The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-12-11
PENN CITY
IS WATCHING
PRESIDENT
Philadelphia Wants to Re-
tain Gen, SmedIey
Butler.

IP The people of Philadelphia
this year seem to have no
question as to who Santa Claus is
what they want him to bring. Santa
Claus is President Coolidge and they
want him to bring three years more
Of Smedley d. Butler.
They have put it up to Santa
Claus pretty straight. They have
sent letters by the bushel to the
White House and they have sent
delegations of important citizens.
They have their hearts so set on this
one thing that If they don't get 1t
they're liable to kick over the Christ
mas tree and they'll certainly stop
believing In this particular Santa
Claus. They know he can give them
Butler If he wants to.
Butler Appointed
one year ago Mayor Kendrick,
just 81 -cted, made a great play for
public favor by requesting Presi-
dent Coolidge to grant Brig. Gen
Butler of the United States Marines
a years leave Of absence. He had
promised the city to reform the
evil-smelling police department and
ho wanted Butler to undertake the
Job President Coolidge consented
and gave the famous Devil Dog his
blessing as he departed for this
city Of Brotherly Love.
one year has almost elapsed In
that time Mayor kendrick has had
many opportunities to regret his nc
ton. For General Butler put HIS fin
ger on the trouble in Philadelphia
the day his military boots cIauked
down the corridors Of the musty old
city hall. The trouble was politics.
The politicians controlled tho police.
Big politicians controlled big blocks
Of the police ami little politicians
controlled little blocks. The super
intendent of police didn't count. nor
did the director Of public safety, his
superior That Is, they didn't count
until Butler took over the latter title.
Political War
For some months q merry war was
waged between Butler and the poll
ticians. First he explained to the
police that he was boss and that no
politician could Interfere with his
operations He had Mayor Kendrick
verify this-pubicly Then he set
the police at the Job Of cleaning up
the city. cleaning out the booze.sell.
ing Joints. tho gambling houses and
other places Of bad repute As fast
as ne found police officer who
failed 70 carry out his orders that
relied instead on tho whispered or
ders OF the politician who had oh
taiued his appointment. he fired or
denoted or transferred that officer.
The dovt Immediately was to pay
in the mayors office. The politicians
who had elected Kendrick came
down on him to demand that he
call Butler off Tho mayor told
them truthfully. that he could not.
L took time but IN tho end the
politicians were ready 20 admit they
We're licked and 70 leave tho police
pretty well alone.
Morale Goes Down
Then the end Of Buffers year be-
gan 10 approach The word went
our. through the rank and file ~ the
department. thar he would not be
retained Down started tho morale
ola conditions began 10 return
Good citizens got together and called
on Mayor Kendrick to ask President
i5Ee-publ.c ly-fo extend But
ler's leave for three years moro
Despite strong political pressure.
Kendrtck wrote the letter. 40 soon
ar was Il published than The police
force frightened mp again ana put its
heart back into its work
But now Philadelphia isn't nj all
certain that President Coolidge will
grant the necessary leave to Cen
eral Butler The President put It
up IN tho House Naval Affairs Com
mittee and that committee said II
saw no military necessity for re
turning Butler 20 the Marines Just
now. He put Il UP 70 tho Senate
Naval Affairs Committee and the
"a ~ C'At'ii44t 10V AocfN nc ''+'Ft F'"FFt
saving 1t might he a bad precedent,
overlooking all the other preccdenta
Of Army. Navy and Marine officers
detained ny the Government for
civil jobs So the decision remained
for Coolidge himself to make lie
knows perfectly well that the po-
litical powers Of his own party In
Philadelphia don't want Butler. and
he knows just as we'll that tho PEG
pie do.
All Philadelphia IS waiting to see
the decision tho President makes be-
tween the people and the polIu-
clans.