Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-20

| AHSh W tHC Souit hOuSS dOOul q
o'clock p. m.
We find that while Captain Heit-
feldt was nominally in charge at
the court house he felt his duties at
the police station in calling up men
off duty to report at once and re-
ports of other mobs forming were
such that he was unable to leave the
station. We therefore find him
blameless for what occurred at the
court house.
We found that no superior officer
above the rank of sergeant was in
charge at the court house from $3.50
p. m. to about 8 p. M, September
%, 1919, at about which time Chief
| Eberstein arrived.
Competent Leader Needed. 4
We find by three disinterested
military witnesses, whose judgment
and experience are beyond question,
that at any time between g. and E
o'clock p. m, on Sunday, September
rs, that a competent leader with
from rs to IS properly armed and
determined men could have dis
persed the mob without firing a
shot, and further that from E to
$50 p. m, an equal force with Or
ders to shoot to kill could have dis
persed the mob.
We find the rank and file of the
police department made up of ca
pable, brave men willing to follow
a leader anywhere.
We feel that the absence of the
chef OF police and the police COM
missioner at the critical and crucial
period between $3.50 and 6 o'clock
was unfortunate, and we feel that
they should have been on the jon
before E o'clock 1t was apparent
that there was a lack of co-ordina-
ton and leadership among the heads
Of the police force.
From all the witnesses examined
lin reference to the actions of the
police on the night of September %
we were unable to find one witness
who saw any concerted action on
the part of the police to dispense
the crowds after $3.50 p. m. 1t seems
that every officer was left to his
own resources, with the result that
no effective work was accomplished.
Say Police Neglected.
We find that the city authorities
and the public generally have been
disposed, for many years, to neglect
the police department. The other
departments have apparently al
ways had their budgets provided for
literally. The fire department has
been furnished with new and expen-
sive equipment-not So with the po-
lice department.
We therefore recommend that the
citizens of this city get behind the
police department at once, not only
financially, but that they support
them in the performance of their
duty to maintain law and order.
CHI We believe that the police
should be we'll instructed not to ex-
coed their authority in any case,
and that they should be held to
strict accountability for noncompli-
ance with such instructions.
Inasmuch as one of our men,
bers, John w. Towle, has been at
tackled by The Omaha Bee, while
thu jury was in session, we fell it
our duty to inform the public that
Mr.. Towle frankly explained aid
ing the mother and grandmother of
Harold Thorpe several days prior
to the publication in The Omaha
Bee. We believe the financial as
sistance given to this family and
other families by Mr.. Towle who
were in want as a result of in
dictment, was prompted by solely
charitable motives and we feel that
the STORY in The Omaha Bee was
unwarranted and a misrepresenta-
ton of the facts.
.... Conclusion.
To the People of Douglas County:
We have great county and city
here, and unusual opportunities.
These carry heavy responsibilities
which the citizenship must not shirk.
There are many conditions requir-
ing improvement which this grand
jury cannot investigate even, owing
to its limitations. Every good citi-
zen should assist in correcting bad
conditions by advocating impartial,
efficient and honest enforcement of
all laws and ordinances, or else their
prompt repeal. Nonenforcement of
laws is fraught with danger to So
ciety.
We deplore the conditions of par
tisanship and consequent adverse
advertising Of the city which such
par tisanship brings to US.
We find that the condition pre-
walls at this time the people and the
press should unite in the common
purpose of boosting and helping
Omaha.
The welfare of our whole city is
of greater Importance than that of
any individual or group of individ-
uals.
We should suppress scandal and
frown on scandalmongers Of what
ever degree or station.
Should "Get Together"
Let capital and labor, the high
and low, rich and poor, work to-
gether for the protection of our
homes and the honor of the city.
Let us stand shoulder to shoulder,
and may the press with friendly and
helpful counsel aid and assist US to
meet any menace even to the deadly
menace of the Red Flag.
Is it not worth more to residents
that city shall advance in its care
of human life, in its standard of
living, in its efficiency in making
taxes promote public good? Growth
is worth while; stagnation is bad.
But we have cities which have
grown so much faster than they
have learned how to live.
1t is always easy to blame some
one or something when things go
wrong. We should be as prone to
praise good acts and efforts.