The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-10-14
Commissioner COuZenS
And Judge Connolly Are
Doing Some Fine Team Work


When James Couzens was named po-
lice commissioner by Mayor Marx. who
announced that his appointee would be
given free hand. the new commissioner
first disappointed The Times by failing
to include in MS letter Of acceptance the
conclusions he embodies in the order he
has issued two weeks after taking Office.
The new commissioner disappointed us
again when pressed for the policy he
would pursue in the matter Of the law
breaking and law-defyinq saloon and
announced that he considered il de
batable matter
We were not alone in our disappoint-
ment in this particular either.
1t was shared by every newspaper in
Detroit, either by word or tone.
Couzens heard from the entire Detroit
press for that slip-for statement so in
consistent with his oath of office.
He heard from the state press.
He heard from the pulpit. One Detroit
minister, with rare courage, made it the
subject of Sunday night sermon.
He heard from the people through the
newspapers and, no doubt. from large
number of them direct
Judge Connolly made much of the
opening the new commissioner gave him.
1t is clear that the Couzens decision
that enforcement of the laws Of state
is not debatable matter was forced and
came under pressure because he said.
originally, it would take him several
weeks TO reach his conclusion, but the
victory for decency is none the less no
table, and the decision itself only slightly
less creditable.
The Times commends Couzens for his
stand and for the spirit of his order. and
stands ready TO commend him again
when he demonstrates that it is his in
tention to follow up his word with action
that will bring results.
Promises from police headquarters
have been easy to get in the past few
years, and action almost an impossbility,
unless it was action that would suit some
political purpose.
Mayor Marx has made it practice in
his speeches to refer to Judge Connolly
as the reform candidate, and has
charged the Judge, as such, with fouling
Detroit's fair name and giving the city
bad reputation around the country
This has been the mayors only answer
to the charges of Judge Connolly that
loose conditions and laxity in the enforce
ment of the laws have made Detroit
wide-open town, with welcome sign out
for criminals of all classes.
Police Commissioner Couzens, the may
or's own appointee, says in the first para
graph of Fridays order to the superin-
tendent, that "for nearly two weeks J
have been collecting information as TO the
lack of observation that is being given TO
the various laws and ordinances.
And his order reads in effect, that the
result of his information bears out Judge
Connolly's charges to the very letter.
Judge Connolly turned on the light and
said to the people Of Detroit: Look and
see for yourselves
lie charged that the police commission
er then serving. John Gillespie, had set up
police despotism to serve the admins
tration that gave him his appointment,
and he charged that the department was
being called upon TO serve political ends
instead of running down criminals infest-
ing the city.
Those charges were twice admitted
when Police Commissioner Gillespie re-
signed. first by Gillespie in resigning, and