Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-01-10
Uncle Sans 'Fightingest' Marine
Starts hopping Up Philadelphia
S'Hell-Devil' Butler, as New Director
OF Public Safety, Has Charge Of
Police and Fire Departments in War
On Vice. New Mayor Borrowed Him
from President Coolidge.
Written Specially for The Leader
By JOHN THOMAS WILSON
Thru Autocaster Service)

Phlladelph1a, "a, Jan 9-"LaW and
order" were ushered in here Monday
morning. This city of 'Brotherly Love
long a city of shame and terror, OF
crime dens and blind tigers, of gamb-
ling joints and bawdy houses, of po-
lice and political grafters, OF bootleg
gers, dope peddlers, pickpockets and
professional assassins, is now in the
first stages of a moral cleanup the
likes of which ha never been attempt
ed before by city as large as this
third city of the United States.
The method by which this clean up
is to be made is different, because
Rhiladelphia's new mayor saw fit tc
call upon President Coolidge for the
loan of Uncle Sans best fighting men
to take charge of the city's police and
fire department, and the request was
granted.
Brig. Gen. Smedley Darlington
Butler of the United States Marine
Corps, the most picturesque and gal
liant figure in recent years of the Ma
rines and twice winner of the Congress
sional Medal of Honor, is the man.
Gen Butler has been granted a
years leave by President Coolidge,
during which time he is to be Direc-
tor of Public Safety of Philadelphia
under Mayor Kendrick. He was
sworn in Monday.
He accepted the task on one con-
dition only, that he not be interfered
with in any way, or by any one. Gen,
Butler was warned that at the first
sign of interference he will pack up
and go back to the Marines.
Call Him "Hell-DeviI' Butler
"Hell-Devil" Butler, as he is known
has tackled some pretty big jobs His
record indicates that this city is going
to be restored to decency. He is the
man who pacified Haiti. He was in
charge of the A. E. F. debarkation
camp at Brest, France and it was un-
der his directions that it was cleaned
up.
First, last and all the time I am
a soldier and I expect to be for the
rest of my life" says Gen. Butler.
This job is only another response
bi1ity that comes into soldiers life ;
that how I regard it. There probably
won't be any anxiety manifested any
where to keep me here after my
years Observation-Disclosures is hp-or |
may not be there year-but while [
am here, I'm going to enforce the state
laws and city ordinances, as they
were never enforced before. | know
that the police force has been tainted
but l also know that somewhere in
these United States l can get hold of
1900 honest men. I know l can find
them right heer in Philadelphia; the
point is, that is the kind of policemen
we intend to have"
Most Brilliant U. S. Soldier
General Buffers qualities are thus
described in a statement issued by the
Navy Department:
Soldier, engineer, camp-builder
holder of two Congressional Medals
of Honor, the record of Brig Gen
Smedley D. Butler, fighting man
extraordinary of the Marine Corps,
stamps him as one of the most bril-
liant soldiers of the United States.
Descendant of an ancient Quaker
family which settled in Pennsylvania
in the time of William Penn, General
Butler enlisted in the Marine Corps be
fore reaching the age of seventeen, and
won commission when he was still
two months short of his seventeenth
birthday.
The record of his life since that time
reads like the pages of story of ad-
venture. Before his nineteenth birthday
he was commended by the allied high
command for his gallantry under fire
on the historic march for the relief
of Picking in the Boxer campaign and
promoted by brevet from lieutenant to
captain for bravery.
Has Served in IA Campaigns
From China he went to the Philli-
pines, where he took part in the cam
paign which ended in the pacifcation
of those islands Since that time he
has served in Cuba, Nicaragua, Pana-
ma, Honduras, Mexico, Haiti, San Do
mingo, France, and ashore and afloat
in every quarter of the globe, accumul-
ating a record of having served in IA
campaigns and expeditions in "a years
of service.
During his service General Butler
has won commentators and decora-
tions such as rarely fall to the lot OF
soldier. For personal bravery in &C
ton against the enemy he received the
coveted brevet promotion and two Con
gressonal Medals of Honor, the high
est decoration within the gift of the
nation. Before the World War only
three soldiers besides General Butler
had received more than one of these
medals. In addition he received the
Distinguished Service Medal for his
services in the World War, and other
decorations from the Allied Powers