Golf
whose relief from the detail after three months was
indeed grateful measure of relief for the Chinese
gamblers. ~
But Jones lasted only three weeks. He was
relieved in time to prevent him from concluding
some exceedingly interesting, if unprecedented, in
vestigations designed to embarrass the operations
of the wiley Chinese gamblers.
Unhappy as most of his efforts have been, Chief
White has habitually offered something by way oi
explanation for his acts and his failures to act Nc
explanation accompanied the chiefs order relieving
Corporal Jones from the Chinatown detail
1t may be assumed that Chief White had rea-
son for issuing his surprising and unprecedented
order. He has given the public no reason Cor
pora Jones says he does not know why he was re-
lieved.
Both the public and Corporal Jones are entitled
to know what caused the removal of Corporal
Jones from Chinatown.
Was he relieved for any derelicton of his sworn
duty
If so, his transfer to another detail is not suf-
ficent punishment He should be brought to rial
before the commission on the formal complaint OF
Chief White and dismissed from the service
Was he summarily relieved because the chief
found him indifferent to the importance of his
work and the necessity of enforcing the law in
Chinatown
If he should be brought to trial on the formal
complaint of the chief and punished by the com
mission.
Was he relieved on the complaint of some ia
vored gambler the owner of property enjoying
unusual profits from the illicit use of his property
and who had reason to fear the results of Corporal
Jones energy and originality?
II SO the public is entitled to know how an out
law influence be exercised to control the as
signment of policemen to duty. If Corporal Jones
was taken out of Chinatown because he was aiding
In the commission of crime Chief White has nc
right to keep him in the department..
II he was taken out of Chinatown because he
had demonstrated his ability and his determination
TO suppress crime, then the stigma inevitably con-
sequent upon his removal belongs on the shoulders
of Chief White, not on Corporal Jones'
Chief White and Corporal Jones are both en-
ployes Of the people of San Francisco. They
wear the livery of the people 1t is an honorable
livery. The people entitled to the answering
loyalty of the men who it. The wearers arc
entitled to the protection and the support of the
public just as long they it honorably
II Corporal Jones has distonored his uniform
1t is Chief Whites duty to see that it is stripped
from him. If he has done no wrong it is the duty
OF the police. commission and of every honest citi-
zen to protect him against the reproach involved
in the extraordinary order issued by Chief White
The public is entitled to an explanation. 1t is
the duty of the police commission get that expa-
nation. And the public expects the commission to
perform IFS duty.