Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-27
DRPPS COULD BEAT
SMITH WITH POLICE,
BUT HANDS ARE TIED
New Safety Director Considers
Himself Bound by Mayors
! Pledge to Keep Depart
ment Neutral
SAYS PORTER WILL WIN
Nv M1Iss

By M'LISS
n there's one little game the politicians
o. Philadelphia seem 10 enjoy more than
any other. Il is playing battledore. and
nhuttiecock with the police department
Opinions differ, naturally, as to the
morality OF the game. A few high-minded
tndivlduais believe that TO play politics
with the police is equivalent to calling In
the devil Others. realizing the tremen-
dous influence the corner cop" wields,
either for good or for bad. In his dis.
trict. think good end justihes almost
any means and when the civic integrity
OF the community is at stake the depart
ment should be thrown into the fray
without the slightest hesitation
A third class which hasn't much regard
for any political rules, believes In getting
what II wants-votes, contracts and any
old kind OF graft. IL uses the department
20 the uttermost limit and sits back and
hnuis IN the winnings.
At any rate, everybody is willing 10 ad-
init that for the last three years and
nine months the game hasn't been a
highly fashionable one. Mayor Blanken-
burg put the ''kibosh" on It In his pre-
election pledges and the consensus OF
opinion has been that former Director
Porter carried out obediently the prom
ises Of his chief.
What is Robert Dunning Dripps, the
new Director Of Public Safety. who has
been put into the Independent mayoralty
I|nuIuHloS
this? Is one OF the questions people who
realize the tremendous Importance OF the
issue involved are asking. And. IN the
fve decisive weeks which remain before
the November election, will the police
force of this city be instructed TO remain
passive, while the independents, without
Its aid. endeavor TO lick the gang? is
another.
1t was to ask these two questions and a
few others that I bearded the new Di-
~ Lii. - H.
answer them right off. He only stared; f;
and, since II isn't penitentiary offense
TO translate peoples thoughts. here is
what I read back OF the baby-bue stare
OF the Directors baby-blue eyes:
''If I had my way, and II my hands
weren't tied, I'd use the police depart
meut OF this city to such an extent that
the gangsters who threaten to throttle all
bopes, of good government in Philadel-
phla would be walloped within an inch of
their lives. I'd take no chance of letting
the city IN for four years Of gang rule"
however, when he got through with that
baby stare was this:
1--WE must waive the question of the
wisdom OF Mayor Blankenburg's pre-
election pledges. Rightly or wrongly, he
promised the people before they put him
IN officeAand heard his speeches dozens
OF times--that for the four years of his
administration the police would be out
of politics Director Porter construed II
TO be his duty to adhere strictly to
Biankenburg's pledges, and feel 1t In
cumbent upon me. in the three months
of the term have been appointed to MI,
TO follow in the same groove"
There was something wistful about this
declaration OF dependence. 1 am sure
Director Dripps is exercising real re-
-aint TO maintain the attitude he has
spted and that IL he had his way,
!. election bets would be showing big odds
Y for Porter.
ssYou must remember" he continued
s'the deplorable condition the Department
of Public Safety was in four years ago
Something radical had 70 be done. II
wasn't safe for a man to vote according
20 his convictions The police in some
wards not only let the gangsters beat up
independent voters, but they actually as
sisted I'm the beating. Furthermore, their
salaries were docked for the compaign
fund which was to keep the gangsters in
office. Graft oppression and outlawism
has been the demonstrated result of po-
lice activities In politics.
Il am firmly convinced now, however.
that the Police Department of Philadel-
phia is the finest in the world. OF course.
/ shall never rest content until the num-
Der is Increased and the pay also. Those
things win come. I am sure. Another
one OF my hobbies is that the entire
consist of motor apparatus. We have SO
pieces nov Before Director Porter took
hold there were none"
NEIGHBoR OF PORTER.
Director Dripps and Mr.. Porter are
warm personal friends, Their homes are
but four doors apart on Wayne avenue
in Germantown, and IL has been their
habit to come to the city together every
morning in the former Directors auto
mobile
Their political ideals are Identical. In
fact II IL weren't for this warm per-
sonal friendship which Mr.. Dripps bears
Mr.. Porter one might almost say that
the formers zeal for the latter's mayor
atty candidacy had almost an ulterior
purpose For, starting at the lowest
rung of the ladder, the new Director has
followed precisely I'm the political foot
steps of his predecessor.
Indeed. from the time Mr. Porter was
n leader IN the 22d Ward he has always
been Mr.. Dripps' predecessor. In this
way they have both been ward leaders.
CITY Committeeman. City Councilmen and
lastly Directors Of the Public Safety De-
nartment Quite a few people think Mr..
Porter Is In a fair way OF being Mayor,
which, all things considered, would make
things look bright for Mr.. Dripps.
Physically the new Director Is not un-
like his predecessor. Their heavy build
Is much the same. and the same frank,
lnkenuOu6 Baze,a rudy complexion and
broad expanse OF brow characterizes
them both. Indeed, were their backs
turned they might easily be mistaken
for large-sized editions OF Messrs. Twee-
dledum and Tweedledee.
Before leaving the new Director 20 the
lender mercies OF the horde that sat In
his outer office I asked him just what
ne thought OF the possibility OF success
for the independent ticket. and quite
lthopt meaning to be We were back to
police again.
Il believe" he said seriously "that II
= police department performs it's duty
t .end ! am sure Il Is going to-Mr. Por-
Ilt will be Mayor OF Philadelphia. To
f .i0rm its duty II Is not necessary for
department TO be politically active.
~ simply be 10 maintain an Impair
attitude toward the election and at
h folls. Fraud must be prevented and
So - man must be permitted 70 vote ac-
AIau 70 his own convictions. In this
i 37 t1e will win. OF that haven't the
: 1l,, :. st doubt"
s'AS lnfeAed Man May BE PhiIadelphian
=. bo4y OF the man who was found
.0r nj. "a