South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-10

"MuCk-Raking Police
to Make PObuIace For
get Mayors Promise
to Cleanup TO10n.

HAfOR Carson announced
MI about "A month ago that he
was going 10 clean up the
town: this Notwithstanding that
up 20 that time he had insisted
that II was "spotless town" as it
was. Chief Kline had further
more just made affidavits in three
courts that the police station was
the safest place on earth for that
meanest OF all things that defileth.
There have been a few raids
during the past month: raids of
blind tigers. and raids Of bawdy-
houses-in several OF the in
stances after their location was
pointed out through the press
but the mayor having admitted
the camoufiage in his "spotless
town" talk. by promising a clean
up" has been spending the most
OF his time exposing the un-
truthfulness OF his police chiefs
affdavits by Investigations OF the
police department.
OF course, that hasn't been the
mayor purpose. Some Nyiseacre.
close 10 his elbow, seems 20 have
put IL into his head that good
way 10 camOuhage the public into
thinking he was cleaning the
town" getting rid OF the blind
tigers, bawdy- houses, etc. would
be to indulge i'm that popular pas
time Of muck racking'' the po-
lice force-and he overlooked the
consequences.
Had it beer foreseen that
undertaking" the police. was
bound to bring out the utter ir-
responsibility. incompetency and
untrustwOrthiness OF the rank
ing heads of them even
when under oath-dou1tfu If
they would have tackled it.
At that one might reflect that
il g not Of half so much import
ance as the desirable non-inter-
ference with those resorts and
speak easies over whom the adj
ministration's -betweens" have
thrown an apparent protectorate.
II.
INCIDENTALLY there hasn't
L been very much said in city
hall circles recently-either 10 the
press or the members Of the min
isterial association, about the pro-
scouting attorney not prosecuting
the policies vice cases.
That you will remember was the
old dodge, about the first of the
year, following the present prose
cutor's induction into office. II
was planned then TO make of him
the goat" with which to camou
flage the administrations cussed
ness.
Police officers would go out.
make a big splurge. arresting
Tom. Dick. or Harry. maybe rake
in "A quantity Of liquor. and per
haps some bar-tiXtures. but in
most cases carefully evading the
getting or preservation OF any
tangible evidence with which 70
convict-perhaps drinking it up
or selling il, preceding the trial
and then the public. through the
press. and certain clergymen. was
asked 10 believe that i was the
prosecuting attorneys fault
oh, yes, They were terribly
anxious 10 enforce the law. Look
at the number Of arrests we are
making" they would shout But
what's the use when the prosecu.
tor dismisses cases; won't pro
secute them 10 conviction? CAM
do anything with such a prosecu-
tor as that"
And a portion or the press
threw up its hands in holy horror
while numerous OF our dear clergy
men rolled their ewes TOWARD
heaven like "A calf with the collie
and wondered what the wicked
world was coming to; anticipat
ing the heavenly place it would b,
If all public officials were bu
good republicans like their below
ed mayor. his worthy board OF
safety. and their angelic chief o.
police.
THEN came the day OF reckon
ng-with the prosecutor. II,
at length grew weary of polio,
failure TO obtain evidence witt