Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-11
WILSON IGNORES
M'COACH BOAST
Councilman's Confession
of Police Control Finds
Director Silent
DECLINES TO COMMENT
Ward Leader Quoted as Say
ing He Shifts Patrolmen
at Convenience

Director Wilson. Of the Department
Of Public Safety, declined to comment
today on Select Councilman william Nc
Coach's confession that he controlled
the destinies Of the police in the Thir-
tieth Ward n could shift them about
to suit his convenience.
After declaring that TIE police have
been out Of politics in his ward for
many years, Mr.. McCoach. acknowledged
political leader in tie ward, admitted
that all but two of the patrolmcn In
the district were picked by him. and that
Lieutenant Craig. mentioned in charges
made by the Rev. Or. Edwin ticyl pelk
was promoted. to his post because Of the
interest taken in him by the new leader.
Mr.. McCoach boosted that he did not
bother with lieutenants Of police when
he wanted something done. lie goes
direct to headquarters" he said, and
has always received satisfaction
Il don't have to run to any lieutenant
about getting any man transferred, Me
'oach is quoted a. saying during a dis
cuSsion of police conditions downtown.
"If ! want u man shifted all I have TO
do is TO go straight TO headquarters Yes,
and I've done it for years. too"
Leaders Govern Appointment
ID YOU mean that ward leaders
nave anything to do with the appoint
ment of policemen he was asked.
Il mean that when a man wants to
get on the force he has his recommended
ton signed by the ward leaders, and
why wouldn't he? Don't he have to get
the signature of men of responsibility
would stand high in the community?
Nov I've been u resident of the
Thirtieth Ward for many years, and it
Is n God-fcaring, church-going. ward.
Come down with me any Sunday in the
western end of the ward and you1l see
the good folk. Catholic and Protestant,
going to church from : o'clock in the
morning until 10 O'clock at night. And
the coiored people, too, are just the
same. OF course. there may be u crap
game here and there among these pco-
pie, nut did you ever see Colurcd people
Where there wasn't Il crap game?
Denies Organized Vice
But organized vice and police cJrrup.
ton? No, sir. There isn't any of that
in our ward, and there hasn't been for
years and years. And tie police are not
~ l'AlNl'S' 'llIfl. ! YAH lfll Npu llltt
Take Lieutenant Craig. the fellow this
minister, Mr.. Delk, and the others ar,
talking about, ! know him ever since
lie was n boy. Ills father died sevcra
months before he was born, and his
mother lives in the ward now. lie is &
good boy, and ! helped to get him pro
noted and sent down to the First dis
trict. ! knew lie wouldn't do any o
those things-therc isn't Il policeman
down there who would.
why, | had every one OF hem bu
two put down there myself. and they ar
fine, honest fellows, every one of ther
i~nCorruptible. rive of the others hay
been there for so many years that every
body knows them. and everybody know
they are all right. But the police hav
been in politics. Well do ] remember il
back in 1905 and 1915.
They sent our men out To yum
in 1905 and sent in the University stu
dents to beat the mcn M, But We woI
The other time Bl~ankenhurG sent dow
his Cossacks, but the ward was won b
us then. But the police are not i'm poll
, tics now. We don't want them i'll the
are no good to us unless they are agaius
/. us"