El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-25
WHY MAKE POWERS CHIEF OF POLICE?'
FLUENTIAL MEN ASK 1T FOR HIM

GONE Of the men who have recommended Tom Powers
y the good graces Of mayor Davis for appointment
chief Of police state in effect that he could make good
police chief The only question is, WOULD he2
Without reference to what Tom Powers MIGHT accom-
pish chief Of police, the record is against him
Is 1t necessary to 60 out from among men who have
been identified with the cleaner things IN FL Paso and Sc
lect whose business has been that Of conducting
gambling house and saloon?
It Is source Of satisfaction at least to know that
mayor Davis intend 10 make appointment Of
chief until the has been recommended by the police
commission. This It IS said VIII preclude the naming o.
Powers is believed the commission viii recommend
him. The Herald is satisfied that the people do want
Powers chief Il has been perssenty reported
that mayor Davis had promised the appointment TO Pow
ers prior election. While the mayor has said that
be did not his declaration regarding the method to be fol-
lowed naming chief leads to the belief that he has not
promse-and the day after election he said in
q signed statement The Herald that he had made
preection promises The Herald viii venture TO say that
Mayor Davis had told the people that if they elected him
he would appoint Tom Powers chief of police his vote
Of confidence would have been much smaer-f he had
been elected
That being the case The Herald has not believed that
man. going into office with such vote Of confidence and
the implied responsibility to the people Of MS city, could
OF would consider for an instant the appointment Of man
in whose saloon many killings have taken place; man
who remained the liquor business during his entire resi-
dence FL Paso and until the legislature 0utawed it.
who conducted open gambling in his place defiance
Of the laws of the state until it closed by Injunction
who IN 1907 deliberately boosted that he would vel
prohibition IN FL Paso because il would be cheaper
to buy legal protection than pay license the state7
Leaving Tom Powers out Of the question and making It
ipersona it would be slap at the law abiding people Of
the city to select former gambling house proprietor and
saOon keeper to administer the laws Of city ike FL
Paso.
Killings have occurred in the Powers saloon and no COL
vcOns have resulted United States army provost
guards kept watch Powerss saloon until the last day
IF legalized liquor traffic in FL PasO-because United
States provost officer killed in that saloon
5ody convicted Msnen Clements murdered there
nobody convicted Of the crime Nobody
convicted for killing that took place in the COney Island
saloon
Is it safe to assume that Tom Powers has suddenly
-hanged? Is II safe to that he believe
todayas he profesed to believe In 1eO7-hat all officers
ean be corrupted? Believing this he the sort Of man
who ought to be selected TO enforce the law IN city Of
10000 people? Are there no better capable of TAX
ing the position?
Tom Powers Is a man Of personal force-a man who (
lives up to his business contracts Maybe he would make
good ie-but It is not usual to select Of his type
10 enforce the law.
The influence and environment about Tom Powers have
not been the best If It to financial obligation The
Herald would as soon have the word Of Tom Powers the
ash In matter Of loyalty, If Tom Powers were under
obligations TO The Herald believe that he would fulfill
that obligation every respect We do not impugu his
honesty Of purpose he might his duty But can he
break away from the influences and obligations that have
been wrapped about him? Can he conditions as the
people Of 81 PssO want them seen?
Tom Powers is under obligations to many people whose
deals, 10 say the least not elevated be still has many
friends Of that type in Fl PasO Could he chief of po
lice lay aside these obgaons2 Would he any other
man under similar circumstances above loyalty to his
friends Of the past2
There is another point Even If Powers could mt aside
his old friendships and enforce the laws to the letter there
are hundreds Of people in E. Paso who would doubt his
sincerity Let anything transpre II the city that did not
fook ughts and public thought would Immediately blame
The chief It would believe that he cOnnving with the
perpetrators This is human nature and you cannot get
away nom Il Mayor Davis would not be fair himself
II naming Powers and Powers would fair to himself
n taking the position.
The mayor says FL Pas0 VIII never again be a7fde
OPEN town. In the that It was wide oueus when
Ton Powers roulette and faro night and day in his
saloon no. but Town be fun Of vice and not be wide
open II that sense No community would ever again