Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-25
RINGER SAYS
RECALL S|CNERS
IN JAIL RECORD
Admits He Has Made Mis-.
takes, But He Says it Was
Because He Took a
Chance.

J. Dean Ringer, police commits
sioner, speaking from the pulpit of
Plymouth Congregational church
Sunday morning, asserted that he
could disclose the Jail records of
many of the signers and circulators
of the recall petition; that he would
not say that all of the signers are
thugs and buns, but he would say
that many are interested in gam
bling. bootlegging and prostitution.
Il think that the recall petition is
the best evidence of the work that
has been done by the police depart
ment, when we consider the person.
mel of the men behind the recall"
the police. commissioner said, add
ing: 81 pay no attention to the snap
ping of yellow ours who bark at our
heels as we walk along the street"
He also made this statement: 1T
has taken some time to make the
police department understand that
when an order goes out from the
city hall. the order means just what
it says and that it is not subject to
private Interpretation. We do not
intend to fool the public by giving
out one order in public and another
in private, as was done so frequently
under former conditions. The MEM
bers of the police department under
stand that an order these days
means just what it reads"
Heard So Much About"
The police commissioner was in
troduced by J. K. McCombs, chair
man of the board of trustees of the
church, as "the man we have heard
so much about"
Referring to the police department
during his discourse, Mr.. Ringer
said: There was a time when the
police did not dare to raid place
unless told it would be all right, be-
cause they feared they would be
transferred to outside beats by the
silent king When I took hold of
the department there were, some
honest members who wanted to en-
force the laws, but they did not
dare to do so. l have given the MEN
to understand that they will have the
hacking of the department when
they enforce the laws.
"The city of Omaha is cleaner and
better today than it has been for
many years. The police department
morale is 100 per cent better than it
was three months ago. A straight
forward program is in considera-
ton. The problem is to set your
mind to a purpose and plan and
hen carry it out.
Admits Mistakes.
"I know that | make mistakes and
so do you, the difference being that
your mistakes are not published so
widely. Our purpose has been to
do things and take chance now and
then of making mistake. Our idea
is to carry out program consistent,
ly. that something may be accom-
plished for Omaha.
THE statement that the police de-
partrnent went along as we'll while
was away as when | was here,
shows how we'll it was organized.
IF we would have paid any atten-
ton to unjust attacks we would not
have had any time for the improve
ment of conditions. Progress is
being made in the department, 9TH
crwise the men who are behind the
recall would not be so jealous to
overturn this administration"
Praises Eberstein.
Mr.. Ringer declared that Chief of
Police Eberstein should receive,
some of the credit for recent improve
nent in police department affairs.
II think that a man in public life
should do as little talking as posi-
Die, and should saw wood as much
IS possible, and that is what I am
endeavoring to do. Some criticize
is for what we do and others criti-
;ize us for what we do not do" he
added.