Evening journal., 1913-10-04
SATURDAY OCT. a. 1918
FRESH RED BLOOD is NEEDED.


r, 1TY COUNCIL has manifested its wisdom, and
~ interest in the public safety by voting to add
ten patrolmen TO the local police force Now let the
Board OF Police Commissioners show its wisdom and
in terest in the public safety by selecting ten men
who not only have the police instinct, but also youth
strength agility courage 20 recon-
them.
our Police Department as It exists today does not
stand as high in the public mind II should It
needs rich red blood and consequent energy than
Il present. In appointing the ten new patrol
men the Police Commissioners will have splendid
opportunity to make such infusion Of new and rich
blood II they fail TO do It, they viii make mistake
and the rublic will result of Councils lib
era action increased expense without increased eff
cheney
We think the commissioners viii do the right thing
We incline - the opinion the commissioners realize
that much than addition TO the force is
needed make the department the redblooded free
muscled brave-hearted. cool-headed, alert and ag-
gressve thing that ought be. Unfortunately they
are prevented sentimental which have
certain mea of merit, anf also by financial limi-
tauons. from doing all the things that ought to be
done to bring the department to proper degree OF
efficiency. One Of the worst handcaps they suffer is
the lack Of an adequate retirement pension fund
which would permit Of the decent retirement Of
hers Of the force who have grown gray and inactive
following long years OF and faithful service
Sooner or later such fund will have be provided
as is done in other twentieth century cities, because
there will come a time and II Is not far distant in
several Instances when IL viii be absolutely
sary to ret certain members Of the and
place them with younger The decent way to
bring that about will be through pension fund
There is another matter in connection with the
Police Department that should receive the attention
es commissioners and be cleaned up for all time
That Is that there seemingly exists in the force
factonal feeling that makes for nefciency and that
should be stamped out at any cost now that the de-
selopments in the Virgins uppermost in the
public mind.
II have Chief Of Police he should be the
acknowledged and unhampered head of the uniformed
force. One the first requremnets from police
men. no matter whether they be high OF low. should
be answering loyalty and obedience Lack Of loyalty
and obedience should be looked upon cardinal
oense against the public interest and should be pun
ished accordingly say that regardless of the per-
sonality Of the incumbent the Office Of chief, be-
cause loyalty and discipline arc necessary TO make
the administration Of any man a success.
II man be worthy to be the chief Of police he is
worthy OF being upheld by the commission that ap-
points him. That commission should not permit any
one within without the department, to fly his
or tunnel under his feet and do things that will
impair the usefulness Of Lis work destroy his
power as an administrative official. For commits
sion to permit itself thus TO be used, of It
party factonalism and insubordnation and also tC
the destruction OF what should be the benencence o
its own administration. This Virgins case and the
regelatons made before the coroners jury open the
door wide for the commissioners to enter and do the
things they ght to do far financial ability anC
and due regard long and faithful service will
nit those things to be done Chief Of those things II
to make discipline of the department what it ough
to be and to put an end that actonalism that nov
is so destructive OF efficiency.
n Chi Black is the right man for the place h'
occupies the commission should uphold him to ex
treme in the matter Of the establishment OF his au
thority the beneath him
II he is the wrong man, time should be lost in
removing him and getting the right
SO far the Wiggins is concerned. IL mus
be admitted that there nothing in that reflected
ppon him Rather, there seemed to be a disposition
N certain quarters to permit him sleep through the
Battle OF Baxter's Corner so that others might gel
whatever glory might accrue from that ingloriour
manhunt As things have t-ri ed out. we imagine
there are those in the department who now regret
that he was summoned City Hall as soon as
the young took word there that the man sun.
posed TO be Virgins was in his room at Fourth ant
Shipley streets.