The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-12-30
THE PEOPLE
HAVE

HAVE SPOKEN
Tonight at a meeting of the City
Council a chief of police and night
Waterman for the City of Winnie
mucca are to be appointed. Great
interest has been attracted to this
incident by reason of the fact that
certain interests of the city have in
sisted that it was advisable to appoint
men to these positions who have been
decisively defeated by vote Of the
people of the county and township,
for offices as upholders of the law.
The precedent established during
the short life of Winnemucca as a
city is to appoint the constable of
Union township as chief of police of
the city, at a salary of $50 a month,
and this chief Of police has selected
a night Waterman to work in har-
mony with him, which selection has
been confirmed by the City Council.
The people who gave overwhelming
majorities for constable of the town
ship have a perfect right to expect
equal consideration for the candidate
of their choosing.
J.. r. Nelson was elected as con-
stable by a vote of three to n over
his opponent. There was no parti-
san politics in the case. He ran as
an Independent. George Brady, for
sheriff, was elected by a majority of
approximately thirty per cent. He
also ran as an Independent. That a
great majority of citizens wanted
these men in law-enforcement offices
is therefore apparent.
Why my citizens should presume
to insist upon the installation in Of
flee of the very men who have been
signally renowned by the people, is
a matter for grave conjecture.
And why. for instance, is an able
bodied man. with certain supporters,
making a strenuous appeal for a 1925
a-month night job?
Why are citizens who are support
ing this man in his quest striving to
create a "house divided against it
SELF which cannot stand. The off,
GERS the people elected do not believe
this man would work in harmony
with them. That his record was not
agreeable to the people is perfectly
apparent.
The sberiff-elec and the constable
elect, who will be indicted into their
offices the day after tomorrow, have
planned to work together harmoni-
ously In the City of Winnemucca.
They propose no radical program,
but they promise to enforce the law
to the best of their ability. That is
what the Constitution and statutes of
the State of Nevada declare they are
to do. That is what the people of
Humboldt county and Union town.
ship (which is Winnemucca) elected
them to do. That is what they will
take their solemn oath to do.
There is no reason why the con-
stable should not be appointed chief
of police. as he and the people-three
to one-had expected he would be.
There Is no reason why, as before,
this officers choice of a nightwatch-
man should not at least be given a
trial, particularly as he is said to
IOll Mll
tons, and more particularly because
he is the kind of man who says. &C
cording to Mr.. Nelson, TRY me for
thirty days, and if I do not make good
l will fire myself"
An element, and a great majority,
of the people of Winnemucca-an ele-
ment which has generally remained
passive in municipal matters has
become aroused to a point of resent
ment at the pressure which has been
brought to bear upon members of
the City Council. to appoint certain
men to positions as peace guardians
of the city. This element understands
perfectly we'll that the people are the
government in every department of
this nation. 1t certainly would be a
most unwise thing for any man or
set of men to endeavor to insist upon
a reputation of what the people have
voted for-and against.
-60-