Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-05
Governor McKeIvie in Execll-
tive Session With Commits
sioners Says Chief Should
Go for Good of Force.
INTIMATES HE WILL ACT
IF CITY OFFICIALS DON'T
Ringer, Questioned. Says Hs
"WiII Not Act Hastily in
Matter"-Ure Denies Eber-
stein Being Made "Goat."

The city hall yesterday was the
storm center of rapid succession
of events, the most important cf
which was a situation indicating til.
probable removal Of Chief of Police
Eberstein.
This important development, viii
other more or less important events.
we're all the aftermath of the dis
orders of last Sunday night, and
were the elimination of a week IT.
comparable i'll its way with AN.
previous week in the history Of
Omaha.
Governor Mckelvie, in an cxecu-
tive session yesterday afternoon
with City Commissioners Ure,
Ringer. Zimman. Butler ard Fa,-
coner, asserted that he believed ti'e
removal of Chief Ebersteein wss
necessary; that the chief had lost
| that public confidence which is es.
sential to a successful administration
Of the police department.
Law Gives Him Power.
The governor, in effect, told the
city commissioners that the law
gave him the power to 10 certa II
things in this connection, if the city
commissioners were not disposed to
do them. The city commissioners
quickly sensed the full meaning IF
the governors words.
| Those who attended the closed
meeting would not volunteer any
information, but piece-meal it wss
established beyond doubt that the
governor was for Ebersteins re-
moval, and the governor asserted
his authority, as provided for bA
law. over the general police affairs
OF the state.
When the matter was put squarelv
up to the governor, he replied:
We'll, ] am not saying it for pub
lication"
Eterstein Won't Talk.
This is not the time for me to
talk" was the only comment Chief
Ebersten would offer.
"Ate you going to ask for Chief
Eberstein's resignation. or do yo1
intend to stand by him in spite OF
what has occurred this afternoon
was the question put to Police Com
missioner Ringer. He replied
u don't want to answer that Just
now. but ! will say that | am not
going TO act hastily in this matter.
| want all of the city commissioners
to be as we'll informed OF the facts
as l am."
Acting Mayor Ure stated that the
governors attitude in the Eberstein
| matter was not one of mere ex-
pediency, but one for the general
welfare of the police department.
Not Goat" Says Ure.
"The governor did not take the
position that he would make Eber-
stein the goat" said Mr.. Ure.
| While Commissioner Ringer yes
terday lodged a straightforward
answer as to whether he intended to
Join in the request for the resigna-
ton ri Chief Eberstein, it has been
known since Monday that he would
sacrifice his chief of police if it be-
came necessary in order to save HIM
self. This was decided between Mr..
+, Ringer and his close associates
when t became known that eitherShe
or Chief Eberstein or perhaps both
OF them vould have to 60.
The governor, during the meeting
with the city commissioners, did NOT !
commit himself as to the wisdom Of
transferring Police Commissioners
Risger, but in none of his remarks
did he advise the retention of Mr..
Ringer.
The city council will meet in reg !
ular meeting as a committee of the
whole Monday morning, when vari-
Gus phases of the situation will be
gone over.
| 1t is understood by those who are
close to Chief Eberstein that he is
going to have few words to saw"
when the time should come that his
resignation is demanded.
General Woods Attitude.
In his recommendation for re-
organization of the police depart
mtnt, General Wood said he would
not commit himself on the proposi-
ton OF a change in either Of the Of
iices OF the superintendent of poficaS
or Chief of police.
Aetirg Mayor Ure declined X cx-
press himself on the Aonos.A
change Of chief OF polis SnecnIs
ton already is rife X TO who th.
new chiei may bcN. +. Demosev
CONTINUED on fsss Seven. Column One,