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

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 tremendous force
against the Marx administration.
Mayor Marx has accepted Gillespies
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,
wide-open town-a town that has been
given over to lawlessness through toler-
ance of law-defiance; a town filled with
every species of undesirable known to
thugdom and the red light.
The big issue HAS been. and is a
wide-open town for which the Marx AID
MINISTRATION is responsible.
John Gillespie, Individual merely
SERVED that ADMINISTRATION as its
APPOINTED
John Gillespie, individual, has been
only a 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 obliga-
ton one of service to the Marx ADMIN
ISTRAT1ON, nobody can be held 20
blame but Mayor Marx (the same mayor
who vetoed the ordinance banishing the
dance-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 big
ness. and is a campaign too much in keep
ing with the bigness of big city grow
ing bigger every day TO permit anybody
to 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
H. Croul.
But as political move that viii have
the effect that is intended for it by the
Marx forces, it will fail, for the reason
that The Times has set forth and be
cause it is 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 10 allow myself 20 diff INFO
personal dfsparaEemFnt. fayC ms Taste Tor
personal pickering My criticism h. directed 20
unwise policies and inadequate systems OF con.
Quoting public business not 20 individuals This
n particularly true with what / shall now saw
about the police regulation of The city.
Betimes, have been diverted by the "a
naticism which dictates periodical spssrns ~
outraged civic virtue These have been SWIM.
tomlzed by spectacular raids wherein the lnof
fensiye no-leggod cripple and the offensive
"tenderloin bully" - the peaceful householder
and "the powers that prey the nursing
babe and the scarlet bawd alike have been drag
aed forth AZ dead Of night 10 an mproyised tenn
pie of justice; and. having had their shame and
humiliation blatantly paraded before a gaping
town. have been kicked forth 10 20 and sin some
more or sin more. each according 90 his or
her bent. Such fanatcism-well meaning but
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in intent but law.
breaking In erecuton-has had It's inevitable re-
action In condition Of civic laXity wherein The
eanons of morality. safety and common sense
and the most elemental requirements OF public
law. receive but cavalier consideration
All police problems will be greatly smpIined
II not solved. by general recognition that ours
II government OF laws and not government
Of men. Speaking entirely impersonaily. bu
none the less emphaucally / claim that 80 Ions
~ the whima and caprices OF individuals or tn,
guest Of political OF other advantage are IN,