Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-21
Mayor Ainslic Should Act

IT ely rumors have been in circulation for
~ weeks affecting the integrity Of the
Richmond Police Department. Reports have
been circulated to the effect that hush money
has been paid by those who bring in Illicit
LIQUOR Afidavits have been placed with the
Mayor, who some weeks ago promised n
sweeping investigation" but SO far has failed
to take the public into his confidence to
the progress Of the investigation, if any is
being made.
If the street reports to be credited
men high up in the department must be sum-
marily discharged, even if their cases do not
warrant action by grand jury. If the
rumors arc not true, in common fairness
the integrity Of the Police Department must
be cleared and duo punishment must be
meted out to those who bcsmirch it. 1t has
been limited that the real source Of the
rumors is a nest Of bootleggers, whose
real desire is to discredit certain active police
officers and pave the way for plying their
trade uhmolested. If the Mayor after weeks
of delay, is unable to determine on which
side the truth lies, the matter will be taken
out of his hands either by the State prohibi
ton forces, who have ample authority, or
by Federal officers interested in the protcc-
ton Of soldiers, who have shown at Phila-
delphia that they have both the power and
the will to use it. The State Council OF
Defense, under Governor Davis, has become
most FESTIVE as to liquor and vice conditions
offered in Richmond to bait soldiers and at
least one hotel has been notified that unless
improvement is shown in its methods it will
be summarily closed until the end of the war;
whether the local police bring prosecution
or not
Richmond proposes to have the prohibition
law enforced. Bootleg liquor has been COM
ing in in large quantities. On any Saturday
night drunken soldiers congregate in the
vicinity of Jail Alley and Broad Street. where
moro than one fight has taken place. 1t
would take great display OF detective
ability to find where they get their liquor.
While prohibition is settled issue, and
Richmond proposes 20 have the Law enforced,
it does not want that type of enforcement
which allows the influential man to bring
in case and sends to Jail the unknown man
who brings in two quarts; it does not want
that type OF gallery playing which illegally
searches the baggage OF travellers and makes
spectacular seizures Of trunks, without effort
to determine who is the owner or to appre-
bend him.
Richmond does not want bootleg squad
or Il Police Department which can be tainted
with graft. 1t got rid of a board OF police
commissioners after it was discovered that
certain members protected and visited houses
of i'll fame. 1t put the whole department
under the Mayor, with positive right to hire
and fire. The chief serves during his will
and pleasure. If the Police Department
cannot be kept clear OF the suspicion OF
graft. if it cannot be made to stop it's sense
less chickering's and factional jcaousies if
It cannot be made to go to work and enforce
prohibition, vice and other laws, without
fear and without favor. it is time for Mayor
Ainslie to institute housekeeping in the
department.