Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-02

Continued from rage OUe
that he had not said anything yet about
Superintendent Robinson.
Changes to Aid Service
"Whcn ] have something to say you
will hear about it." said the director.
81 am interested only in bringing the
department up to high state Of eff :
cheney. Changes will be made for the
good of the service.
''Have you heard any talk that Rob
inson's record is not as black as it has
been painted?' the director was asked.
eyes" he replied, there has been
such talk"
"Will Superintendent Robinson be
retained?" the director was asked.
81 cannot answer that question yet.
I have not considered the matter, so
there is nothing to say one way or the
other"
Those interested in Superintendent
Robinson's retention have spoken on
Robinson's behalf to Murdoch Kendrick.
the Mayors close friend and one of his
advisers.
Mr.. Kendrick was asked if Robinson
in the light of his record. was likely to
be retained. removed or allowed to re-
main long enough to qualify for his
pension.
'I don't know anything about it."
replied Mr.. Kendrick. 81 have been
away and have not talked to any one
about that. had lunch the other day
with the director. but that was in the
nature of a social meeting. | had not
the pleasure of knowing the director
prior to his appointment
Clergymen Are Waiting
Leading clergymep and others who
protested against the reinstatement of
Superintendent Robinson early last
year. following his temporary retire
ment from the police department as Il
consequence of the demands of the fed
cral government, made it plain that
they were only awaiting the definite
official announcement of the new ad :
ministration' policy before they said
what they thought of Robinson as a
police official
Secretary of the Navy Daniels. who
delegated Colonel Hatch in 1918 to
"clean up" Philadelphia. refused to
comment upon the retention of Super
intendent Robinson.
''It is the first j had heard of it, and
/ do not wish to make any comment,
said Mr.. Daniels.
Those who know the real situation
BILE for Robinson's retention. Ihls
group, as basis for their campaign on
behalf of Robinson, urged that lit
would be a shame" to remove the super =
intendent when he had only short time
to wait before being eligible for pen
sion.
Furthermore, they said he was not
really responsible for conditions under
the Ware Smith administration, mas
much as Robinson was known III police
department parlance as an "order man
and that he only. did what he was told
by his Ware controller chiefs,
VIII Obey Orders
Pushing the campaign beyond the
pension stage and looking toward his
continuance in Office throughout the
Moore administration, it is said that
Robinson will also do "just what he is
told" under a good administration.
Significant in this connection is the
statement made by high authority in
the Moore administration that Robinson
is doing what he is told, and is max
ing every effort to make good"
1t is understood that George ID. Por-
ter, who was director of public safety
under the late Mayor Blankenburg and
who appointed Robinson as superinten-
dent, was one of the first to enlist the
interest of Moore leaders on behalf "
Robinson.
In this way the campaign was
brought to the attention of Murdoch
Kendrick.
Social Group Active
As a result of the activities OF thi.
social group and by reason of relation
ships of the members of the group,
Robinson is being spoken of in Moore
circles as a much -maligned man.
1t is suggested that when Colonel
Hatch commandeered the Philadelphia
police he really unhorsed Assistant Di-
rector of Public Safety Davis, who was
the political power on behalf of the
Wares in the police department in the
last administration.
Davis, they say, was the man respon