The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-07-22
CONNOLLY'S STATEMENT
1Contiau.d from PAGE oneD

use 81 modern methods IN municipal
work are urgently needed 10 check
the growing burden - city taxes ~
thts Is not done. cu"rtiN"ly ana foith-
with. pvtrolt's onxutnE viii he rudely
halted one inevitable result or this
ever growing burden 81 taxes -
growing Iark ~ confidence 10 ths cltS
inistrRtion. stating the cas-" IN
It's ruildHst aspect. this lack 81 conn
dence. |otned with impClitic methods
81 dealing with the pphiir. have re-
suited recently IN All apparent T"bun
90 the cause 81 public q" nershlp. ara
inA curt refusal oy the people 10 vote
me Belle tsls bridge bond issue II
the needs az the city are TO be denied
because ~ Chagrin over hlgh taxes
Is IL not time 10 remove. NJ the hrm
but humane surgery ~ IN" ballot
the cause and source OF this condi-
ton
The casual soiaaruer who has oc-
CASTOR 20 seek the refreshing hTeekes
of the river IN the vicinity ~ Belle
Isle there observes - GROWING monu.
ment TO the incfncisncy 20 which /
refer. To many citizsns II - an "pen
question whether our Er"atsst CIVIC
bridge or the building - the new one
For Is months We have daW died
a bout on this matter % vital conse-
quence % our people. win the Iesuli
~ erecting an abortion that should
bring a blush 20 the cheek OF by
mamie Detroit
40 not propose 10 allow myself
20 drtti into personal dlsparaRrment
have no taste for personal bick"r-
Ing Ny criticism is directed 20 un-
wise policies and inadequate syatems
90 conducting public business. NOT ="
individuals This IL particularly true
with what I shall now say about the
police regulation ot the CITY. pt
course ~ could rot he expected that
at this time l viii indulge In VOL.
uus % detail. but only that should
outline some general lines OF action,
Neither an Individual nor city Is
compelled 10 choose between going %
he'll cross-lots on the one hand. or
wearing a hair shirt on the Fourth
pity the "duh"-indIVidusl or city
who IL obsessed Of tho idea that he
must get wall eyed'-to borrow the
vsrnacular Of the street--in order 20
enjoy himself Tho dub" pittes him
self I'm tn. cold. gray dawn OF the
National moderation. dictated ana
directed b. sane rules OF physical ana
moral hysisn. make for me De"
munity. Unfortunately. this "moder-
ate NE has failed OF effective appeal
IN this city In recent years. Betimes.
the pendulum OF police policy has
swung from on. 20 the other extreme
OF fanaticism. Betimer. We have been
diverted by the fanaticisn which die.
tAtes periodical spAsms OF outraged
civic virtue. These have been synp-
tonixed By spectacular raids wherein
the inofensive no-Iegged cripple ana
the offensive "tenderloin bully"--the
peaceful householder and the pow.
ers that prey nursing babe and
the scarlet bawd alike have been
dragged forth at dead OF night 70 an
lmprovissd temple OF justice. and,
having had their shame and humilia-
tion blatantly psraded before gap
ing town. have been kicked forth TO
90 and sin some more or sin no more.
each according 20 his or her bent.
Such fanaticism--well meaning but
misguided enforcing in Intent.
but law-breaking In esecution--has
had it's insvitablero action In a con
dition of civic laxity wherein the
canons OF morality, safety and COM
mon sense. and tho most elemental
requirements OF public law. receive
but cavalier consideration.
All police problems viii be greatly
simpliied. ~ not solved. by general
recognition that ours 10 govern.
ment Of laws and not government
Of men. Speaking entirely imperson-
ally. but none the less emphaticaIly.
| claim that so long az the whims
and caprlces of individuals or tho
quest OF political or other advantage
are the norm OF official conduct In
stead 81 a serious public policy found
ed on public Jaw, md steadily sp-
plisd--we can only expect TO get that
meanest OF all despotiSms police
despotlsm which metss out favor or
disfavor. reward or ohastIsemsnt--ac-
cording 70 the exigencies OF the mo-
ment. regardless OF the peoples viii
as embodied In the public law.
No one who knows me can md In
my 40 years span Of life In this city
anything Of the crank" or tho IA
matte. | have naught ~ the rack or
the stake In my makeup years OF
daily contact with fallen men and
women have not sourcd my spirlt
but rather, In Gods Kind providence.
have blessed me with n great tender
ness for human fraiity and human
sin.
And yet. on the other hand, J have
vital interest In the reasonably, or
derby Outgoing OF this city.
Here I was born, here i have al
ways lived: here ! hope 10 spend my
days to the end. here my boys are
growing through youth 10 manhood.
All that I hold dear. all that l hope
for, IL conferred here. Itegardless or
any considerations OF personal COM
fort and advantage. regardless OF
tender sentiments and recollocttons
which bind me TO tho teCordeTH
court, feel that I owe ~ 90 this.
the city Of my birth and Of my life
TO seek the office OF mayor In order,
amongst othar thIngs, To ind and call
20 it's police administration some man
whose business success has rtpened
Ills Judgment btOsdened hts vision.
and made him wholly independent OF
all considerations save the public
rood: q man without any particular
: partisan momentum to embarrsss him