The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-02
PEOPLE, OF RICHMOND OUTRAGED
BY FOUR POLICE COMMISSIONERS

others, Messrs. Bradley and BoyRin.
Each mad vote and each cast it
then, as in INC past, consistently with
Goode and We'll, These four men have
betrayed a pu!siic trust; that Is the
least that can be said of their action,
What influences led Nh Bradley and
MIR. Boykin to stand with and fight for
Well and Goode for personal satisfac-,
ton to those individuals this paper is
not informed. Whatever they were.
those reasons can never convince the
people of Richmond that siding with
Well and Goode showed proper re-
gard for the rights of the people or
the duties of public officer. II is
stated in the press that Commissioner
Boykin will resign. ii would have been
far better for him and for the city II
that resignation had been submitted
before the last meeting of the Board
of Police Commissioners.
The people Of Richmond appreciate
and endorse the efforts of Commits
sioners Thomas and Parker not only
in this latest incident but in the past,
10 protect the interests of the people
These two men cast their votes this
time as they have done In tshe past
for the people of Richmond.
The Mayor of Richmond presided
at the boards session He is it's regu-
lar presiding officer. The Mayor OF
Richmond has made sorry showing
throughout this whole miserable mess
In very large degree. II not alto
gether, the Mayor might have pre-
vented the things that have transpired
in Richmond In the past year In the
police department, watch have brought
discredit to the city. By a policy Of
temporizing the Mayor allowed the
laws Of the city to be violated. Had
he undertaken to have the laws en-
forced, had he made a fight for the
enforcement IF the law by the Police
Board for properly directed efforts
hnt the forces In the Police Board
which maintained that evil. Richmond
might have been spared much. How
ever. although repeatedly urged TO do
so by. The Virgntan, the Mayor re-
fused TO enforce the law until prac-
tioally forced TO do so by the reports
OF the Vice Commission and the pub
lie sentiment aroused by the revela-
tons made by that body. He de-
clined to take any positive stand when
direct evidence was given that police
commissioners had prevented ts1e en-
forcement of the law by the depart
ment. and in the sessons OF the Police
Board. SO far as anyone Is aware ne
has been o silent and Conserving in
huence to the work of We'll and Goode.
But the City Council. too, has
responsibility and a grave response
bility for theepresent situation. Had ii
done as The Virginian urged 1t to do
and taken prompt and heroic action
Police Department was brought to it's
attention, there would have been no
need OF this long drawn ont agitation
and the successful defiance of law and
public sentiment by two men. Both
the Council and the Mayor, as well az
the four police commissioners, are
answerHble and responsible to nae peo-
pie for the existing situation The
people themselves. IL they desire and
demand a remedy. can secure action
from both Council and Mayor. which
viii forever remove the possibility of
a clique of ward politicians defying
the city of Richmond.
With the people lies the remedy. |
That remedy is to hold all these
dereiict officials to their responsible
tiles. The Yirginian believes that the /
people VIII dc< this
xa~ gsaaSs meeting ser cssfiea an
once 70 give prompt, vigorous and ,
effective expression TO the indignation /
and righteous will of he people
YGAI RIEuTC