The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-02

The greatest OF those Ia public
morality.
on this point. in my declaration.
| said:
This year brings a new order OF
things. A deadly blow 10 decent
citizenship would DO struck II tho
epoch making liquor law were not
impaftially enforced IN tho largest
city OF the state.
Il ain happy TO believe that for.
mer saloon men themselves will. ms
good citizens. aid law enforcement.
TO enforce tho law and ordin.
ancos dealing With vice and crime,
and 10 make life and limb safer
and better for young and old. rich
and poor alike. | pledge myself
Mr. ON violently protested the
only issue Was taxes" This In the
teeth OF tho fact that We always
pay the highest taxes when no Ia
In office
Tells o. Police Experience
Mr. GIN brought tn. scarlet issue
with him. lie cannot help n.
When took the chiefs place |
felt did no with everything 10 lose
and nothing 90 gain did 80 20
settle the passions that rent the
city over the election OF Mr. GIN.
| believe ! succeeded. kept tho
office longer than Mr. ON knew I
intended o.. One OF his last argu.
nentn 20 get mo 10 take tho office
was; "Griffiths. you can resign
any time you like"
! never had voted for or sup.
ported Mr.. Gill for any office.
But ! had no vindlc,lve seellna
toward him. ! have none now.
rls lnflrmitles and sssocla.
tons make him what he 10.
he is q type Of political com.
edlsn sometimes met with In
big city.
IN POLITICS. nE Is A
FRAUD.
! took tho office willing 10 grant
him good faith In hia professions.
= No doubt he vas more or lcas In
good faith.
Beginning March 20. 1914. sev.
oral days after I took office.
series OF Incidents and talks
showed me that the mayors public
utiorances and private acts and
wlahea dli not harmonlEe.
Ono or two Incidents viii suffice
90 chow what I mean.
oamper on Department,
! soon found that directly or IN.
directly tho Influence % the may.
or'H office came down like n damper
upon tho willingness and efforts Of
tho very efficient officers and men
In the police department 20 keep
tho city normal.
With respect 10 many things. Il
vas told they were friends Of the
mayor" and tha, he vas willing Il,
the chief was
A 20 gambling and social clubs.
ns 10 cafes and dancing. liquor sell.
ing. certain new games OF chance.
was told tho same.
On July 20, 1914. a.
bawdy house was entered
under a warrant and sew
eral arrests made.
This house had been un.
der observation from May
18th.
Within an hour after,
the mayor rushed into my
office, white with rage and
cursing.
He demanded | dismiss
the officers, two sergeants
included, who had follow
ed my orders and "obeyed
the law"
| told him to shut up"
that he could not talk
to me like that" that eff
anyone goes, 1t will be me-"
He Immediately left.
by his Influence. three men were
reinstated In the department with.
out my consent because. IN my opln.
Ion. IL was showing Partially and
evadlnR civil service rules 20 do 30
Mayor overridcs His Chief
They ought To have come back In
the department in the regular way
had personally nothing against
them.
However. ono OF them. ~ recall
tightly. had cause afterwards TO
dismiss
No chief can do we'll when the
mayor says one thing and IA under
stood TO mean another. sought
TO conduct tho department with
fairness towards all persons.
II was hard shedding.
| did not quarrel with the mayor
| could have quit on several occa.
sions and thrown the city In n row.
but that would have defeated the
purpose had when I took office.
Conditions Now Worse
| hoped tho city could DO kept
normal. hoped hs would keep his
prediction promise not TO run
again for his own good and the
good OF our city.
For several months condl-
tons have grown worse.
Most Of tho police are good
men. know they are willing
20 act N properly directed.
We pay over s55o,ooo per
year TO maintain them. Their
work cannot be done by any