Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-22
RINGER MUST GO,
zIMMAN Tells
CITY COUNCIL
Refuses to Make Motion De-.
manding Transfer, However,
on Ground ut Wouldn't
Pass"

Pass"
City Commissioner Zimman, in
regular city council meeting yester-
day publicly charged Police Commits
sioner Ringer with incompetency in
police department administration;
recommended that the council trans
fer Mr.. Ringer and remove Chief
Eberstein, and further asserted that
Mr.. Ringer does not know what it
means to give q man credit for an
honest opinion, if that opinion runs
counter to his own views.
The polemic between Commits
sioners Ringer and Zimman, with
Commissioner Butler as a third dis
putant. arose over the consideration
OF resolution offered by Mr. But
Ter Monday afternoon, recommend
ing that the city council begin a
general public investigation of the
police department Wednesday aft
ernoon at 2. Mr.. Buffers resolu-
ton did not prevail, but it did stir
up some lively exchange Of opin-
ions.
Independent State Probe.
The failure of the council to adopt
the Butler resolution means that
Z Ralph Wilson. who Is here as Gov
ernor McKelvie's personal repre-
sentative, will have to conduct his
own independent investigation, in
stead of participating in public
hearing with the city council.
1T is, a self-evident fact" began
Mr.. Zimman, N"that the recent dis
graceful riot in Omaha was the re-
. suit of gross incompetency on the
part of the police department ma
, clinery as managed by its superin-
tendent, Mr.. Ringer. 1t is now up
to this city council to reorganize the
police department.
This council can transfer Mr..
Ringer and remove the chief of po-
lice. Inasmuch as the council has
failed to do that, | do not believe
that the proposed investigation will
: do us much good. dislike to see
state interference in our local affairs,
especially when it is realized that
our city government has ample
power to obtain 4 proper functioning
Of the police department.. =
~ Failure of Police.
Thousands who witnessed that
disgraceful affair at the court house
have asserted that if Omaha had
had a proper police department or
ganization that riot would not have
happened.
"Mr. Ringer should consent to a
transfer, and if he does not consent,
then it is the duty of this council
to make the transfer"
why don't you offer resolution
calling for the transient" asked
Commissioner Butler,
'lf it is merely to put the COM
,missioners on record, would not
offer such a resolution" Zimman
replied. I'VE know there are not
enough votes at this time to make
the transfer. Probably it would be
better to wait until a year from
next May and let the voters make
the transfer
Mr.. Ringer took the floor and
said: There are many people who
would like to speak on Mr.. Zim-
mans record in this council. The
people know Mr.. Zimman's attitude
from the first will say to the
world that Mr.. Zimman has had as
much to do with the disorganiza-
ton of the police department., as
any other person has had.
"Mr. Zimman has put his nose
into this for a malicious purpose. !
will admit that the police depart
ment has made mistakes, and 50 has
the !ire department.. The gov
ernor has stated that he does not
want, to interfere in Omaha local af-
fairs until the city council has had
an opportunity to act"
Mr.. Zimman. visibly affected, took
the floor again and directed his
response to Mr.. Ringer in particu-
lar.
Says Ringer to Blame. !.
II am willing to concede that !
have made mistakes, but will not
concede that these mistakes, If any.
/ were so, fatal as to demoralize and
undermine q department. l deny
that I have any desire to disrupt the
police department. 1t has been out
side influences and Mr.. Ringer that
have disorganized the police depart
mcnt. Mr.. Ringer does not under
stand men, and he does not know
what it means to give man credit
for holding an honest but opposite
opinion, and no bigot can do that.
Mr.. Ringer has gone out of his way
to enlist the church support to as
sist in police administration.
II fought police abuses long be-
fore Mr.. Ringer ever became can
didate and / intend to continue to
fight these abuses.
Let me say to you, Mr.. Ringer,
that ! enjoy the confidence of many
Of your political and religious
friends, and they have not hesitated
to tell me that you were not the
man for the position of police COM
missioner. The very men who con-
Quoted your campaign have said
time and again that you are not the
man for the place. l don't 60 be-
hind your back, Mr.. Ringer, to give
my opinions Of you as a police
commissioner, but am telling them
to you right in your teeth"
Denies Outside Influence.
AS far az / am concerned, ! will
state that there has been no outside
influence brought to bear in offer
ing my resolution" said Mr.. Butler.
Il am trying to rid the police de-
partment of undesirables. Informa-
tion has come to me that during the
night of the riot a police captain
and four or five patrolmen were
within stones throw of Mayor
Smith and they did not 60 to his