The San Francisco call., 1913-07-20
Change the Chief

done many things deserving OF pubic com
mendation. He is honest capable, efficient Il
general. his administration is credit to the cit,
and to his supporters.
NIavor Rolph has shown himself to be mar
of fine character sound principle interested only II
the public welfare and not in any special interest
The stand he has taken in the matter OF the mt'
uicpal railway alone would Justify his election
The Call has been a consistent supporter o
Mavor Roph in his public service, which it recog
nizes as material and effective. It even now has
no adverse criticism to make of Mayor Rolph, ex
cept in one respect.
Every man has his weak side his blind side
Mavor Rolph's weakness has been, and is, his chic
Of police
It is natural but it is unwise, for the mayor tc
fail to recognize, and to admit publicly, by making
a change. that he has made mistake, mistake Sc
great as almost to be criminal blunder III his re
tention of Mr. McCarthy's chief of police
The present chief of police, by his constant
blundering stupidity, has shown that he is what
Theodore Roosevelt has so aptly described .abso
lutely the worst man in public office the homes
man with binders on"
Chief White is all of that No one denies that he
is an honest man. The Call is satisfied that he is
L
makes it all the harder to make him see that he is
worse chief of police than if he were otherwise
Mere personal honesty does not make chief o.
police.
That Chief White is an incompetent needs nc
public proof. His record shows it. When the whole
community knew in more or less vague, but ii
morally certain way that all of the illicit and lille
gal modes of life, to prevent whose existence IS
one OF the main reasons for police force and its
chief hourished here, he, the one man who should
know best, either Indignantly denied or stupidity
said he was surprised to learn that such things
were so.
IS it a case of bunko graft? Chief White don't
believe it. Is it a case of gambling? Chief White
can't do anything. Is it case of enforcing exist
ing ordinances against sturdy beggars pestering
ladies and men in the district between Suffer- Mar
ket, Kearny and Powell? Chief White doesn't
know there IS such an ordinance: doesn't know the
beggars are there and doesn't know why the ord
nance is not enforced. Is it a case of the books o
professional gambler, seized by the police being
given back to the gambler? Chief White asks why
not? Is it of giving out the names of frequent
ers of professional gambling houses masquerading
they always do, as clubs? Chief White refuses
because they are good fellows" and business
men, He evidently does not know that publicity
for his good fellows and so called business men
would be the best means of putting the gambling
houses out OF business, and good thing for the
families OF the men he says are business men, which
doubt, as really reputable business men are not
in the habit of frequenting professional gambling
houses in this year of grace
But why multiply instances of the chiefs in
competency and stupidity?
To what act Of the chief Of police can the mayor
point which would justify keeping him in office
any longer?
1t is currently rumored that it is pressure from
certain quarters that is keeping Chief White in Of
flee and is preventing the appointment of his sue
cessor
We do not believe that Mayor Roph's backbone
IS weak that he can not make up his mind tc
cause the removal of Chief White and to appoint
a fearless, honest, capable successor, who under
stands as Chief White does not the police problem
OF American cities
The ideal man for that position, if he could be
induced to consider the proposition, and could be
given free hand, is General Theodore f. Bingham
OF the United States army retired, who was com.
missioner OF police in New York, but was got by
the crooks of that city. He could give San Fran
cisco the ideal position it ought to occupy from now
until after the exposition. Unfortunately it is out
of the question under the charter that so an idea
an appointment can be had
But OF one thing we are convinced and thai
IS if Mayor Rolph hangs any longer to White as
chief, and does not make fearless appointment O.
an officer known to be honest, capable and above
corruption or winkng at it, irrespective of class
pressure and personal obligation he will himself BE-
apt to be smrched it not disgraced by the position
in which he will shortly find himself
Crhnn1 nf Te11mnroI;4u