The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-29
'Had / But Served My
Town as Faithfully as |
Have Served My Mayor

Police Commissioner John Gillespie has
resigned.
He has resigned under Judge Con-
nolly's fierce fire; before the Connolly
guns trained with a tremendous force
against the Marx administration.
Mayor Marx has accepted GillesPie's
resignation and joins in the retreat
The big issue in the campaign for the
mayoralty, however has not been John
Gillespie
The big issue HAS been. and Is, a
wide-open town-a town that has been
given over to lawlessness through toler-
ance of law-defance; town filled with
every species of undesirable known to
thugdom and the red light.
The big issue HAS been, and II
wide-open town for which the Marx AID
MINISTRATION is responsible.
John Gillespie, individual. merely
SERVED that ADMINISTRATION as its
APPOINTEE.
John Gillespie individual, has been
only small part of that ADMINS
TRATION.
If under John Gillespie, police commits
sioner. the APPOINTEE Of Mayor Marx,
this important office was debauched and
lowered in standard to that Of a cheap
political institution, with its first oohga-
ton one of service TO the Marx ADMIN
ISTRATTON, nobody can be held to
blame but Mayor Marx (the same mayor
sho vetoed the ordinance banshlng the
dxnce-hall bari, who has admitted his re-
sponsibility by his prompt acceptance OF
Gillespie's resignation.
The campaign Judge Connolly IS max
ing for mayor is one Of too much Dig
ness, and is a campaign too much in keep
ing with the bigness of big city grow
ing bigger every day, to permit anybody
10 harbor an opinion that the removal Of
John Gillespie, individual, from his poLit-
ical Office, squares the Marx administra-
ton for its shortcomings, or meets the
Connolly program for civic cleanup
and civic betterment.
Marx has parted company with Giles
pie for a reason that is painfully evident.
The reason is political-it is an at
tempt to meet the announcement by
Judge Connolly that he will, if elected,
put back in the Office "the best police
commissioner Detroit ever had" Frank
II. Croul.
But as a political move that will have
the effect that is intended for 1t by the
Marx forces, ii will fail, for the reason
that The Times has set forth, and be-
cause 1t Is a move foreseen and discount
ed by Judge Connolly in the announce
ment Of his candidacy as far back as last
July.
Judge Connolly said at that time:
DO not propose TO allow myself 20 drir into
personal dispaagement. I have no taste for
personal pickering. NJ criticism is directed 20
unwisc policies and inadequate systeInA Of enz.-
Quoting public business. not 20 individuals This
IN particularly true with what ] shall nov saw
about the police regulation OF the city.
Betimes. have been diverted by the IA.
natcism which dictates periodical spasms of
outraged civic virtue These have been symp-
tomized by spectacular raids wherein the inof
feneive nolegged cripple and the offensive
~tenderioin bully" - the peaceful householder
and -the powers that prey" the nursing
babe and the scarlet bawd alike have been drag
ged forth NJ dead OF night 10 an improvised tenn
pie of justice; and, having had their shame and
humiliation blatantly paraded before a gaping
town. have been kicked forth 20 go and sin some
more or sin no more. each according 20 his or
her bent Such fanAticsm+-wel meaning but
misguided-law-enforcing in intent hat law.
breaking In execuupn-has had it's Inevitable re.
action In a condition ~ civic laxlty wherein the
canons OF morality safety and common sense
and the most elemental requirements OF public
Law, receive but cavalier consideration
All police problems will be greatly simplined
N not solved. by general recognition that ours
In q government Of laws and not government
az men. Speaking entirely impersonally bu
none the less emphaucally ! claim that so lonI
a. the whims and eaerseea OF individuals or IN,
ousst OF political or other advantage are III,