The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-28

whether any changes were being dib
cussed. but said this emphatically-
There will DO no snap Judgments.
"he declared with emphases
Nobody will be dismissed until !
have had a chance 20 study the sit
uation. And. moreover, VIII no;
waste time tracing down rlmorS
There are many things Ia be in
,estigated II some things said
about the vice situation are true,
then vice az It now exists should
be rightly suppressed But do
not know n they are true"
Mr. Couzens made a strong plea
for public cooperation turnout the
Interview lie animated that he in
tended 10 take his owr head FOX
much that Will confront him and that
The public must trust him. He said
ne would be at disadvantage be
cause he had had no experience In
the administration Of a police de-
pc rtment,
Mayor Marx found II expedient 10
accept the resignation as police
commissioner " John Gillespie late
Wednesday night and 10 appoint
James Couzens 10 succeed him. The
change will take place on Saturday
The exchange OF letters making the
change took place in the mayors
ONCE long after night had fallen,
but that It was the result OF a care
fully thought out plan was evident
by the fact TINT the letters had
been prepared in advance.
Gillespie has been attacked for
his alleged poor administration OF
the police department and because
OF this alleged incompetency the
mayor has been attacked. Recently
when Judge Connolly announced
that he would appointed Frank II
Croul police commissioner II elect
ed mayor, the whole complexion OF
the campaign changed. Mr.. Croul
became the big issue. II was no
longer question as between Marx
and Connolly, but the big question
was whom the people wanted for po-
lice commissioner
Gillespie had announced that he
would not accept another appoint
ment as police commissioner and
would retire at the end OF his term
several months hence. The intro
duction OF Mr. Croul, "the best po-
lice commissioner Detroit ever
had" as he was called, altered the
plans somewhat Thousands Of vot-
ers applauded the announcement Of
Judge Connolly that he would APP
point Croul. a Republican
To checkmate this move II was
necessary for the Marx administra-
ton 10 get busy and It did II by pro
ducing Mr.; Couzens az an opponent
OF Mr.. Croul.
The terms OF the appointment Of
Mr.. Couzens are TO the effect that
he is not merely 10 fill the unex-
pired term dropped by Mr.. Gillespie,
but that in the event Of Marks cleo
ton, he will be continued. That
gives each Of the candidates for
mayor an issue 10 the form of a po-
lice commissioner
Il was because Of this condition
! that II was found expedient for Mr..
/ Gillespie TO resign and permit Mayor
Marx TO name his successor that
there might be no doubt In the
| minds OF the voters
In his letter TO the mayor Mr.
I Gillespie SAYS that ne is Offering
his resignation because OF the crit
icism directed against his admin.
istration OF the police department
! mo TnEr ne rpets mat MS further
incumbency would work an injury
10 the efficiency and discipline Of
the department and work to the in
jury OF Detroit AS he did not Gaze
10 cmbarrass the mayor in the midst
OF a bitterly fought campaign, and
as his successor was already named
Mr. Gillespie decided 20 submit his
resignation.
Mr. Gillespie, in his resignation
takes occasion 10 pay a tribute to
-CouZens., successor" SO
that Mr. Gillespie was in the pecu.
liar position OF "resigning' after his
successor had been named.
Gillespie succeeded Frank H.
Croul. who was appointed police
commissioner by Mayor Breitmeyer
and served thru his administration
and that OF Mayor Thompson Mr.
Croul did much 10 clean up Detroit
and when he left ONCE the city
had az tight lid az any In its his
tory and there we're fewer saloons
and criminals than when he took
Office Public and press alike al
most unanimously pronounced him
the greatest police commissioner
the city had even had When
Mayor Marx appointed his successor
much Indignation was expressed. as
Croul was a Republican. but had
served thru a Democratic admins.
tration.
Mr. Couzens Is many times a mil
lionaire and was until recently vice
president Of the Ford Motor Co He
is member OF the street railway
commission and favored the pur-
chase OF the ID. L. r.. which was
rejected by the voters last Novem-
Der. the plan being known as the
pig in the poke" proposition.