The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-03
The Power of Public Opinion.

The Argus is just little surprised that
John w. Carse and Bert Corken, in resigning
their places ON Mayor schriver's newly ap-
pointed fire and police commission, should have
attributed their refusal to remain in their po-
sitons to the attitude of this newspaper toward
their official actions. The Argus is surprised
that they should have permitted themselves to
become parties to the administration prop
uganda that The Argus is seeking to tear down
the administration for political reasons.
The truth OF the matter is that Mr.. Carse
and Mr.. Corken became convinced after five
days as board members that they had made
mistake in accepting those positions after three
qualified citizens had been deposed for no other
ofrense than having done their duty in case
involving Thomas Cox, chief of the police de-
partment, whom they suspended because of his
admitted incapacity to control the men Of his
department. 1t was the force of public opinion
that caused Mr.. Carse and Mr.. Corken to resign
their positions. The Argus did not hesitate to-
express its confidence in the members of the
new board provided they went about their
duties without brooking interference from
sources that might be interested in preventing
the bringing into the open certain alleged
facts pertaining to the management: of the po-
lice department
The Argus has been ccntending for full
public investigation of the charges that have
been filed against Thomas Cox, the suspended
chief Of police. Those charges are in the rec
ords of the police board. Those records are in
possession of F. ]. Mueller, who has been adj
vised by his attorneys, S. R. Kenworthy and
C. E. Dietz, that he is still secretary and a
member, with full legal powers, of the fire and
police commission, despite his assumed re-
moval by Mayor Schrive-. Mr. Mueller has
given freely Of his time and ability, as have his
associates, ]. H. Fender and Edward Bauers-
field, In handling the affairs of the police and
fire departments. They have served without
pay MIR. Mueller does not propose. to be pub
licly punished for performing simple act of
| duty, at least without an explanation from the
mayor of the city. Mr.. Mueller is not fighting
to retain his place the police board, but he
is questioning the right of Mayor Schriver to
subject him to an indgnity that no self
respecting citizen would submit to without pro-
test. The people Of Rock Island sustain Mr.
Mueller in his position.
The people of Rock Island are expecting
two things of the police board and they are de-
handing that the facts be divulged in the
| open They are demanding that members OF
the police department be afforded an opportun-
| ity to defend the charge Of Thomas Cox, the
! SUSPENDED chief of police, that for six months
the men under him had refused to obey his
orders to suppress public vice in the city. They
want the board to hear in the open charges
that have been filed against Mr. Cox alleging
that he had permitted the department to become
/ demoralized, inferentially because Of the
authoritative manipulation by private citizens
of the work of patrolmen in the handling of the
vice situation. and they want furthermore to
have the full facts regarding the failure to have
a patrolman on the beat on which Bill Gabe]
lived throughout the night of the saloon.
keepers murder.
/ The public suspects there Is an intent te
apply whitewash in the police investigation
The public will not unprotestingly accept any
such report from the police board. The public
will hold the city administration and the police
| bbard to account for q satisfactory ironing ou
/ Of the police department upheava. The Argu.
| has retained legal counsel not for the purpos.
of maligning any member Of the department
but rather for the purpose Of protecting patrol
| men who might be marked for dismissal be
! cause they have been men enough to asser
their rights Of eitisens and public servants. tn,
people want every member OF the police depart
! ment called before the police board in publi
meeting and asked to alhrm or deny the charg
oe tie susvsadsd- aasfsoe police that for Il,