Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-08

! Goode and We'll In sitting as Judges
! IN matter in which they had per-
I Sonal interests at stake.
| When self the wavering balance
| holds ii is seldom we'll adjusted"
quoted Mr.. Bryan.
DEMANDS RESIGNATION
OF COMMISSIONER WE'LL
Mr. Bryan Joined speakers who had
preceded him in demanding che resig-
nation OF Commissioner We'll. or
! Commissioner Goode he said that
| nothing SO became him as his taking
OF" incidentally. Mr. Bryan said. due
credit should be given Mayor Ainslie
! for his good Offices in securing the
resignation Of Mr.. Goode.
! The good sense Of Mr.. Goode in
/ sending in his resignation and the lack
! Of sense on the part Of Mr.. We'll IN
| failing To do SO, said Acknowledgement
| Pollard, reminded him of = saying OF
! King solomon that prudent man fore
seeth the danger and hideth himself,
but the fool goes ON and is punished"
While the TWO commissioners named
| have been dcrelict i'll their duty and
should be removed from participation
in official life, said Mr.. Pollard, We'll
and Goode should not be condemned
too harsh)y. They are products of
system, he said. which has been con-
doncd. and in measure supported by
the citizens themselves. The Attorney
General regretted the apathy that has
hitherto marked the electorate. Only
once III a decade. he said does the city
have spasm of political piety. The
remedy, he said. lay in better form
OF government and in getting good
men to accept public Office
GhRNETr CLEARLY
OUTLINES SITUATION
Chairman Ga:nctt who opened the
speaking program, spoke in part as
follows:
When something goes wrong with
a department OF government. whether
State or municipal, when a scandnlous
condition is disclosed, stirring the in
dignation of the citizens, we are prone
- look for the individual offender,
ANA the public is often too easily
satisfied by the punishment or public
disgrace of the individual, when in
reality it is not the individual, but
the system which should receive the
hrunt Of its anger and disapproval.
The condition of affairs in our
Police Department cannot be traced to
one man or set OF men; the recent lille
gal action Of the board, in the attempt
To remove one officer and denote an
other. can not he explained merely on
the ground of gratiiication of indivi-
dual resentment and spleen: nor can
the condition of the department be
tn" commissioners be undone by the
mere removal of some individuals from
Office or the reinstatement of the Off
GERS wrongfully deprived of their po-
sitionS. We must probe deeper than
these superficial signs of arrangement
OF the body polite, TO ascertain, if
we may, whether the germ OF the trou-
bile does not affect the very vitals Of
our society,
COMMUNITY IN DANGER
WHICH ALLOWS SUCH CONDITIONS
Whenever IA community, either from
lcthargy or seliishneSs, fails TO bc
stirred to its center b. condition
where the laws of the community are
openly violated with impunity, when
ever ii community allows itself to be
lulled to sleep with the false and per-
niCious iucI that some OF the man
dates OF the people as expressed i'll the
statutes and ordinances, may be dis
regarded, that community II III great
danger.
"LmIoftunntely, those who receive
pgunl directly or Indirectly from the
sack OF law enforcement are numerous
ana powerful, more powerful than
their numbers would seem 10 Justify.
They 80 into politics Tor two reasons,
hrst, because having found II protita-
bic 10 set aside the Law. they hope TO
make it more profitable to write the
cause they desire TO put under obi
cations the officers charged with the
enforcement of the law.
They are first cousins 10 the graftcrs,
and community Of interest is estab
lishcd between them They are the
tools of the corrupt politicians; and be
come an essential part OF the invisible
government OF the community. which
u commonly designated the machine.
REMEDY FOUND IN AROUSED
PUBLIC CUSSCfENCE
What is the remedy for this con-
ditiomH First, an aroused public con-
science that viii see TO il that our
laws are enforced second, the choice
OF public officials who are under no
obi cations 10 the law Breakers or
any other vampires who suck the life
blood OF human society; third the re-
HuVal from Office OF men, who con
tray 10 their sacred oaths, not only
fail ia that the laws are enforced,
but Connive with those who break the
law; and, fourth, the reward OF those
officers who have the strength and the
manhood to stand for law enforcement,
and, II necessary 10 testify against
their superior officers who have be-
trayed their trusts
And I very much mistake the temper
Of THIS audience and of the people OF
Richmond. If d" not read In il de-
N'l I'lllatlDll TO SCOUGPt the money
changers from the temple and to purify
the altar Of civic righteousness by
any sacrifice OF time, OF money and OF
talent that the situation may demand.
MUST SUPPORT THOSE: WHO
ENDEA NOR TO ENFORCE THE LAW
Il would, therefore, recommend to
YOU and to all who are Interested i'm
the welfare OF our city to bear in mind
TIN" majesty OF the Law and the double
duty imposed upon every citizen both
OF observing the law and OF supporting
those officers who rndcavor To enforce
the law our Police Board and its CON
duct are the natural product of the
neglect by US OF our duty in civic af-
fairs, OF our Indifference TO the prob
lens OF munisIral government. and of
that p.rnicious spirit which is care