The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-23
WHERE Is THE ARGUS POLICE
BOARD?


BOARD7
The Argus isn't infallable. 1t believes in
good craftsmanship. When 1t makes tumble
It is willing to take the full responsibility and
not attempt to crawl under the canvass with an
slibi
] This evening The Argus lays its cards on
the table with reference to the fire and police
board controversy. Mayor II. NJ Schriver dis
missed his fire and police board, composed Of
John II. Fender, Edward Bakersfield and F. J.
Mueller when the board was about TO start
an Investigation Of charges that had been en-.
tered against Chief Thomas Cox. Chief Cox
had admitted that his department was demon
alized>and in an attempt to Justify that condi-
ton alleged that for six months the men Of his
department had refused to carry out his orders
to suppress lawlessness in the city. That was
rather serious charge that the chief made. 1t
reflected on. the integrity Of every member OF
the department. The Argus, merely voicing
the sentiment of the good people of the city.
demanded that there be full and open investi-
CATION of the charges that Chief Cox had in
vited against himself through his own admis-
sion and Of the charges that the chief had en-
tered against the men who were supposed to
be answerable to him. The Argus questioned
the wisdom of the mayors summary action in
Diminishing his fire and police board when it was
about to perform community service. Even
the mayor could not charge that the members
1t that board would act contrary to the public
interest. or that they would deal unjustly with
any man in the department. The board had
for three years--the members serving without
pay-managed the affairs OF the fire and police
departments to the entire satisfaction Of the tax
payers of the city, with possibly one exception.
John Looney insisted on the disciplining Of
policemen who had refused to take commands
from him to make arrests of underworld char
acters who refused to enlist themselves under
the terms prescribed by the underworld gov
erDment of which Looney was the head.
Mayor Schriver really dismissed the fire and
police board because it had suspended Chief
Cox for period of so days. 1t was then up
to the mayor to appoint new board. Mr..
.Schriyer met with sad disappointments in his
efforts. to induce three acceptable men to
xNeAthera the storm that was certain to come
in the event that the administration insisted
upon its program being forced down the pub
lie throat Keenly feeling the predicament in
which the head of the city government had
tangled himself, The Argus, in the interest of
harmony and expediency, made three recon-
mendations for membership on the fire and
police board. In the full assurance that if they
were nominated by the mayor they would be
approved by the city council and would con-
duct IN investigation that would be entirely
satisfactory to the city and to Chief Thomas
Cox.
Little did The Argus dream when It made
Its IRE sand' police board recommendations that
its candidates would SO soon fall from grace
and SO unblushingly humiliate The Argus in
the eyer OF its friends. II you will remember
The Argus nominations for the fire and police
board Rere John Looney, publisher of the
Rock Island News; Lawrence NJ Pedigo, pro-
prfetor Of the Sherman hotel and Louis Ortell,
realtor. Here were three men who were thor
oughly familiar with the workings of the DO
lice department. and they were entirely in ac-
cord with the administration policies In fact
Mr.. Looney had grown to be very closely iden-
tilted with the police department Further
more, member OF his own family was a menA-
Der OF the department the mayor having sup
piled John Looney. Jr, with policemans star
and sun, with unlimited territory for his
beat. Young Looney proved one Of the most
active nembers Of the department, devotinE
his tim9 mostly to collecting accounts for his
father ahong the houses Of prostitution,
gaml llne resorts and bootlesgins joints Of Rock
Isla4 md adjacent territory.
II Argus appreciates today that it 10 up
agaihSte flock Of illuminated curb lights. II
MaJt 1chrivsr should suddenly decide to act
upo2*the fire and police board fecemmsnda-
tons Of The Argus he could place The Argus
in an unsnviable Light before the community,
because The Argus could mot deliver it, can
didates. The reason The Argus couldn't de-
liver is because its candidates are mot at pres
ent circumstanced 30 they could become public
ofacials. For instapcs. Mr.. tooney is fugi-
tive freoE Justice. Mr.. Pedigo Is in the county
Jail on 4 charge Of murder. and Mr. Ortsll was.
when thu was written. reported BY omcers
sent In guest Of him. not to be found
In his favorits haunts. Mr. Ortell, 1t should
b explained, IL wanted BY the state Of Illinois
tsxnsver to charge Of conspiracy to commit
murder,
So there you are. The Argus has blum
dered once more The Argus most humbly 'begs
tie pardon Of Mayor Schriver for its careless
ness in not having more closely investigated
the records Of Messrs. L0oney, Pediso and
q Z