Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1918-09-28

Chesley will certainly hear of the
way we've been treated" he was
told in the station house. Some
body must have heard, as many Of
the negroes with no draft cards
weer fined SIS and the fine sus-
pended without being held for the
United States Government, as many
white men have been.
1t is true that many policemen
left from former administrations
resigned, but scores of these left
the department when newly APP
pointed officers made such remarks
as, you might as well quit now
Wen get you anyhow" This was
easily made apparent by the daily
trials of police and detectives on
flimsy charges of ''pernicious politi-
cal activity" A score of poliaz,
were discharged on this "gag" 49,
in the game" and others 49,
bounded until they quit. Every
police Lieutenant and Captain was
reduced. Many of these men had
been on the force from twenty to
thirty years. All but two Sergeants
were dropped and Republicans took
their places. This was done in the
face of the shortage of proper ma
terial, and no telling how far 1t
would have gone but for the in
ability of the Board of Public
Safety to secure men to fill the
places. Only few of the old men
remain. Some of these were capa-
BILE men appointed by Grinstead and
Bingham, whom the Democrats held
during two successive administra-
lions.
Even now with a few of the
veterans left in the department, the
Republicans do not want civil serv-
ice yet. After these men are weeded
out they will ask Louisville to take
the political machine being built up
by Searcy and keep it for all time
to come. This is their idea of civil
service. Civil service for Republi-
cans only.
Now in the fire department moth
ing is being said about civil service
as yet. The Republicans found
that anyone can wear suit of blue,
but they also found that robberies
can be suppressed by newspapers,
but a fire can not. A fireman can
not be made in day. Many of
the new firemen appointed refused
absolutely to go through the school
of training and leap into the net
which is necessary in life saving.
But for the Board of Fire Under
writers the fire department would
have been wrecked long ago. The
Underwriters were instrumental in
saving the places of some of the
Captains when at one fell swoop all
the Assistant Chiefs but one were
replaced and Cincinnati man was
brought here as Fire Chief. Slowly
but surely the fire department will
be rebuilt with Republicans, who
will learn at the expense of the
city. The fire insurance companies
have their eyes open and now a
higher insurance rate for Louisville
is being contemplated. This alone
means thousands of dollars In indi-
rect tax for the perpetuation OF the
Searcy machine.
Capt. Jerry Hanlon, the hero Of
many fires; Capt. Steve Obst, Capt.
Burnett Harding, Capt. Fergus Ken
nedy and others have recently been
reduced. When all the veterans
who made fire fighting and not pol
itics a business are let out we can
Iexpect the Board OF Public Safety
to announce that the firemen have
been put under civil service. The
Republicans hand back the forlorn
cry that the Democrats tempered
with the two departments, but the
lie is given to this by the long list
of men who had served ten, twenty,
thirty and even forty years, who
were secure until the present
chaotic administration took charge.
We've got the keystone police. next
comes the keystone fire depart
ment. A CITIZEN.