The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-26

oretical politics in the construction
OF sewer. removing dust and
debris from a street or in any of the
other duties that devolve upon city
Official High-bFow theories about
the situation in Mexico or what the
American attitude should be to-
wards the heather of the Fiji isl
ands will not help a man 10 dig a
deeper hole in the ground for a
/ lighting pole or NOW a park lawn
any better.
Mr.. Croul says his politics in city
| affairs Is universal Twice he has
held public positions. once during
a Democratic administration and
once during Republican regime
He was appointed TO the water com
mission by Mayor Maybury and nam
ed police commissioners by Mayor
Breitmeyer. Now he Is threatened
with a third call TO the public ser
vice. this time again by a Democrat.
"Mr. Croul." said a reporter for
The Times. "since you have become
the human issue In the present cam
paign. would you outline your activi-
ties In driving crime from Detroit.
in the event OF your becoming police
commissioner"
NO, oh, no." ne replied hastily;
that would be poor taste and on the
other hand really don't know yet"
Modesty Looms Large
Mr.. Croul Is big man physically,
but larger still In his modesty. That
is what impresaes one first OF all
about the man who won Tame as
the best police commissioner De-
troit ever had"
Mr.. Croul doesn't care much about
that description because. he says
and here his modesty looms large
| again--that II was the good people
OF Detroit and the press that gained
for him that title, that they were so
very kind and helpful and that he
could not have made a success OF
his administration without that CO.
operation.
THE business men of the city,
| upon whom we must rely largely
for the success Of the city, are
Sinking their civic duty" said Mr.
Croul
They should devote more time to
public affairs. knock on business an
hour or two week, and In every
way try to hold up the hands Of the
public official who Is trying TO I'M
prove conditions. My business suf-
fered much when was police com
missioner because I left many OF
the details TO others while | was at
tending TO the affairs OF the city.
One should take public Office with
a view OF rendering a public ser.
vice and not for personal profit,
prestige or ACKNOWLEDGMENT"
Mr.. Croul, who is president OF the
Detroit Oak Betting company. other
manufacturing concerns, and an off,
Ger In a bank, has made his success
because he studied the business he
| engaged In and mastered IL 10 such
an extent that it suffered when he
did not give it his personal atten-
ton.
No Time for Boosting
Despite his modesty, one does not
talk with Mr.. 6ruui long until he
discovers that he Is talking with a
| big and a masterful man. Like many
other men who do big things. he
hasn't time 10 boast about them, and
II becomes so much a matter OF rou-
| tine meeting difficulties and over
/ coming them that he takes II as a
! matter of fact and lets II go at that
| As Mr.. Croul sits in his office, one
| ~ the prettiest IN Detroit, with a
view Of the Detroit river as far as
the eye can reach, he swings gently
in his revolving Office chair and his
eye roves up and down the river. A
police boat flashes past his window
with an officer in spick and span
blue with the brass buttons flashing
in the sun. A smile breaks across
his ample mouth as he notes the
well-brushed uniform and the bur
nished buttons. for that Is a relic Of
the Croul administration. When Mr.
Croul took charge OF the police de.
partment The men did not keep their
uniforms well brushed and I'm other
ways paid little attention to personal
appearance. II was one OF HIS the
cries that cleanliness is not only
next TO Goodness, but that II makes
for efficiency. II makes a man re
| spect himself and Others and makes
others respect him and have conf
dence In him. II makes him bet
ter officer, thinks Mr.. Croul, and 80
before Mr. Croul started in 10 clean
up the city he first cleaned up his
own force.
MY. how the newspapers ioked
me about the white gloves" he
laughed, but II made better. force
and | am sorry TO see that some OF
the officers have forgotten the lesson
OF neatness"
A Man Who Makes Good
Mr. Croul said he had never want
ed a public ONCE and while he had
been a Republican all his life, ne
was content 10 sec other men have
the offices. "Only," he added. 81 al
ways worked and used what little
influence had for the men 7 con
cetved TO be the best for the place
When I was called 10 serve the pub
lie 7 tried in my feeble way TO serve
faithfully and a very kind people
and press have said did"
Again the modesty. but one talk
ing 10 this kindly-faced, clever and
modest big man knows instinctlvely
that he would be likely 10 succeed
wherever placed. II he had started
10 manufacture toothpIcks instead OF
leather belts and betting. one feels
that Mr.. Croul would be gazing out
OF his Office window on an acre or
two OF busy factories turning out
toothplcRs instead OF looking out
over n busy factory engaged in turn.