The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-30
HOW POLITICS WAS
PLAYED In RECENT
POLICE CHANGES
''Siberfa'' For the Men Who
Would Not Buckle Down
to Work For the
Administrations.
Good Berths Provided For the
Faithful Who Were Will
ing to Hustle For
Wilson.

Desperate attempts on the part of
Mayor Wilson and the King-Warner
machine to p1acate disgruntled mem
bers of Bridgeport police department
on the eve of election through
false show of friendly interest in their
welfare are being cited with much
relish by those Tn on how the new
detail was made up. Interest in po-
lice efficiency seems to have been oV-
ershadowed in the scramble to secure
votes. The procedure, according the
INVITING of the little bird, is that
there was no consideration as to
whether John or Henry was the best
man for a certain beat but to
whether he was friendly to the
cause and what beat was nearest
his home. John rs request for hnan-
cial assistance caused no more COM
ment than did the Encouragement of
the police detail just before election.
Just long enough for the good or
wavering coppers to realize how nice
their new beat would be during the
cold winter. nights and stormy days.
And on top of this, it is reported, that
inqufrers were practically promised
that there would be no further shift
of detail until spring.
Rumbles of discomfort from the
headquarters and precinct stations
apparently reached the ears of the
faithful machine henchman and they
fastened to repeat the sayings. So
general was the discomfort over af-
fairs that it was realized that there
were not enough Siberia" beats for
the dfsturbers. A master stroke was
decided upon. the last stand against
an overwhelming force,
Faithful Republican policemen got
busy and, through personal calls up
on 1.-The powers that be- or through
mediums of influence made inquiry
and requests. They would be looked
after, they were told and advised to
wait just a little. Kindly inquiry was
most convenient for them, the ones
nearest their homes. The intfmation
was given that there would not be an
other shift until late in the winter or
early spring. AS far as can be learn
ed, nothing was said about maintain
ing the efficiency of the department.
Then, according to report, direc-
lions were given the members of the
department to send in their home ad-
dresses. This to be done before the
| detail was made out. From these,
those approving the assignments be-
fore they were posted would be able
to please the men and place them on
beats nearest their homes so that
there would be only a short distance
to travel through the snow.
There has been less general discon-
tent concerning the last "shakeup''
| than for a long time previously. But
the men know the reason why. AS
one of them said: cit looks good I'M
| til you go underneath and learn the
real reasons for such Kindness
Efficiency" the guise under which
the controlling power of the depart
ment has been working to build up a
political machine, is also noted in the
conduct of the detective bureau, say
the policemen. No bones are made
of their opinions. In order to be as
signed to this department, the men
feel that it is necessary to stand
in right" politically. It is matter
man has been promised detective du-
ty after election, if he works right, >
delivers and the cause is success
full. How many have been given
| these promises is not known.
At last the subtle hand of the poIit-
zeal manipu1ators in the stre-organ-
| ization' of the department and at
tempted adjustment of detective ser
geancies has been seen, the deep plan
! to provide political berths for the
| faithful But the law stood in the
way and only a comparatively small
number of places are open for the
| plain s-assignment'' rewards.
| The appointment of Luke PetruschelI
and immediate promotion to detective
| work is claimed to have ben a scheme
and desperate attempt on the part of
the administration to wean away the
| vote of his countrymen.