The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-12-22

The Duluth Federated Trades
& Labor Assembly proposes to
know where, how and why chief
of police McKercher got that
Marmon car.
The people of Duluth have
wanted to know for some time but
the Big Chief has spurned and ig-
nored their inquiries. He now
must give the desired information
or, possibly, get out of his job as
head of the police department.
At the last regular meeting of
the Federated Trades Assembly,
held December IA, a resolution,
bearing on the matter, was duly
passed and sent to mayor Magney
and the city council, under date
Of December Is, by w. j. butcher,
secretary Of the Assembly. The
resolution was worded as follows,
viz:
whereas, 1t. has come to our at
tention that Chief of Police Robert
McKercher is using an automobile in
the performance Of his duties, which
is alleged to have been furnished tby
the Duluth, Missabe & Northern Rail
way Company; and. :.
Whereas, This seems to us to be
distinct violation of the city charter
of the City Of Duluth; therefore be it
Resolved, BY the Duluth Federated
Trades Assembly, in regular meeting
assembled, that we call on the city
commissioners of the. city of Duluth
to at once make public the owner
ship Of the said automobile, the con-
ditions under which it is being used,
and, in case it appears that the chief
of police is guilty Of violation of the
city charter or improper conduct in
the performance Of his office, that he
be dismissed from the police depart
ment; be it further
Resolved, That copy of these reso-
lutions be sent to the mayor and the
city council.
/ The communication was refer
red to commissioner Of safety Sill
berstein who stated that he would
report as to chief McKercher s
position in the matter at the next
regular meeting of the city coun-
Gil, Monday, December "a.
There was a traitorous tattle-
tale in the meeting Of the FEEDER
ated Trades & Labor Assembly
and it is understood that chief Nc
Kercher had complete Information
as to the body's action before the
official communication was writ
ten out for transmission to the
mayor.
Chief McKercher is represented
as saying that it is no body's busi-
ness but his own as to where, how
and why he got that car. If he
has been correctly reported, then
it is evident that he never has
read tthe charter of the city Of
Duluth and that he has forgotten
some of the statements that he
made to his friends shortly after
he began to ride around in the
mammoth machine.
Just what explanation the Big
Chief will make is being awaited
with deep interest by the citizens
Of the city.
At the special meeting Of the
city council, held in mayor Mag
ney's office last Tuesday after
noon, commissioners Silberstein
and Phillips had some heated
words over chief McKercher and
the mammoth Marmon car.
Commissioner Silberstein ac-
cused commissioner Phillips Of
talking about him at police head
quarters. In reply to a demand
for information as to what he
said, Mr.. Phillips was told certain
things and chief McKercher was
quoted as the authority.
"If chief McKercher says that,
he lies," exclaimed commissioner
Phillips.
"Will you 60 down to head
quarters with me and say that9"
inquired commissioner Silberstein.
Eyes, I'll go, replied Phillips,