Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-11
Says Courts Alone Can Pre-
vent His Naming Of
Police Chief
MILITARY MAN NEEDED
Selected Captain Brantigan in
Order to Divorce Force
From Politics
By a StoF Correspondent

1
that he will have his way concerning
the appointment of a chief OF police.
! "If the foes of good government in
Chester" said the Mayor, take the
fight to the courts and Judge Johnson
forces Inc to appoint a chief Of police
who does not MEASURE up to my stand
ards, then the responsibility will be
on Judge johnson and not me. But
do not believe he will do that have
faith in the courts and am certain that
the people and the courts will sustain
me-"
Chester's defiant chief executive
brought about wide split in the Re-
publican factions of this city and de-
veloped a fine row between the moral
| forces of the shipbuilding town and the
gang politicians by attempt ng to name
military man as chief of police.
He endeavored to appoint Captain
Edward Brautigan, of the Pennsylvania
Military Academy, to the place, but City
Council refused to confirm the appoint
ment
Councilman Joseph H. Messick, rep
resentings the Mcclure faction, headed
the fight against Brautigan and laid
down heavy barrage against Mayor
Mcdowell, Governor Sprouts newspa-
pers and other elements that are alleged
to be lined up against the Mcclure in
terests
| Messick endeavored to force the ap-
nf a
Sheriff, but owing to the attitude Of
Mayor Mcdowell failed to have Hey
burns name presented
When the rival factions agreed to an
| armistce the Mayor claimed a victory,
/ but Messick and his associates asserted
that they would have their innings next
Monday night.
The row is developing support for the
Mayor. and many business men and
clergymen Joined him today. Edwin ID.
Glauser. president of the Stacey Glauser
Lumber Company; William II. Berry.
| former Mayor and now Collector of the
Port of Philadelphia B. d. Lane, leath-
err dealer Wallace w. Galley, hardware
dealer, and a score of other men are
urging the Mayor to hold out for Cap
tain Brautigan.
II understand" said Mayor Mcdowell
today. that they will carry the fight
! into the courts and force me to accept
| Hepburn. Well, II they get away with
that move. the responsibility for Mr..
Hepburn will not be mine"
| Mayor Explains Legal situation
Mayor Mcdowell, explaining how the
rival faction could carry the matter
into the courts, said:
Under the law am compelled to
make appointments to the police force
from a civil service list, and Councils
select a chief of police from the active
force. ] want Brautigan. but had to
name him for the force before elevating
him to the chiefs place.
"Under the law / am forced to ex-
haust the civil service list, and at last
nights meeting there were three eligi-
bles on the list. ID. NJ. Guilday, a vet
eran of the war. was on the list.
named him and the appointment was
confirmed. Then came Brautigan, and
Councils refused to confirm him for the
position of patrolman. Heyburn's name
was on the list, but I declined to pre-
sent it,"
"Of course, they can force me to name
Hepburn, but to do SO they will have to
appeal to the courts. The law Is with
them, but think public sentiment is
with me. At any rate, l shall fight to
the last ditch before permit Hepburn
to become Chester's police head"
| Wants Military Head for Police
! The Mayor declined to state his ree-
sons for opposing Hepburn but asserted
that. owing to present conditions. Ches-
ter needs a mil tary man at the head
OF the police department.
II want the police divorced frorf, poll
tics" he said, "and that was why
named Brautigan, He Is man Of fine
character and will Jack up the depart
ment. Briefly. he will put the depart.
ment on a semi-military basis and give
us a pol ce' administration that is free
from politics.
"Since the close of hostilities ir
Europe, we have had lawless element
enter the city. These men must bt
routed. and to do 1t, we must have q
man who will rule with military
: hand.
''The old idea of appointing men to the
, police department because the party
, n power wished to reward them fol
: political service has passed in moderr
cities. That was the old rule, but 4
has passed so far as / am concerned
Al While / am Mayor / shall insist upoI
, having a real police department and 4
/ the foes OF good government defeat mi
|, they will have to win their fight In thu
5 courts"
Mayors Stand Develops Party Row
Mayor McDowell's stand has caused
stir In Chester and developed bite
row in the Republican party Behind hi
/; move to name 'Brautigan as the polio
: head the Mcclure factionists sense
/, move to take care OF returning soldiers
!, 1T Is true that have planned to TAX
!. care OF the soldiers" said the Mayor
: when a man comes back from the from
y and Il is possible for me to place him 4
the city service, ! shall do 80. II Is no
a matter Of politics, but one of simpi
Justice. The boys are deserving of 4
That was why named Guilday"
Adherents of the McClures today al
serted that Hepburn is the choice 9
: Councils and will be appointed as chic
| At next Mondays meeting. "He viii frs
, be appointed as patrolman and the
= ! eievnted to head OF the department
/, /, said one of the Mcclure Councilmen.
; Councilman Messiok this afternoo
4 threw down the gauntlet TO Mayo
Mcdowell and the reform interests b
4 charaeterizing the effort of the Mayo
to appoint Captain Brautigan as "a
effort engineered by dressed-up re
formers"
win stick 20 McClures
Mr.. Messick, in a fiery statement, II
3 formed Mayor Mcdowell and I'll
d dressed up reformers" that they ca
: go as far a. they like. but that he wi
f. stick to the Mcclure organization II
j, costs him his political life.
4 II am for Hepburn" said Mr.. Me